Winter Storm Fern hits 12 major cities with snow, ice, and freezing rain. Power outages and travel chaos expected through the weekend.

Winter storm watch: The National Weather Service issues a winter storm watch when there is the potential for heavy snow or ice accumulation. The watch is typically issued at least 24 to 36 hours in advance. Criteria for the watch varies by location.

Mark Twain As I sit in my warm house writing words to fill this space, I’m watching the Weather Channel. I am hearing phrases like “historic winter storm” and “catastrophic ice storm.” The Weather Channel has also named the winter storm Fern.

Utilities across the country are mobilizing ahead of Winter Storm Fern, which is forecast to bring extreme cold, heavy snow, and damaging ice from the Southwest through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast.

CEO Rohit Agarwal says hype and scaremongering amid a dangerous storm are counter-productive when the company is building its business based on trust.

If you drive an EV, Winter Storm Fern turns charging into a reliability test. Sites can go offline. Lines can balloon. And the worst time to discover your plan has zero slack is when it’s bitter cold and your phone battery is bleeding out.

Track everything from current conditions, forecast timing and potential impacts from the winter storm here.

As winter storm 'Fern' approaches, panic buying has led to empty grocery shelves nationwide. However, supermarkets have warned against hoarding.