A significant winter storm has swept through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, resulting in road and airport closures, along with the issuance of a blizzard warning for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.
Snow, sleet, and freezing rain are anticipated to impact the Deep South with an influx of Arctic air forcing much of the eastern United States into severe cold conditions.
On Tuesday, nearly 2,000 flights across the U.S. were canceled, and around 10,000 faced delays, as reported by the flight tracking service FlightAware.com. In response to the hazardous weather forecast, both airports in Houston announced a halt to flight operations beginning Tuesday.
While the East Coast experienced a heavy snowfall, regions ranging from the Northern Plains to Maine dealt with dangerously low temperatures due to the Arctic air mass, bringing conditions well below seasonal averages. Wind chills were expected to remain perilously low throughout Tuesday morning.
Lakesha Reed, who manages Beaucoup Eats catering in New Orleans, saw her travel plans to cater a Mardi Gras event in Washington, D.C., abruptly canceled due to the extreme cold and flight cancellations. The 47-year-old noted that temperatures in New Orleans had dipped into the 30s, an unusual chill for the area at this time of year.
“We can hardly drive in the rain,” she stated, recalling warmer Mardi Gras celebrations from the previous year when shorts were the attire.
Winter storm warnings stretched from Texas to North Carolina on Tuesday, with snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain set to continue moving eastward into Wednesday. Additionally, a state of emergency was declared across various counties in New York on Monday due to anticipated heavy lake-effect snow around Lakes Ontario and Erie, with estimates of snowfall reaching 1 to 2 feet.
As the storm neared, governors in states including Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama declared states of emergency, leading many schools to cancel classes. The Lake Charles office in Louisiana issued its first blizzard warning, as meteorologist Donald Jones noted poor visibility due to strong winds and heavy snow bands. He warned that areas accustomed to little snow were likely to experience record-breaking snowfall.
“The last significant snowfall event was in 1960, with the previous record set back in 1895,” Jones highlighted. “This storm is set to become a historic event for this region.”
Prior to the onset of snow and sleet, Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire appealed to residents to prepare for the storm and remain indoors.
“Prepare to shelter in place for the next 48 hours,” he advised, warning that temperatures were not expected to rise above freezing until Thursday. “Even clear skies on other days could be deceptive. This is a serious Arctic blast—it poses significant risks.”
Weather forecasts indicated potential snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour from eastern Texas through the Florida Panhandle, with historic accumulations of 3 to 6 inches predicted along the Interstate 10 corridor, which includes Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, and Pensacola. Heavy sleet and ice were also expected to hit Georgia, northern Florida, and eastern Carolinas from Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Forecasters also indicated that freezing temperatures could threaten delicate vegetation and exposed pipes in these areas unaccustomed to such cold conditions. Officials in Louisiana urged residents to remain indoors and avoid travel due to potentially dangerous road conditions. They warned that significant snow and ice accumulations could lead to power outages.
In anticipation of the storm, many residents packed grocery stores, scrambling to stock up on supplies. “It’s been crazy, with everyone trying to buy the same items to prepare warming meals, possibly a gumbo,” said William Jordan from New Orleans.
The Arctic blast has impacted much of the Eastern Seaboard with some of the coldest temperatures seen this winter. The extreme conditions even led to a change in plans for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, which took place inside the Capitol Rotunda, disrupting previously planned outdoor festivities due to the severe weather.
The Northern Plains and areas stretching into the Rockies are also facing below-average temperatures, with wind chills dropping to between minus 40 to minus 55 degrees in specific parts of the region.
As cold weather advisories spread across the Great Lakes, meteorologists projected a wind chill of around minus 22 degrees on Monday night in Chicago.
This current cold spell has also been attributed to a disturbance in the polar vortex, a band of cold air typically contained around the North Pole. With temperatures dropping as low as 18 degrees in Houston on Tuesday, plumbing services reported an increase in calls from homeowners concerned about potential pipe freezing due to the severe cold.
“There is a sense of urgency among people,” said Jonathan LeBron, a plumbing manager in the Houston area, “as the last freeze was several years ago. They’re seeking assurance that their plumbing is well-insulated.”
Meanwhile, Southern California is facing its own challenges, as dry conditions paired with fierce Santa Ana winds continue to pose threats following destructive wildfires that have taken at least 27 lives and devastated numerous homes.
