A massive winter storm that swept across Texas and the Gulf Coast left a trail of record-breaking snow and freezing conditions as it moved eastward Wednesday. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain blanketed parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, and the Carolinas, creating dangerous conditions and widespread disruptions.
Snowfall in Unlikely Places
Jacksonville, Florida, experienced snow, sleet, and ice, leading to the closure of Jacksonville International Airport Tuesday evening. Schools and government offices shut down across the region as the storm’s impact spread. In Tallahassee, snow-dusted palm trees and icy streets greeted residents on Wednesday morning. For locals like Lina Rojas and her dachshund Petunia, the rare sight was surreal.
“This is like… I don’t even know what to call it,” Rojas exclaimed. “You can see it!”
Severe Cold and Dangerous Roads
Below-freezing temperatures and wind chills were expected to persist through the week, with the storm claiming at least three lives. Highways across the region were closed, including over 100 miles of I-10 in Louisiana and Florida. More than a million students saw school closures or switched to remote learning, as cities unaccustomed to such weather struggled to cope.
In Georgia, icy roads left streets deserted, and Savannah saw snow for the first time in years. A jackknifed truck closed a major interchange, highlighting the region’s unpreparedness for such conditions.
Records Shattered from New Orleans to Florida
New Orleans recorded an unprecedented 10 inches of snow, far surpassing the city’s previous record of 2.7 inches in 1963. Snow also blanketed Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola Beach, Florida, while Houston issued its first-ever blizzard warnings for coastal counties.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on the unusual conditions, saying, “Believe it or not, in the state of Florida we’re mobilizing snowplows.”
Making the Most of the Snow
Despite the chaos, many embraced the rare opportunity for fun. Gulf Shores hosted beach snowball fights, and Houston residents sledded down hills using pool tubes. In New Orleans, people turned the snowy levees into sledding runs, using yoga mats, cardboard boxes, and even inflatable alligators.
“This is a snow-a-cane,” joked local teacher David Delio, as he and his daughters slid down a hill. “We’ve had tons of hurricane days but never a snow day.”
Flight Cancellations and Power Outages
More than 1,300 flights were canceled Wednesday morning, with another 900 delays. Airports in Houston and New Orleans began resuming operations after widespread closures Tuesday. Meanwhile, over 132,000 customers across the region faced power outages, including 50,000 in Georgia and 43,000 in Florida.
States of Emergency Declared
Governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. Emergency crews responded to dozens of cold-related calls, with hypothermia claiming lives in Texas and Georgia.
Winter Chaos Across the Nation
The storm’s reach extended beyond the Gulf Coast. In New York, lake-effect snow near Lake Ontario and Lake Erie piled up to 2 feet, prompting states of emergency in a dozen counties. As Arctic air plunged much of the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze, the historic storm left a lasting mark on regions unaccustomed to the fury of winter.
