Technologies

Winter Storm Warning: What’s Coming, Who’s at Risk and How To Prepare

This weekend’s storm could affect close to 200 million people and drop more than 20 inches of snow in some areas, according to multiple weather reports.

A powerful winter storm is lining up to slam a massive portion of the US this weekend, and experts say the effects could be severe. Up to 180 million people from Texas to New England could be in the storm’s path, facing snow, ice, freezing temperatures and possible power outages. Here’s your expert-backed guide to preparing before it arrives.

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When will the storm begin?

According to The Weather Channel, the impending «Winter Storm Fern» is set to begin on Friday in the Southern hemisphere, then move into the Midwest and eventually the East Coast.

«Talks of snow may be exciting, but dangerously cold temperatures bring even more risk this weekend,» The Weather Channel reported in a social media post. «Negative 50 F wind chills in the Plains, and sub-freezing temperatures all the way down to the Gulf Coast pose a life-threatening risk this weekend, especially where snow/ice cause power outages.»

With the storm still days away, predictions can change, so keep an eye on local weather reports for the latest alerts.

How should I prepare?

Now’s the time to act. Make sure you have enough food for the weekend, that your heat is working and that you have a plan if the lights go out.

Here are the items you should stock up on before a storm and how to keep your internet on during a power outage. It’s also smart to create an emergency kit for your vehicle.

Car emergency kit items

The US National Weather Service recommends including the following items in your car:

Cellphone charger
First aid kit
Jumper cables
Spare tire
Flares
Sand or cat litter
Tow rope
Blankets
Snow shovel and brush
Flashlight
A set of warm clothing
Water and nonperishable snacks

Items to have on hand at home

The National Weather Service has a separate list of items to have on hand at home when severe weather threatens:

Flashlight and extra batteries
Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information
Extra food and water such as dried fruit, nuts, granola bars and other food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.
Extra prescription medicine
Baby items such as diapers and formula
First-aid supplies
Heating fuel: refuel before you are empty; fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm
Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove or space heater properly ventilated to prevent a fire
Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm; test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they work properly
Extra pet food and warm shelter for pets

And in addition to the list, the NWS recommends these tips:

Review generator safety: Never run a generator in an enclosed space
Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working correctly and that the outside vent is clear of leaves and debris. During or after the storm, make sure it is cleared of snow.
Home fires are common each winter when trying to stay warm. Review ways to keep your home and loved ones safe.

How long will the storm last?

Winter Storm Fern is forecast to hit hard through the weekend, with snow and ice potentially lingering into next week. Local forecasts and news should share crucial updates on road conditions.

In some hard-hit places, storm-related problems won’t be resolved by the weekend.

«Potentially hundreds of thousands of people may go without electricity and heat for days,» AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. He also predicted that up to 4,000 flights may be canceled this weekend.

How should I protect my outdoor tech during winter storms?

Wondering what to do with outdoor tech in the winter, such as smart cameras, home devices or other electronics? CNET’s home security expert Tyler Lacoma has the answers.

«Always check the IP ratings of your outdoor devices if possible, and bring them inside until after the snow if they are below IP65,» he says. «The good news is that most home devices designed for the outdoors should be fine. If they are in the direct path of high winds or snowfall, try to find shelter for the tech until the storms pass.»

IP rating refers to a device’s Ingress Protection rating, a standardized way to describe how well a device is protected against the intrusion of solids and liquids, such as ice and snow. You may need to check the manufacturer’s website or instruction manual to determine a rating for a particular device. If you’re unsure, it’s best to bring your tech inside for the weekend or move devices under an awning or porch for protection from the elements.

Technologies

Google’s Pixel 10A Is Coming to Japan With an Exclusive Blue Edition and Special Wallpaper

This model comes with creatively designed stickers and a special look for Pixel’s 10th anniversary.

Don’t be blue: Google is releasing an Isai blue edition of the Pixel 10A to celebrate the Android phone line’s 10th anniversary, setting it apart with its own sticker set, specialized wallpaper and custom icons. But it’ll only be available in Japan.

Announced Tuesday on the Google Japan blog, the Isai blue Pixel 10A has a dark blue look and includes bonus decorations designed in collaboration with Japan’s Heralbony art company. These include an exclusive bumper case and stickers for customization.

This edition of the Pixel 10A will arrive in Japan on May 20, following the April 14 release of the Pixel 10A in its original colors of lavender, berry, fog and obsidian. The Isai blue model costs 94,900 yen, which roughly translates to $595, and includes 256GB of storage.

This makes it slightly less expensive than the US model’s 256GB edition, but it comes with a number of fun extras at no additional cost.

Google’s creation of a country-specific model for Japan may also reflect strong sales in that market. In 2023, the IDC analytics firm (via 9to5Google) reported that the Pixel 7 series accounted for 10.7% of the country’s market share, a 527% increase from 2022.

Technologies

Can’t Wait for New Emoji? Here’s How to Create Your Own on iPhone

Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhones can create custom emoji in a few easy steps.

Apple brought new emoji to all iPhones when the company released iOS 26.4 on March 24. The new emoji include «🫍» orca, «🫪» distorted face and «🫈» hairy creature — or as we might normally call it, Sasquatch. According to Emojipedia, there are 3,953 emoji with more on the way, including a pickle. But there’s no emoji for a dog wearing pajamas, a plate with burgers and fries and many other things. But if you have Genmoji on your iPhone you can create these emoji and many more.

Apple released iOS 18.2 in 2024 and the company introduced its own emoji generator, called Genmoji, to Apple Intelligence-capable iPhones at that time. The Unicode Standard, a universal character encoding standard, is responsible for creating new emoji, and approved emoji are added to all devices once a year. With Genmoji, you don’t have to wait for new emoji to appear on your iPhone each year. You can just create them as you need them.

Read on to learn how to use Genmoji on iPhone to create your own custom emoji. Just note that only iPhones with Apple Intelligence, like the iPhone 17 lineup, can use Genmoji at this time.

Note: The new emoji may not display correctly for Apple users whose devices aren’t on a 26.4 software version.

How to make custom emoji

1. Open Messages and go into a chat.
2. Tap the plus (+) button next to your text box.
3. Tap Genmoji.

You can then type a description of an emoji into the text box near the bottom of your screen and tap the check mark on your keyboard to enter that description into Genmoji. You can also tap different suggestions and themes that are right above the text box. And with iOS 26 or later, you can also combine and use emoji to create others rather than describing a new emoji or using suggestions.

Your iPhone will generate a series of new emoji for you to pick from according to your description, and you can swipe through these new emoji. When you find the one you want, tap Add in the top right corner of your screen and the new emoji will be available to use as an emoji, tapback or a sticker. Now you don’t have to wait for the Unicode Standard to propose, create and bring new emoji to devices.

For more iOS news, here’s what to know about iOS 26.4 and iOS 26.3. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet for other tips and tricks.

Technologies

Save Over 20% on This Handy 10,000-mAh Anker Nano Power Bank

Keep your devices charged on the go with this Anker Nano power bank, now down to just $46.

We’ve just spotted the Anker Nano 45-watt portable power bank for just $46 at Amazon right now. This saves you $14 — a 23% discount on its list price. Though it’s $6 more than the lowest-ever price we saw during Black Friday, it’s still a solid discount when you take the rising cost of tech accessories into account. It also matches the lowest price we’ve seen in 2026. It comes in four colors: black, green, pink and white. They’re all on sale for the same price.

This Anker Nano portable charger weighs approximately 8.2 ounces and measures a compact 3.21×1.99×1.42 inches. Despite its small size, it has a retractable cable and supports fast charging in compatible Apple, Samsung, Google Pixel and other smartphones. It also has a large 10,000-mAh capacity and a smart display so you always know how much juice is left in your power bank.

The Nano can charge an iPhone 17 to up to 50% battery in an estimated 20 minutes, and is powerful enough to charge tablets and laptops. Need to charge your devices while charging your power bank? You can do so safely thanks to pass-through charging so you’ll never have to go without battery life.

We’ve also compiled a list of the best power banks for iPhones and for Android, in case this deal isn’t quite a fit for you.

Why this deal matters

If you travel, have a long commute time or are otherwise always on the go, a portable charger can help you keep your devices fully powered. This 45-watt Anker Nano power bank is compact, includes a loop that lets you keep track of it easily and has a built-in cable so you don’t have to keep up with extra cords. Amazon’s $14 discount makes this a solid deal for anyone looking for a compact power bank.