# Company's coming! Winter storm Fern **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951 "2026-01-23T13:57:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/81 "2026-01-24T23:31:42Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > The guy ahead of me snagged the last head of ice berg lettuce, damn. Isn’t that the one where you expend more calories chewing it than you gain from it? Strange food to hoard. (Looks at his cases of MREs) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/82 "2026-01-24T23:38:41Z")
Perhaps that other shopper is hoarding TP & French Toast for himself and lettuce for his pet rabbits? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/83 "2026-01-24T23:51:09Z")
I went to Meijers. It was busier than a weekday but lots of bread, no shortages. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/84 "2026-01-25T00:04:20Z")
Waffle House has started closing locations. Getting serious out there.still waiting here in phila. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/85 "2026-01-25T00:43:14Z")
I checked Accuweather vs NWS vs Weather Channel for a month or so. NWS was usually the most accurate, so they’re the only one I check now. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/86 "2026-01-25T00:57:42Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > One exception: lamps fueled with lamp oil. Didn’t work for us. We lit the lamp in the kitchen, and within five minutes both the upstairs and the basement smoke detectors went off. A fluke, we thought, so we tried during the next power failure. Same thing. We have rechargeable battery 1000 lumen lamps now. You can read the fine print in a used car dealer’s contract with one. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/87 "2026-01-25T01:00:05Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I checked Accuweather vs NWS vs Weather Channel for a month or so. NWS was usually the most accurate, so they’re the only one I check now. Here in Canada I found one of the commercial services – not sure if it was Weather Channel or Accuweather – more accurate than Environment Canada after a few spot checks. For one example, I was watching the weather forecasts with intense interest prior to the total solar eclipse in April of 2024, because it looked like there would be total overcast. On the day before, Environment Canada was predicting total overcast for the day of the eclipse, but one of those other ones was predicting the possibility of some clearing. Well, they were right! Miracle of miracles, just before the eclipse was to start, the skies cleared! I’m now seeing these services predicting less snow than Environment Canada, issuing yellow but not orange alerts, so we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/88 "2026-01-25T01:31:30Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Waffle House has started closing locations. Shit! Really? I’ve mostly been using “shadow weather” which relies on “multiple sources”. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/89 "2026-01-25T01:49:16Z")
I was shocked at the dire forecasts last evening. I was not nearly what they said was gonna happen. I was ready to decamp. I’m not one to consult weather services. I read the blurb in the paper or look out the window. This was just so much on everyone’s lips. So I had to see for myself where the info was coming from. Good grief, I was sure snowmageddon was upon us. We got some weather, but very manageable. I looked this afternoon, one more time. I think they’re still doing scare talk about tonight. Nothing happening. I may be wrong, but they dudded out in South Arkansas. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/90 "2026-01-25T02:05:39Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Isn’t that the one where you expend more calories chewing it than you gain from it? Strange food to hoard. (Looks at his cases of MREs) Could be, I suppose. Mainly I just want it to add a little crispiness to sandwiches, don’t care what else it has in it. Well, so long as it’s not actually poisonous. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/91 "2026-01-25T02:42:35Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I may be wrong, but they dudded out in South Arkansas. It ain’t over til it’s over. The warning for South Arkansas [runs through 6 p.m. Sunday.](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=ARZ073&warncounty=ARC139&firewxzone=ARZ073&local_place1=El%20Dorado%20AR&product1=Ice+Storm+Warning&lat=33.219&lon=-92.6628) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/92 "2026-01-25T02:43:57Z")
Yeah. I’m skeptical we’ll get more than a dusting. Watch it come a blizzard, now I jinxed it. 😱 ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/93 "2026-01-25T02:47:40Z")
It started snowing here (central Kansas) Friday evening. Quit sometime during the night but started up again this morning. Snowed all day, never really heavy, and quit an hour ago. Got about 7"; forecast was 9-12". Temps in single-digits all day and will be the same tomorrow, although the snow should be over. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/94 "2026-01-25T02:48:38Z")
It’s not snow you need to worry about. It’s ice. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/95 "2026-01-25T05:14:59Z")
I generally assume we’ll get about half the quantity of snow that’s predicted. Right now it says 8-14 inches, so I figure it will be morre like 4-7 inches. We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/96 "2026-01-25T05:22:57Z")
They keep raising our estimate and are now up to 18 inches. If we do get half that it’ll still be more than we’ve had all winter to date. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/97 "2026-01-25T05:28:58Z")
I do know that. We had a brief sprinkle of something wet and cold. I couldn’t really call it snow. We had 2 claps of thunder and its gone. I really think the low low temps are gonna be the story Fern tells. I mean we could get buried tonight. But I don’t think so. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/98 "2026-01-25T07:30:15Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Mainly I just want it to add a little crispiness to sandwiches, don’t care what else it has in it. I like a little lettuce on my sandwiches but they’re keen to be sitting in a cold, dark house with a little extra crispness in their sandwiches? Enough of them the clean out the supply? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/99 "2026-01-25T12:56:10Z")
1 inch so far in Mentor Ohio. Its predicted to be 12 inches by the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951/100 "2026-01-25T13:13:26Z")
The winter storm alert is still orange and hasn’t changed much but so far, no snowmageddon. Just a steady dusting of very light snow, but it’s the kind of light snow that can go on forever and produce a surprising amount of accumulation. Temperature is still chilly but not nearly as bad as a few nights ago. I’m pretty sure I heard birds chirping outside my window this morning – I wonder how the poor little things survive! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/companys-coming-winter-storm-fern/1026951.md?page=6)