A sprawling winter storm with the potential to be both disruptive and dangerous is set to unfold from the South into the Eastern U.S. this weekend. While Ohio may not see the worst of it, its role in the setup is critical.
The Weather Channel has named the system Winter Storm Fern, and forecasters say it could bring damaging ice, heavy snow, and widespread travel issues from Texas and Oklahoma all the way to the Carolinas and the Northeast from Friday through Sunday.
Meteorologists say Winter Storm Fern is coming together because of a classic but volatile setup:
- An arctic high pressure system settling over the Great Lakes, including Ohio
- A storm system moving out of the Southwest, pulling in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico
That clash, bitter cold air to the north and warm, moisture-laden air to the south, is a recipe for snow, sleet, and especially ice.
Ohio’s role? That arctic air mass parked nearby is helping lock in the cold, increasing the risk that precipitation farther south falls as freezing rain instead of plain rain.
While heavy snow is possible in parts of the Appalachians, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, ice is the top concern, particularly across the South. Forecasters warn that even a half-inch of ice can make roads impassable, weigh down trees and power lines and cause widespread and prolonged power outages.
Because temperatures are expected to stay cold even after the storm passes, any ice that forms may linger for days.
Right now, Ohio is not expected to be at the center of Winter Storm Fern’s worst impacts, but residents should still pay attention. Very cold air associated with the storm will remain locked in and travel to or from southern states could be heavily disrupted.
Major airport hubs in the storm’s path: Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis, and Charlotte — are likely to see delays and cancellations that ripple nationwide.
If storm tracks shift north even slightly, parts of southern and eastern Ohio could still see snow or a wintry mix, so forecasters stress that there’s still wiggle room in the forecast.
Weather officials urge people across the region to monitor forecasts closely through the weekend, prepare for power outages, especially if you have travel or family connections in the South. It’s suggested you avoid unnecessary travel in areas under ice storm or winter storm warnings as forecasters confidence grows that Winter Storm Fern will be a high-impact event, even if exact snowfall and ice totals are still being fine-tuned.
