Let's hope you didn't have travel plans over the next couple of days. A brutal winter storm is taking shape and poised to barrel across a vast swath of the US this weekend, with forecasters warning of potentially dangerous impacts. And it's already affecting US travel plans. On Thursday, Delta Airlines announced it was canceling some flights due to the impending storm
The first flights affected involve select airports in five southern states.
"As the winter storm system moves east, current forecasts indicate significant snowfall in Oklahoma and accumulating ice throughout Northern Texas beginning Friday evening," Delta said in a statement posted Thursday. "Due to these expected conditions, flight cancellations are necessary at select airports in North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to ensure the safety of our customers and people.
The airline says Delta rebooks customers on the next best itinerary, and that customers can make further changes via the Delta app and website. Other airlines haven't canceled flights as of Thursday evening, although some, including United and American, have warned the weather could disrupt their flight schedules.
As many as 180 million people -- from Texas through the Midwest and into New England -- could find themselves in its crosshairs, bracing for heavy snow, crippling ice, bitter cold, and the risk of widespread power outages. Ahead of its arrival, here's an expert-backed guide to help you prepare and stay safe.
"Power outages are likely from northern Texas to the Carolinas," Thomas Kines, senior meteorologist at Accuweather, told CNET. "The worst-case scenario is that power is lost for several days in some communities."
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When will the storm begin?
According to The Weather Channel, the impending Winter Storm Fern is set to begin on Friday in the South Central states, then move into the Midwest and eventually the East Coast.
"Talks of snow may be exciting, but dangerously cold temperatures bring even more risk this weekend," The Weather Channel reported in a social media post. "Negative 50 F wind chills in the Plains, and sub-freezing temperatures all the way down to the Gulf Coast pose a life-threatening risk this weekend, especially where snow/ice cause power outages."
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