A nation in deep freeze: 23 States under hypothermia warnings after historic Winter Storm Fern
By zoeysky // 2026-01-28
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  • Following a massive winter storm, over 20 states from Texas to New York are under extreme cold warnings. Dangerously low temperatures and wind chill can cause frostbite or hypothermia in under 30 minutes outdoors.
  • The crisis is also affecting typically warm regions and has turned homes into danger zones. Southern states along the Gulf Coast and even parts of Florida are experiencing unprecedented cold. With over 550,000 power outages, unheated homes in states like Louisiana and Tennessee are as life-threatening as the outdoors.
  • The storm has already caused numerous deaths. At least 38 people from across 14 states have died from storm-related causes, including hypothermia, cardiac events and tragic accidents like falling through ice. Major cities like New York have reported multiple fatalities.
  • Infrastructure is crippled, creating a cascading emergency. The storm has caused massive power outages, grounded flights and made roads impassable. This disrupts heat, travel and emergency services, while also raising risks of burst pipes and carbon monoxide poisoning from unsafe heating methods.
  • Authorities are urging extreme caution and community care. Officials advise dressing in layers for any necessary outdoor exposure, checking on vulnerable neighbors and bringing pets inside. The situation is a dire national emergency, with millions enduring a relentless and life-threatening freeze.
A brutal and expansive deep freeze is gripping the United States in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, with more than twenty states now under urgent hypothermia warnings. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extreme cold alerts from Texas to New York, warning that temperatures and wind chills are so dangerously low that simply being outside can turn deadly within minutes. This crisis follows a historic winter event that, over the weekend, spanned over 2,000 miles and brought more than a foot of snow, ice storms and sub-zero temperatures to over 150 million people. Now, as the snow tapers off, the true danger sets in: a prolonged, bone-chilling cold snap that threatens lives, cripples infrastructure and has already claimed dozens of victims. The map of affected areas is vast and alarming. States throughout the Gulf Coast, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, are facing wind chills as low as 10 degrees below zero, which is cold enough to cause frostbite on exposed skin in just half an hour. The Midwest is facing even more severe conditions, with parts of Ohio, Nebraska and Minnesota expecting wind chills between 30 and 45 degrees below zero. At these extremes, the risk of hypothermia becomes immediate, with the potential for fatal consequences in less than 20 minutes of exposure. The list of states under the gun includes Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Meteorologists warn that unheated homes could become as deadly as the outdoors in certain areas

Even typically warmer southern regions are not spared; the Florida panhandle and southern Georgia are seeing wind chills in the single digits and teens. Meteorologists have underscored the particular peril for those who lose power, warning that in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, an unheated home could become as deadly as the outdoors. The human cost of Winter Storm Fern is already tragically clear. Reports from local officials and news media indicate at least 38 people across 14 states have died from storm-related causes. The fatalities span a grim spectrum, from hypothermia and exposure to cardiac events while shoveling snow. In a heartbreaking incident in Bonham, Texas, three young boys died after falling into an ice pond. In Austin, another individual succumbed to apparent hypothermia while seeking shelter in an abandoned gas station. Hypothermia deaths have been reported from Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Michigan. New York City, experiencing its coldest temperatures in eight years, reported ten of these fatalities, all found outdoors. The city was forced to postpone its annual count of the homeless population, a stark indicator of the crisis facing its most vulnerable residents. Nationwide, the storm’s aftermath has left over 550,000 homes and businesses without power, raising the terrifying prospect of hundreds of thousands of Americans without heat for days as the mercury continues to plummet. Authorities are pleading with the public to treat the conditions with the utmost seriousness. The NWS advises dressing in multiple layers, including hats, face masks and gloves, for any necessary time outside. They urge frequent checks on elderly or vulnerable neighbors and emphasize that pets must be brought indoors. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the dangers extend beyond direct exposure; frozen pipes can burst, causing extensive property damage, and the desperate use of portable heaters and generators indoors raises the risk of deadly fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. The situation presents a dire national emergency. The combination of historic snowfall, widespread power outages and a lingering arctic blast capable of causing frostbite and hypothermia in minutes has created a perfect storm of suffering. As cities mobilize emergency resources and shelters, millions of Americans are left to endure a cold that shows no sign of relenting, a stark reminder of nature’s devastating power and the fragile line between safety and catastrophe. Watch this clip with useful tips on how to prepare for winter storms. This video is from the Offgrid Today channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk MSN.com StraitsTimes.com BrightU.AI Brighteon.com
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