Winter Storm Alert – January 22, 2026

As Winter Storm Fern approaches, forecasts point to significant winter weather impacts across much of the country late this week and into the weekend. Widespread impacts are expected, including potentially damaging ice accumulations from Saturday through Sunday. The Eastern US could see icy roads, delaying fuel deliveries, and potential power outages that disrupt operations.

Operational Impacts

In preparation for the storm's impacts, Mansfield has moved Pennsylvania,Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to Code Red, requesting 72-hour delivery windows. Mansfield is also moving the Dallas, TX market to Code Orange, requesting 48-hour delivery windows. Carriers within these states are operating at full capacity due to increased demand and tank top-offs. Mansfield remains committed to covering priority deliveries ahead of the storm.

Mansfield is closely monitoring the evolving forecast and coordinating with our carrier and supplier networks 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 (Diesel 9-1-1, etc.) on your site for emergency situations. 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 Diesel 9-1-1 should only be used in response to gelled fuel.

What Winter Weather Means for Refineries

Many remember Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which caused widespread power outages across Texas' ERCOT power system. That event caused rapid refinery shutdowns, which took weeks to restart in some instances. When production fell, fuel shortages spread across Texas and the Southeast.

This year, the storm appears to be less severe, particularly around Houston, where many refineries are located. That's good news - less exposure to ice reduces the risk of widespread outages. Still, markets will be watching Texas closely to see how the power system holds up to this year's winter challenges.