Winter Storm Fern is unleashing chaos across the US right now—bringing heavy snow, dangerous ice, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Plains through the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and into the Northeast. As of January 23, 2026, this massive system is already hammering air travel, with thousands of flights delayed or canceled (over 1,800 disruptions reported Friday alone, and 1,600+ cancellations slated for Saturday per FlightAware and major trackers). Hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York-area airports are hit hardest, with ripple effects nationwide. Over 170-200 million people are under winter weather alerts, and experts warn of “potentially historic” impacts—think ground stops, reduced airport ops, and stranding risks through the weekend into early next week.