While shelves in grocery stores in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions were cleared out ahead of Winter Storm Jonas' arrival, restocking them following the blizzard may present a problem.
Bouts of inclement weather tend to slow supply chains. Icy roads and snow buildup can prevent trucks and intermodal services from moving as quickly as planned, if at all, and slow down unloading at ports. In the past, first quarter supply chain revenues have been negatively impacted by severe weather, and with one large storm under its belt already, the same story could be true for the first three months of 2016. Winter Storm Jonas is sure to put a kink in East Coast carriers' plans, and if more inclement weather follows over the coming months then supply chain issues could persist through the first quarter of the year.
Precautions ahead of blizzard likely to produce setbacks
Numerous Mid-Atlantic ports shortened operating hours ahead of the storm, according to the Journal of Commerce (JOC), and the lasting effects of the storm could keep productivity down for some time. For example, New England Motor Freight (NEMF) terminals in Virginia adjusted their schedules and priorities to prepare for the blizzard. The NEMF terminal in Roanoke focused on local and short distance deliveries. In Richmond, the carrier's terminal shut down early. NEMF also had its own snow removal equipment in place prior to the storm's arrival, prepared to begin operations as soon as possible following the brunt of the blizzard.
"The biggest concern for us is are customers ready to receive deliveries," Tom Connery, the carrier's president, told the JOC ahead of the storm.
Winter Storm Jonas dropped plenty of snow along the East Coast, including a high of 42 inches in West Virginia, according to The Weather Channel. The snowfall total in Virginia came close at 39 inches. Of the 10 states in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast regions impacted by the storm, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey also received 30 or more inches. At least 14 states were inundated with at least 1 foot of snow, and supply chains in many of them will likely be impacted by the inclement weather and its lingering effects. Many more states were at least touched by the blizzard.
Post-storm delays probable for East Coast carriers
Now that the weather has passed, early-closing hours and other pre-storm adjustments will give way to a series of delays for numerous carriers. Norfolk Southern Railway, for example, released an announcement ahead of the blizzard warning of potential delays, the JOC reported.
"Norfolk Southern operations in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast areas are expected to be impacted over the next several days by heavy snow, blizzard conditions and sub-zero temperatures in association with Winter Storm Jonas," the company warned.
The two largest truck carriers in the country, Fed-Ex and UPS, also alerted customers to potential setbacks ahead of the blizzard, according to the JOC. Each company made note of adjustments designed to minimize supply chain disruptions, precautions many businesses likely took to mitigate the impact of storm-related delays.