The North American storm unofficially known as “Winter Storm Fern” was a powerful and widespread winter weather system originating from the Pacific Ocean, landing in Northern Mexico on January 23, and moving across the United States and Canada through late January 2026 (Wikipedia and The Weather Network). According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) storm summaries and official forecasts: The storm formed over the United States beginning on January 23, 2026, as a low-pressure system developed in association with a strong Arctic air mass moving southward through the Plains. As moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean moved northward, this moisture encountered the cold air mass at the surface, allowing precipitation to fall as snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice across a broad swath of the country. The system tracked eastward toward the Atlantic Coast over the next few days, producing heavy winter precipitation across multiple regions before moving offshore by early January 26.
(This content was created with assistance from generative AI. The content has been reviewed and edited by a human.)
Date of event: January 23-26, 2026
Impact:
- Millions of people across more than 40 U.S. states experienced severe winter weather and impacts (FoxWeather).
- Reports of more than 100 fatalities (AP News)
- Insurance estimates from Verisk and Karen Clark & Company (KCC) note an up to $6.7 billion impact (Insurance Business Magazine)
- Overall economic impact estimated at over $100 billion (Accuweather)
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