As many as 230 million people may be affected by the potentially life-threatening weather conditions.

14:12, Fri, Jan 23, 2026 Updated: 16:27, Fri, Jan 23, 2026

U.S. President Trump

Donald Trump lashed out at 'Environmental Insurrectionists' (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump hit out at "Environmental Insurrectionists" in a message shared on Truth Social as a storm described as "potentially catastrophic" by experts is set to smash into the US in hours. A massive storm is likely to spread destructive ice and heavy snow over 34 states in the US through Monday in the South, Midwest, and Northeast, including a potential nor’easter.

Expressing concern about the weather conditions, the US President posted on Truth Social: "Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???" Weather experts believe the storm, which will come later into the week, may turn out to be a "widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas".

US Storm

A storm is likely to hit the USA in days (Image: National Weather Service)

Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told AP: "I don’t know how people are going to deal with it."

Winter Storm Fern, as designated by The Weather Channel, is shaping up to be one of the most far‑reaching winter systems in recent years.

Forecasters at The Weather Company warn that the storm’s massive footprint could bring disruptive snow or dangerous ice to more than 230 million people — roughly two‑thirds of the entire US population.

The system is expected to sweep across 34 states, stretching from the deserts of Arizona through the Midwest and the South to New England.

Because Fern carries both heavy snowfall and the potential for widespread icing, it threatens to disrupt travel, strain power grids, and create hazardous conditions across multiple regions.

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Even after the storm itself moves on, its effects — from lingering ice to delayed travel and cleanup efforts — are expected to persist well beyond its final snowfall.

The National Weather Service’s Atlanta office said: "Global models are painting a concerning picture of what this weekend could look like, with an increasingly strong signal for ice storm potential across North Georgia and portions of central Georgia."