Walmart shelves stripped bare as panic buyers empty out stores ahead of massive storm
A shopper in Oklahoma shared an image of the empty egg shelves at a Walmart storeCredit: Facebook / Katelyn Brown
Walmart shoppers across the U.S. are clearing store shelves as they prepare for severe winter weather expected to impact much of the country in the coming days.
Echoing scenes from the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are panic buying groceries and emergency supplies as Winter Storm Fern approaches. The potentially historic storm, forecast to be one of the coldest in U.S. history, is expected to affect more than 35 states and place over 200 million people in its path.
As multiple states issue emergency declarations, shoppers are flooding grocery stores such as Walmart, Aldi, and H-E-B, stocking up on essentials in anticipation of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice.
A Walmart Supercenter in Boone, North Carolina, showed clear signs of “heavy pre-storm shopping,” according to a Facebook post that displayed empty shelves and limited inventory across several departments.
Reactions online were mixed. One user called the panic buying “embarrassing,” while another joked, “Getting ready for an apocalypse apparently.” At a Walmart in Cullman, Alabama, a viral video showed an emptied dairy section with on-screen text reading: “My local Walmart because someone mentioned snow and ice. I’ll never understand panic buying — please tell me this is just a south thing.”
Similar scenes were reported elsewhere. Photos from an Aldi in Knoxville, Tennessee, showed a nearly bare bread aisle with just one loaf remaining, empty egg shelves, and very little milk left.
“Tennessee is really tripping over the snowstorm. There is nothing in stores,” one Facebook user wrote while sharing images of depleted ground beef and paper goods shelves.
In Wise, Virginia, a shopper posted a photo of an empty dairy section at her local Walmart, warning others that shelves were already bare. In Oklahoma, TikToker Kym Adams shared footage of Walmart aisles filled with shoppers loading up on bottled water, baby supplies, and bread.
“If you’re from Oklahoma, you know there’s probably not any bread or milk left,” she said.
Panic buying appears to be most widespread in southern states, even though forecasts there are less severe than in the Midwest or Northeast. However, the South is often less equipped to handle prolonged freezing temperatures, ice, and snow.
With limited infrastructure for winter weather, even modest storms can quickly shut down roads, disrupt power, and cause widespread problems. Weather experts warn that the damage from Fern could resemble that of a hurricane, with power outages potentially lasting up to a week.
How Severe Will the Storm Be?
Meteorologists predict Winter Storm Fern will stretch more than 2,000 miles and bring snow, ice, sleet, and freezing rain to hundreds of millions of Americans beginning Friday. Wind chills could drop as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas.
The Weather Channel forecasts “significant ice” and “freezing rain” across large portions of Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The storm is expected to move from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, then across the South and Tennessee Valley over the weekend. By Sunday morning, parts of Texas and Oklahoma could experience wind chills below zero. On Monday, record low temperatures are possible from Texas to Mississippi.
The cold air will then push east into the Northeast, where temperatures may fall as much as 20 degrees below seasonal averages.
Governors in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas have already declared states of emergency.
What Officials Are Saying
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that federal emergency management officials are on standby.
“We are anticipating a major winter weather event expected to impact much of the U.S. population this weekend, especially the Midwest and East Coast,” Noem said.
She added that DHS is working closely with state and local authorities, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to prepare for the storm.
“Please prepare and take precautions in the event of power outages, pipe bursts, road closures, airport delays, flight cancellations, and freezing temperatures,” she said. “Federal emergency management is positioned to respond effectively and provide assistance across affected areas.”
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