ATLANTA — The recent snowstorm has led to unprecedented snowfall across Florida and various regions in the South, turning beaches into snowy landscapes rarely seen in these warm locales.
The heavy snowfall created opportunities for snowball fights on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, while imaginative families used inflatable alligators, laundry baskets, and yoga mats to navigate the snowy Mississippi River levees.
Here’s an overview of some notable snowfall totals from the South:
**Milton, Florida**
Near Milton, Florida, an astonishing 9.8 inches (24.9 centimeters) of snow may have fallen, potentially breaking the long-standing record for snowfall in the state that dates back to 1954. Meteorologist Michael Mugrage from the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, described the event as truly remarkable, highlighting its rarity. The current total is unofficial until further reviewed by the state’s climate office. In nearby Pensacola, the city saw 8.9 inches (22.6 centimeters) of snow, exceeding its previous snow record of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) set in 1895.
**New Orleans**
In the New Orleans region, some areas reported around ten inches (25 centimeters) of snow, topping the previous record of 2.7 inches (6.8 centimeters) set in 1963. There were unofficial estimates of up to 11.5 inches in Saint Bernard Parish, which lies to the east of the city.
**Houston**
Houston didn’t escape the winter weather, reporting up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow. Given that the community lacks snowplows, the situation created unique challenges. Near La Porte, Texas, southeast of Houston, a preliminary report indicated about 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow.
**Charleston, South Carolina**
The Charleston area received over 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow as well, prompting the closure of the airport and blocked access across the significant Ravenel Bridge. Authorities noted that water freezing on the bridge’s cables can lead to large chunks of ice falling onto vehicles traversing below.
**Mobile, Alabama**
At Mobile Regional Airport, 6.2 inches (15.7 centimeters) of snow was recorded, surpassing the all-time one-day snowfall record of 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) held since January 1881. Additionally, several unconfirmed reports indicated snowfall exceeding 9 inches (23 centimeters) in Gulf Coast communities surrounding Mobile. Notably, Babbie, a small town in southern Alabama, recorded an impressive 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow, marking it among the highest totals in the nation.
**Colder Temperatures**
The storm system responsible for the heavy snow also plunged temperatures to record lows across the Deep South. On Wednesday morning, temperatures in Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, were surprisingly colder than those in Anchorage, Alaska.
In Alabama, the temperature dipped to 6 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 14 Celsius), tying for the third-coldest recorded temperature in Mobile, a record dating back to 1899. Meanwhile, Louisiana experienced historic lows in New Iberia and Lafayette, with New Iberia recording 2 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17 Celsius), breaking a record from 1962, and Lafayette’s 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 16 Celsius) breaking a record set in 1899.
This incident represents a significant climatic event for the region.
