Winter Storm Alert Update – January 23, 2026

Winter Storm Fern is officially beginning to make its way across the US, beginning in the Southern Plains area near Oklahoma and northern Texas and pushing eastward.

For fuel markets, storm conditions mirror the heavy winds and dangerous conditions of hurricanes. Power outages can impact fuel terminal operations, delaying deliveries after the storm. Moreover, post-storm temperatures will be a major consideration - low temperatures could cause ice damage to linger for days, delaying recovery efforts.

States of Emergency have been declared in several states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Many emergency declarations include waivers of various transportation requirements, including hours-of-service requirements.

Delivery Protocols

As Winter Storm Fern continues to develop, Mansfield remains on alert across several states. Code Orange protocols are now in effect for the Dallas, TX market, as well as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, with 48-hour delivery windows requested to support service continuity.

Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina remain under Code Red, with 72-hour delivery windows in place due to the higher expected storm impacts.

Mansfield is closely watching the evolving forecast and coordinating to support continuous operations. For customers with inventory management, our team is proactively topping off tanks to ensure adequate fuel levels before and after the storm. Call-in customers are encouraged to contact their support team to discuss upcoming fuel needs in areas that may be affected. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates as conditions change.

Winter Additives

Widespread cold weather, with temperatures dropping into the low teens or single digits, can cause diesel fuel to gel. In northern states, diesel fuel is often treated by default; in the south, however, treatments may vary. If you're unsure whether your fuel is being treated with winter additives and/or kerosene, speak with your account representative.

Due to a sudden surge in demand for winter additives, some supply options may be unavailable. Mansfield recommends maintaining some cold-flow additives (ColdPRO, Hot Shot Winter Defense, Howes Diesel Treat & Anti-Gel, etc.) and emergency reliquifier (RED ALERT, Diesel 9-1-1, etc.) on your site for emergencies. In the short term, these can be purchased at a local automotive or truck supply shop. You can also order for future storms by emailing [email protected].

Note that cold-flow additives can be added as a preventive measure; reliquifiers like RED ALERT or Diesel 9-1-1 should only be used in response to gelled fuel.