BREAKING NEWS: STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN 22 STATES AS STORM "FERN" TURNS DEADLY

NEW YORK, NY – Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 9:45 AM EST – A monster weather system, officially named Winter Storm Fern, has brought the United States to a standstill this morning. In an unprecedented move, 22 states and the District of Columbia have now declared official states of emergency. At the federal level, President Donald Trumphas approved emergency disaster declarations for 12 states—including New York, Tennessee, and Georgia—authorizing FEMA to lead the response to what meteorologists are calling a "historic and crippling" event.

Fatalities Reported in New York City

The storm has already turned tragic. New York City authorities have confirmed at least three fatalities linked to the plummeting temperatures and icy conditions. In his first major crisis since taking office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a Hazardous Travel Advisory for all five boroughs.

"The full power of the city's resources are poised and ready," Mayor Mamdani said in a press briefing from NYC Emergency Management. "But this is a Sunday for staying in. We need the roads clear for our 2,300 plows to do their work safely."

The "Ice Belt" and Power Grid Crisis

While the Northeast prepares for up to 18 inches of snow, the South is battling a catastrophic ice event.

• Widespread Blackouts: Over 780,000 customers are currently without power nationwide. The crisis is most acute in Tennessee, where nearly 260,000 homes are in the dark.
• Nashville Paralyzed: Nashville Electric Service reports that 85% of Davidson County has lost power due to heavy ice snapping lines. Crews are working 16-hour shifts, but the freezing rain is expected to continue through the afternoon.
• Southern Impact: Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana have all reported over 100,000 outages each as the "Ice Belt" coats trees and infrastructure in over an inch of solid glaze.

Travel and Infrastructure at a Standstill

The nation’s transportation network has essentially collapsed under the weight of the storm:

• Air Travel: More than 14,000 flights have been canceled nationwide today. Major hubs including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark are reporting nearly 100% of departures grounded.
• Road Closures: In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro has implemented "Tier 4" vehicle restrictions, banning all commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles towing trailers from major interstates.
• National Guard: Over 20 National Guard units have been activated across the 22 emergency states to assist in search-and-rescue and to support overstretched utility crews.

Monday Outlook: Remote Pivot Expected

With the storm expected to dump record snow totals through Monday morning, Governor Kathy Hochul has already authorized New York State employees to work remotely tomorrow. NYC Public Schools are expected to announce a pivot to remote learning by noon today, as the city's online learning systems undergo a final "stress test" for what could be the largest remote-day in history.

TNW News will continue to monitor the Gemini National Pulse rotation with live updates. Do not travel unless absolutely necessary.

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