The first wave of Winter Storm Fern has moved across the Southeast and lower Midwest, bringing a mix of snow, ice, and widespread travel disruptions that are already affecting freight movement. As forecasted, Interstate 40 has become the dividing line between snow to the north and significant ice accumulation to the south, creating dangerous road conditions across multiple states.
Several major interstates have been partially or fully shut down as conditions deteriorated. Interstate 70 has experienced multiple closures throughout Missouri near St. Louis due to snow-covered roads and traffic accidents. First responders have reported difficulty reaching crash sites because of slick conditions and limited visibility. Farther south, nearly every interstate leading into Dallas has closed because of ice, effectively isolating the metro area for freight traffic. Despite these closures, officials report no widespread power outages in Texas or surrounding states so far.
Conditions have also worsened steadily in Tennessee. Nashville has seen road conditions deteriorate throughout the day, with forecasts calling for up to 0.75 inches of ice accumulation within a 12-hour window. Meteorologists and state officials along the storm’s path have strongly advised drivers to stay off the roads from late Saturday night through early Sunday afternoon, citing rapidly freezing surfaces and limited road treatment capacity.
Impact on Major Freight Hubs
Winter Storm Fern is directly affecting some of the nation’s most critical logistics hubs, prompting major carriers to activate contingency plans:
- Louisville, Kentucky: UPS has closed its Worldport air hub due to expected snowfall exceeding one foot. Employees scheduled for Sunday Second Day Air operations were instructed not to report to work. UPS stated it will resume operations as soon as safety conditions allow.
- Memphis and Indianapolis: FedEx confirmed it has activated contingency plans at both hubs. The carrier warned of potential delays for packages shipped or scheduled for delivery between January 23 and January 24, advising customers to monitor tracking updates closely.
- Dallas-Fort Worth: Highway closures have disrupted regional freight flows, limiting inbound and outbound truck access to one of the largest logistics markets in the country.
These hubs play a critical role in national and international supply chains, and even short-term closures can ripple across multiple transportation modes.
Expanding Regional Disruptions
The storm’s effects are now spreading eastward. The Northeast and East Coast have begun experiencing snowfall as Winter Storm Fern continues its progression. Winter storm warnings are expected to remain in effect longer in these regions, raising the likelihood of additional interstate and state highway closures. Transportation departments are preparing for near-total travel shutdowns until road conditions improve.
What Comes Next
The second wave of Winter Storm Fern is expected overnight and is forecast to deliver the bulk of the storm’s ice and snow accumulation. This timing is particularly concerning, as overnight freezing conditions could make roads nearly impassable by morning. Emergency officials warn that even treated roads may refreeze quickly, prolonging closures and delaying recovery efforts.
With freight hubs already operating under contingency plans and additional accumulation ahead, logistics providers and shippers should prepare for continued disruptions as the storm’s second phase unfolds.
Source:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/assessing-the-first-wave-of-winter-storm-fern
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