A historic winter storm swept through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, delivering a rare blanket of snow to Houston and New Orleans. The unprecedented weather disrupted travel, closed schools, and brought life in the region to a halt. Florida’s Panhandle, too, braced for the storm, with snowplows at the ready in a state more accustomed to hurricanes than winter weather.
A Gulf Coast transformed by snow
The storm brought snowfall and freezing temperatures across the Deep South, with New Orleans and Houston experiencing their first significant snowfalls in years. The National Weather Service reported that Houston had not seen snow since a deadly winter storm in 2021, which caused power outages and led to over 200 deaths. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, recorded 1.5 inches of snow downtown—the most significant snowfall in the area since 1960.
Meteorologist Donald Jones described the storm as “historic,” noting that snowfall of this magnitude had not been seen in some Gulf Coast regions since the 19th century. “By modern standards, this is going to be a very memorable storm,” he added.
Travel disruptions and school closures
The weather caused widespread chaos in transportation. Nearly 2,000 flights were canceled, and an additional 10,000 were delayed nationwide. Both Houston airports halted operations, while most flights at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport were also canceled.
School closures were reported across multiple states, from Texas to the Carolinas. Florida’s Panhandle, which rarely sees snow, prepared snowplows as Tallahassee experienced its first snowfall since 2018.
Cold temperatures pose deadly risks
The Arctic blast brought dangerously low temperatures, with subzero wind chills extending from the Dakotas to the Southeast. Wind chills as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 46 degrees Celsius) were reported in the Dakotas and Upper Midwest, creating life-threatening conditions. The National Weather Service warned of hypothermia and frostbite risks, particularly for those without proper shelter or warm clothing.
In Georgia, officials confirmed one death from hypothermia, and similar risks loomed across the Deep South, where many homes and infrastructure are not designed to withstand such extreme cold. Houston Mayor John Whitmire urged residents to stay indoors, emphasizing the risks of icy roads and freezing temperatures.
Snow disrupts life along the Gulf Coast
The storm extended its reach across the Gulf Coast, impacting areas unaccustomed to snow and ice. In suburban New Orleans, sleet turned into snow, leaving streets eerily empty. A police officer in Harahan, Louisiana, braved the cold without gloves while responding to a church security alarm.
In Houston, officials warned that freezing temperatures could burst water pipes, a reminder of the devastating 2021 storm. Charleston, South Carolina, also prepared for potential chaos, recalling the icy incidents of 2014 when falling ice shattered windshields on the Ravenel Bridge.
A disruption in the polar vortex
Meteorologists attributed the severe weather to a disruption in the polar vortex, which typically keeps frigid air trapped at the North Pole. The cold air spilled southward, plunging temperatures well below seasonal averages.
The weather service predicted record-breaking lows across much of the Gulf Coast and Southeast, with normal temperatures not expected to return until the end of the week.
Santa Ana winds bring fire risks to California
While the Gulf Coast shivered under snow and ice, Southern California faced a different challenge: dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds. These winds have fueled devastating wildfires in recent years, and officials remained on high alert as blazes threatened homes and lives.
A storm for the history books
The rare Gulf Coast snowstorm will be remembered for its widespread impacts, from grounding flights and closing schools to creating deadly risks for residents unprepared for Arctic conditions. As the storm moves eastward, millions are left grappling with the aftermath of a weather event unlike anything they have seen before.
