Winter Storm Fern has claimed at least seven lives and caused widespread disruption as it swept across the eastern United States, bringing record snowfall and freezing temperatures. The storm, which has prompted states of emergency in 20 states, continues to move northwards after pummelling the Midwest and South.
In New York City, five people were found dead on the streets on Saturday as temperatures plunged below freezing. Two further deaths were confirmed in Louisiana's Caddo Parish. More than one million homes and businesses are without power, with Tennessee worst affected, reporting over 330,000 outages.
Transport chaos has ensued, with over 10,000 flights cancelled and up to 15,000 possible by Monday – marking one of the highest weather-related cancellation totals in US aviation history. New York City public schools will switch to remote learning on Monday, while the city's subway system continues to operate. In New Jersey, bus, light rail and Access Link services were suspended from Sunday morning, with rail services ending at 2pm.
Snowfall totals have been significant, with 15 inches recorded in Midland, Pennsylvania; 13 inches in Bridgeport, Connecticut; 12 inches in Ridgefield, New Jersey; and 11 inches in the Bronx, New York. The NBA postponed two games – between the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks, and between the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies – due to travel difficulties caused by the storm.
Federal offices in Washington, DC, and state offices in Kentucky, Maryland and New Jersey will remain closed on Monday as recovery efforts begin. Despite the severe weather, protests continued in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of a nurse by federal immigration officers, drawing large crowds in sub-zero temperatures.
