With snow and cold set to move in, Cincinnati Fire and Duke Energy share safety tips to help you stay warm and avoid dangerous mistakes in the event of a weekend power outage.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is preparing for Winter Storm Fern and encourages customers across the Carolinas to prepare now and stay safe ahead of possible multiday power outages.

Ice could bring down branches and possibly entire trees, resulting in power outages. Duke Energy says trucks and crews from Florida and other regions are on their way to the Carolinas.

More than 18,000 workers will be ready to respond as soon as conditions are safe.

So, you know, if you’ve not taken this storm seriously up until now, this is the time to take it seriously,” said Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks.

With Winter Storm Fern expected to move into the Carolinas this weekend, Duke Energy crews and support teams are completing their preparations and urging customers to finalize their own storm plans.

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Duke Energy customers can access the power outage map and report outages online at outagemap.duke-energy.com. The interactive map allows you to zoom in on outage areas to see how many customers are affected in an area, repair status, and estimated time of restoration.