Winter Storm Fern has crippled the US power grid, leaving over 100,000 people without electricity. Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico are hardest hit. The storm has also grounded more than 12,000 flights, stranding passengers nationwide as it sweeps from the South to the East Coast.

Emergency declarations are in effect for South Carolina and Virginia, with governors across multiple states activating response plans. The Energy Secretary ordered grid operators to release over 35 gigawatts of backup generation to prevent cascading blackouts. Comparisons are being drawn to the catastrophic 2021 Texas freeze that caused widespread failures.

Grid operators like PJM and ERCOT are mobilizing crews, but challenges remain. Natural gas prices have spiked, though not to the extreme levels seen in 2021. Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are adjusting operations, prioritizing worker safety. Analysts warn that rising electricity demand from data centers could strain system buffers during future extreme weather events.