As the winter storm leaves the south, the cold conditions bring other problems

On January 22, 2025By Littum

A rare storm that brought Louisiana its first-ever blizzard warning rolled out to sea Wednesday after dumping ice and snow on areas that hadn’t been the target of such a severe winter onslaught in generations — leaving disruption in its wake.

The storm began its march Tuesday in Texas, blanketing highways and snarling traffic before heading east. Schools were closed Wednesday in Houston, where up to 4 inches fell in some areas by noon Tuesday. An excavation, so common in the northern tier of the country, was in earnest in the Lone Star State.

The storm’s impact could be felt for days across the South in cities unaccustomed to the deep freeze that has gripped much of the nation this week, from icy roads making travel treacherous to power outages.

“I’ve been in Texas my whole life and I’ve never seen this depth of snow,” said Ishan Bhaidani, 29, who owns a consulting firm in Houston. “Typically it gets icier, but this type of fine snow, this is a first.”

Developments:

∎ Snowfall in New Orleans threatened a record 130 years ago. The last time the city received any measurable snowfall was 2009, according to the National Weather Service.

∎ In Alabama, up to 5 inches of snow was possible in Mobile, where such accumulations have not been seen in more than 60 years, according to the weather service.

The blizzard currently battering the Gulf Coast — which included the first-ever blizzard warning in Louisiana — is being described as a once-in-a-generation weather event, the National Weather Service said Monday. How rare is snow for some of these southern cities?

“This will be the most significant winter storm the Greater Houston area has experienced since at least 1960,” the Houston Weather Service said.

Elsewhere, New Orleans hasn’t seen measurable snowfall since 2009. And it’s been 35 years for Jacksonville.

“This will be a historic snowfall for the Gulf Coast,” noted meteorologist Paul Douglas at X, who added that in many parts of this region, “there are no plows — they’ll basically wait for the snow to melt (which will happen later ) this week).” Read more here.

− Doyle Rice

For 21-year-old meteorology student Gabriel Hebert, a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana is not just a snow day, but a great learning opportunity.

“I’m so excited,” he told USA TODAY. “This is my favorite weather.”

Hebert had been monitoring the storm for a few days, staying up late to track snowfall. In preparation, his family left their cupboards open to prevent the pipes from freezing, have all agreed to stay off the roads and stocked up on essential food for the coming days.

“We don’t know how to prepare for something like this,” Hebert said. As the snow fell and his family bunkered down, his young siblings enjoyed the first. “I just want to enjoy this time with my family and watch them make snow angels and snowmen,” he said.

– Sam Woodward

New Orleans resident Claire Spenard has had her fair share of snow days growing up in Rochester, New York. At first she thought the weather forecasts of a frozen landscape in the south were a hoax. Now that she sees schools and major highways closed, she regrets not buying a shovel before the storm hit.

“It reminds me of being home, and I never thought I’d say that,” Spenard told USA TODAY.

The 23-year-old ballet teacher and server described a ghost town in a town dotted with excited children seeing snow for the first time, making snowmen and walking down the middle of roads untouched by cars.

Her advice for those not used to braving the cold? Give in to the occasional vehicle and enjoy the wonder.

“Sit and watch, because it’s really beautiful,” Spenard said. “And I think that’s what a lot of people here do, they take the time to really sit and enjoy it, because that’s what people in New Orleans do with most things.”

– Sam Woodward

Floridians usually store pool floats, boogie boards and kayaks during the winter months. But on Wednesday, folks in North Florida can bring the news and convert them into makeshift sleds, Florida-style. Leon County Schools canceled operations for Wednesday due to the upcoming weather forecast, meaning kids in Tallahassee will be out on a snow day.

Tallahassee is a hilly city, so residents looking to sled the day away have plenty of options. One likely location: Florida A&M University, as its website says the campus “sits on the highest of seven hills in Florida’s capital city.”

− Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat

Featured: Reuters