Severe snowstorm disrupts East Coast logistics operations in the U.S.

Winter Storm Fern is severely affecting more than 20 states across the eastern and southeastern United States, paralyzing transportation and with fatalities reported in some areas.

According to the Associated Press (AP) on January 25, approximately 140 million people in the U.S. — about 40% of the country’s population — were impacted by the severe winter storm over the past weekend.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts widespread heavy snowfall and sleet on January 25–26. The NWS also warned of significant ice accumulation across large areas of the southeastern U.S., with some locations expected to face severe impacts.

East Coast container ports and railroads are deploying operational safety measures ahead of a potentially damaging storm bringing heavy snow and ice, disrupting logistics operations along the I-95 corridor.

 

 

Photo: Workers de-ice an aircraft at Nashville International Airport, according to Reuters.

Snowfall in the New York City area is forecast at 4 to 8 inches (approximately 10–20 cm). Multiple terminals in the port areas of Baltimore, New York, and Norfolk are expected to close on Monday. Port authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions and coordinating with terminal operators and stakeholders to prepare response measures. The Port Authority of New York–New Jersey said in an email to FreightWaves, “Any operational decisions will be made collaboratively with safety as a top priority and will be communicated to the port community.” The authority added that stakeholders can monitor port authority alerts for the latest updates on traffic impacts or operational changes.

According to AccuWeather, it is rare for winter storms to combine heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold over such a large geographic area. This widespread winter storm could disrupt daily life and transportation for several days across large parts of the central and eastern United States.

As of Sunday, January 25, more than 12,000 flights had been canceled over the weekend, representing approximately 75% of normal flight volumes. The National Weather Service forecasts hazardous flying conditions to continue into Monday, indicating that further flight cancellations are likely in the coming days.

U.S. President Donald Trump has approved emergency declarations for an additional 12 states, bringing the total number of states under a state of emergency to 22.