A day after hundreds of thousands of people lost power and endured hazardous conditions, thewinter storm called "historic"byPresident Donald Trumpis continuing to sweep through parts of the United States on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Wintry conditions across more than a dozen states led to Trump approving federal emergency disaster declarations in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and West Virginia.
"We will continue to monitor, and stay in touch with all States in the path of this storm. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Jan. 24.
According to theNational Weather Service, the ongoing major winter storm expanded into the Mid-Atlantic overnight Sunday and then was expected into the Northeast late Sunday. "Heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain will bring considerable impacts to much of the eastern half of the United States," the government agency said.
Theweather service addedthat frigid temperatures will "expand across the eastern 2/3 of the country this weekend, with very cold weather continuing through much of next week." The agency is advising people in the storm's path to prepare themselves and their pets for "life-threatening cold!"
Here's what to know about the weekend's storm that is continuing to impact tens of millions of Americans.
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See stunning photos from the massive winter storm blanketing the US
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could bethe worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
How much snow has fallen so far?
Snow continues to fallacross the United States on Sunday, Jan. 25, asbone-chilling temperatureshave prompted hundreds of thousands to bundle up.
With snow sticking in some regions of the country, here's an interactive map showing exactly where inches are piling up:
Where is the winter storm right now? See live weather map
Track power outages
More than 130,000 outages were affecting utility customers across the path of the storm as of early Sunday.
"The scale and severity of this storm are historic, and so is the response," Drew Maloney, president and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute, told USA TODAY on Saturday. The Institute represents U.S. investor-owned electric companies.
What is Winter Storm Fern?
The Weather Channelidentified the winter storm as "Winter Storm Fern" in its coverage and on social media. The TV network names storms that reach a certain threshold; however, theNational Weather Service does not name winter storms.
The well-known international system is used to name Hurricanes and tropical cyclones, as it's not uncommon to have more than one hurricane or tropical storm moving at any given time. Without names, it could be confusing for meteorologists and the public who might be in harm's way.
In an email to USA TODAY, the NWS said it has no plans to consider naming winter storms.
"Unlike tropical storms, winter storms are diverse with conditions that evolve throughout the storm's life," the weather service stated. "That is why our forecasts, watches and warnings focus on specific impacts such as wind conditions, snowfall, ice, temperature, visibility and other impacts."
The winter weather over the United Statesshows the complexities that make winter stormsdifferent from the spinning cyclones that move in one direction. Roughly 30 states are under at least one kind of weather advisory, but they're not really all part of the same storm system.
— Dinah Voyles Pulver and Doyle Rice
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See animals and pets outdoors amid intense winter storm
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could bethe worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. Seeanimals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
What to do if you lose power during winter storm?
If your power isknocked out, the American Red Cross suggests people be ready withemergency preparedness kitsthat include coolers, ice, water, flashlights and batteries, a first aid kit, a seven-day supply of medications and more.
Impacted households should also keep track of food throughout the duration of the outage. If power is out for less than two hours, perishable food should still be safe to consume. However, after four hours without power, the food in the fridge should be discarded.
Staying warm during a power outage can also be challenging; however, avoiding opening and closing doors can help, as it prevents losing heat. Staying in one room with your family and pets is also a strategy to keep warm, as it will help retain body heat. Regardless of how cold it gets, it is not recommended to use a stove or oven to heat your home, as gas ovens pose a dangerouscarbon monoxidethat can lead to poisoning or death.
-Jonathan Limehouse
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Winter storm path, snow forecast: Live updates on weather
