NEW ORLEANS — A rare winter storm swept through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing cities like New Orleans and Houston with snow. This unexpected weather disturbance prompted the closure of highways, the grounding of nearly all flights, and led to school cancellations affecting over one million students accustomed to hurricane-related days off.
The storm brought historic blizzard warnings to several coastal counties along the Texas-Louisiana border, while snowplows prepared for action in the Florida Panhandle. In Austin, Texas, it was reported that two individuals lost their lives because of the severe weather, with emergency responders attending to numerous “cold exposure” incidents. Furthermore, authorities indicated that one hypothermia-related death occurred in Georgia.
Snow transformed usually warm tourist destinations, including Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola Beach, Florida, into wintry landscapes. Accompanied by a mix of heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, the blast of Arctic air also caused much of the Midwest and East Coast to experience frigid temperatures. The remarkable sight of playful snow activities unfolded across the region, showcasing snowball fights on Gulf Shores’ beaches, creative sledding in Montgomery, Alabama, and even pool-tubing down snowy hills in Houston.
New Orleans, known for its vibrant culture, fully embraced the snowy spectacle. Locals engaged in unique winter activities such as urban skiing on Bourbon Street, members of the clergy participating in snowball fights, and inventive sledding using kayaks and cardboard boxes down the levees of the Mississippi River. Teacher David Delio, along with his daughters, delighted in the snow by gliding down the levee on unconventional items like a yoga mat and a boogie board.
“This is a white-out in New Orleans; it’s a snow-a-cane,” remarked Delio, pointing out that the city has frequent hurricane days but had never before experienced a snow day. The celebration of the winter weather extended to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School, where nuns playfully engaged in snowball fights with students, as inspired by Rev. Tim Hedrick’s lighthearted challenge.
This snowfall marks the first significant accumulation in over ten years for New Orleans. The city registered over 9 inches of snow, surpassing its previous record of 2.7 inches set in 1963. Unofficial measurements even indicated amounts reaching 10 inches back in 1895.
In Houston, the winter weather further emphasized the city’s recent history of extreme climate fluctuations. The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which devastated the area in July, is now juxtaposed with this winter storm that has delivered one of the highest snowfalls in decades. On Tuesday, nearly 2,000 flights were canceled while approximately 10,000 experienced delays. Operations were suspended at both of Houston’s airports and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport, though airlines anticipated resuming most services the following day.
With school systems across several Southern states—including Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and as far as Florida—declaring states of emergency, many institutions closed for the day. Up to 4 inches of snow fell in the Houston area, while Texas transportation crews deployed over 20 snowplows across an extensive roadway network.
Snowfall extended further into the states, reaching parts of the Florida Panhandle, with Tallahassee last witnessing snow in 2018. In Mobile, Alabama, snowfall records were shattered as over 5 inches fell, edging closer to the all-time highs set in the late 1800s. The blizzard warnings from the National Weather Service marked a first for the Lake Charles office, highlighting the uncharacteristic severity of the storm.
Work crews in Louisiana tirelessly prepared roads and bridges to mitigate travel hazards. Despite their efforts, over 50 accidents were reported, leading state police to urge residents to stay home during the inclement weather.
Frigid air continues to envelop much of the eastern United States, prompting a wave of record-low temperatures and heavy snowfall from the Northern Plains to New England. The National Weather Service warned of dangerously low wind chills expected to plunge to minus 30 to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the Upper Midwest, with similar conditions forecasted for the Central Plains through mid-week.
Meanwhile, in Southern California, dry conditions combined with fierce Santa Ana winds pose ongoing concerns as the region grapples with the legacy of devastating fires from earlier in the year.
This winter storm not only brought an unusual snowfall to areas unaccustomed to it but also prompted creativity and community spirit among residents embracing the wintry conditions.
