Frightened New Yorkers descended upon Whole Foods stores across the city in a frantic last-minute shopping spree, braving sub-zero temperatures on Saturday as a potentially historic snowstorm loomed over the metropolis. Winter Storm Fern threatens to blanket New York City with up to 18 inches of snow over the weekend, prompting widespread panic buying and emergency declarations.
Shelves Emptied as Residents Prepare for Deluge
The Daily Mail captured scenes at the Whole Foods Market on 28th Street and Madison Avenue on Saturday afternoon, where essential items including bottled water, crackers, and canned goods had already vanished from shelves. Shoppers scrambled to secure final groceries before the anticipated weather onslaught, creating what one described as a "kind of crazy" atmosphere.
International Residents Confront Unfamiliar Winter Fury
Tommy Andrades, a 21-year-old originally from Colombia experiencing his first New York snowstorm, expressed genuine fear about the approaching weather system. "It's my first snow[storm] here in New York City, so I'm kind of scared," Andrades confessed, describing temperatures around 15 degrees Fahrenheit that felt bone-chilling. "The wind is something that kind of explodes in my face, and that's inside of my bones," he told reporters, struggling to articulate the intensity of the cold.
Following family advice from Colombia, Andrades purchased chicken, meat, and canned beans, explaining his comprehensive approach: "Everything. In case the storm is bad and you can't even get out."
Contrasting Forecasts Heighten Uncertainty
Weather predictions varied significantly between sources, adding to public anxiety. While CBS News reported forecasts of up to 18 inches of snow for the Big Apple, the National Weather Service offered more conservative estimates, suggesting Manhattan had a 94 percent chance of receiving six inches and a 48 percent chance of accumulating up to 12 inches. Major airports faced substantial disruption probabilities, with JFK Airport having a 90 percent chance of six inches and 60 percent chance of one foot of snow, while LaGuardia Airport faced a 92 percent chance of 12 inches.
Parental Warnings Spur Preparedness
Alex Amine, 25, who lives across from the Whole Foods, initially underestimated the storm's severity until receiving urgent advice from his mother. "I was kind of underplaying it, but my mom called and she said I gotta come to Whole Foods and get ready for it," Amine revealed. His mother feared the grocer would already be sold out, though Amine found the situation "better than I thought it was." His shopping basket contained meat, cheese, eggs, and healthier options including pistachios.
Seasoned New Yorker Maintains Calm Amid Chaos
Seventy-year-old Abby Laufer presented a contrasting perspective, describing herself as "very relaxed" about the incoming storm despite recognizing its potential impact on travel plans. With houseguests scheduled to leave by airplane on Monday, Laufer pragmatically noted, "I don't think they're going anywhere," prompting her precautionary food shopping expedition.
Laufer observed unprecedented crowding at the Whole Foods location, quipping, "I would rather go to Trader Joe's, but they're gonna be crazy today." Rather than viewing the storm purely as an inconvenience, she planned to embrace the enforced downtime: "I have chicken, and I'm going to make coq au vin. I'm taking advantage. I don't cook that much, but it's nice to cook."
Emergency Declarations and Widespread Disruption
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state on Friday as Winter Storm Fern approached. The storm had already begun affecting other regions by Saturday morning, with snow falling in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Minnesota. Nationwide travel chaos ensued, with nearly 3,700 flights canceled on Saturday and approximately 6,300 anticipated cancellations for Sunday.
Bitter Cold Fails to Deter All New Yorkers
Remarkably, some residents embraced the extreme conditions rather than retreating indoors. Just minutes from the Whole Foods on 32nd Street and Broadway, locals queued at Chinese fast food chain Mixue for tea and ice cream despite the freezing weather. Jessica Sun, 19, admitted she had "never felt so cold in my life" while still praising the food as "pretty nice."
Julia Placides, visiting from the Philippines on only her second New York trip, discovered her preparations insufficient: "I thought I was ready for it. I thought I was bundled up enough. I wasn't." Her friend Isa Flojo from Jersey City maintained determined optimism: "I don't think I've ever been this cold, but we still got our ice cream, so it's still kind of manageable."
National Emergency Response Activated
Meteorologists have warned that Winter Storm Fern could crush trees and power lines, potentially knocking out electricity and heating for days while making movement extremely difficult. More than 20 states have issued disaster or emergency declarations ahead of the storm's arrival. Millions of Americans have received official advice to take precautions and avoid non-essential travel throughout the weekend as the system moves into the Northeast, bringing frigid temperatures and dangerous conditions to major metropolitan hubs including New York City.
