A potentially historic storm has begun peppering the South with half a foot of snow in falling in parts.

As of Saturday snow had begun falling in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.

Temperatures plummeted overnight bringing treacherous conditions to major roads including the i40 and i70.

Snow fall is expected to increase throughout the day as the storm makes its way across the country eventually reaching the northeast.

Over 7,000 flights have been cancelled this weekend, according to data compiled by FlightAware.

As of Friday night, 3,240 flights were cancelled scheduled for Saturday, with 3,066 of them within, into, or out of the US.

American Airlines canceled the most flights out of any airline company, canceling over 800 flights.

Dallas-Fort Worth was the most impacted airport, with 73 percent of outgoing flights canceled on Saturday and 69 percent of incoming flights canceled.

Flights were drastically impacted on Sunday, with 4,703 cancellations. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was the most impacted.

Senator Ted Cruz returned to Texas on Friday after a viral photo showed him hopping on a plane ahead of Winter Storm Fern.

The Republican poked fun at himself on Friday evening, posting a photo of him with his arm out, writing: ‘I am reliably informed by Twitter that if I simply raise up my hand on Texas soil, the storm will turn around & sunshine, rainbows & unicorns will emerge. Let it be.’

He said he had returned from a work trip and acknowledged the storm was expected to hit his state by Saturday evening.

The American Public Power Association announced that 185 utility workers in Florida were deployed to southeastern states to help assist with potential power outages over the weekend.

Crews were sent to four locations in South Carolina and one to Georgia on Friday.

Lineworkers in Minnesota were also sent to Virginia, according to the Minnesota Rural Electric Association.

Customers across the nation rushed to stores on Thursday and Friday to stock up ahead of this weekend’s winter storm Fern.

Take a look at the videos below to see how locals cleared out grocery stores.

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Friday that the National Response Coordination Center has been activated ahead of the winter storm.

She said 30 generators, 250,000 meals, 400,000 liters of water, and other essential supplies were on hand to support affected areas.

Staging areas have also been set up in Texas and Louisiana. Additionally, three Incident Management Assistance Teams have been deployed, and 15 are on standby.

DHS has also ordered 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams to stand by.

Noem shared a series of photos of federal agencies coordinating the response effort to her X account, seen below.

The Department of Homeland Security’s human resources department reportedly informed employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency that cuts have been paused to accommodate the impending storm, the Washington Post reported.

The outlet had previously reported that FEMA was planning to fire disaster response and recovery workers in waves.

On Thursday, around 30 disaster workers were reportedly informed that their jobs wouldn’t be renewed with the organization, only for human resources to backtrack later in the day.

On Wednesday, FEMA cut around 85 local hires, some of whom were working on Hurricane Helene recovery projects in North Carolina.

Within the last two months, FEMA has lost over 100 workers due to terminations.

DHS said in a statement to the Post that staffers with the Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) program are employed in term-limited positions that fluctuate based on disaster activity and need.

Homeland Security officials reportedly told the Federal Emergency Management Agency to avoid using phrasing such as ‘watch out for ice’ amid nationwide calls to stop raids from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Two sources familiar with the memo told CNN that federal officials were concerned that the messaging could be confusing or spark memes.

‘If FEMA says, “Keep off the roads if you see ice,” it would be easy for the public to meme it,’ one of CNN’s souces said

‘I think it’s a dangerous precedent to set. If we can’t use clear language to help prepare Americans, then people may be left vulnerable and could suffer.’

A FEMA spokesperson slammed the report in a statement to CNN, calling it a ‘desperate ploy for clickbait.’

‘FEMA will use correct and accurate descriptors of weather conditions to communicate clearly to the American people,’ the statement added.

Delaware became the sixteenth state to declare a state of emergency late on Friday evening ahead of the weekend’s winter storm.

The state joined 15 others and the US capital Washington DC in doing so, as millions across the country are set to be hit with the blast.

Governor Matthew Meyer said: ‘Delawareans should always feel secure in their communities, especially during severe winter weather.

‘That’s why I’m declaring a State of Emergency in Delaware, starting Sunday morning.

Please prepare while you can, avoid being on the roads once the storm begins, and listen to your state and local officials for the latest information and safety warnings.

‘Together, let’s make sure every Delawarean stays safe and warm this weekend.’

At least 172 million Americans are under a winter storm warning through Sunday.

Take a look at the key phrases below to understand what the warnings in your area mean, per FEMA.

• Winter Weather Advisory – Hazardous conditions are expected
• Winter Storm Watch – Severe weather is possible, and those in the alerted area should start preparing for hazardous conditins
• Winter Storm Warning – Severe weather is about to hit the alerted area, and those under the warning should immediately seek shelter

It’s easy to get overwhelmed preparing for a severe winter storm, but don’t forget to secure your home to keep your family safe.

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal if generators are not used properly.

It’s likely that many homes will lose power and have to turn to generators. Generator exhaust is toxic, so the appliance should always be outside, away from doors, windows, and vents.

Heating your home with a ‘combustion appliance’ like a gas stove, oven, or dryer can also be extremely dangerous.

Pipes may also burst during the freezing temperatures, so it’s important to check for mold buildup, which can cause or worsen health problems.

Lastly, be cautious if you’re using a fireplace or wood stove to heat your home during power outages.

Only dry, seasoned wood should be used to maintain a hot fire.

The National Weather Service has warned that heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding are hitting parts of central Texas and the Hill Country.

The alert was issued just before 10:30 pm EST. Take a look at the imagery below to see what parts of the state are impacted.