Jackson shoppers brace for winter storm
JACKSON, Tenn. — Grocery shelves are not the only places drying up. Retail stores are also experiencing high traffic as residents brace for the incoming storm.
Shoppers are out gearing up for the first winter storm of 2026.
Milk, eggs, and bread are all running off the shelves fast, but that’s not all you need. We headed over to Academy Sports to find the perfect essentials to stock up your vehicle and home.
“It’s been on social media that this storm is coming through this weekend for a while, so we’ve had a lot of people early,” said Steve Johnson, Store Manager, Academy Sports + Outdoors. “You have people that are stocking up on, you know, outerwear, long johns, stuff to do with the house.”
Winter Storm Fern is expected to bring widespread ice and snow. Megan Cooper with Triple AAA recommends being prepared for any scenario.
“A lot of times we find that drivers can really underestimate just how dangerous winter weather can be,” Cooper said.
At Academy Sports, you can find first aid kits, flashlights, and more. But there are also some uncommon items that may come in handy this weekend.
“We have, you know, jump ropes. We have all kinds of kid games, balls. We were back in stock in the quiet balls that you can bounce that don’t make noise, which may be a really good thing for being in the house for a couple of days,” Johnson said.
Families will be snowed in this weekend, and it’s important to keep the kids busy.
“It could be a lot of snow or it could be a lot of ice, where going out and playing, you may not be able to do that. You may need to be inside,” said Johnson.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your kids entertained in the house, consider bringing the cornhole board inside or purchasing a Nerf basketball goal.
But if you plan to brave the cold temps, grab some extra protection to prevent frostbite.
“We have the hot socks. We actually have electric socks, electric vests, electric gloves,” Johnson said. “We have the Under Armor base layer, the cold gear, which is really good to use as a base layer instead of the traditional long john.”
Johnson says they are expecting a shipment soon to replenish the store’s winter stock.
According to local management, Academy Sports will be open this weekend in Jackson. Customers can check their website for updated storm hours in the event that plans change.
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