A record-breaking and rare winter storm hit the southern US Wednesday — dumping snow on New Orleans for the first time in15 years, and triggering the Gulf Coast’s first ever blizzard warning.
The historic snowfall — which slammed areas from Florida to Texas starting Tuesday — snarled travel and brought daily life to a halt in regions unprepared for the freak weather event.
“It’s been a jaw-dropping 24 hours,” said FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin. “[It] is something that you only see once in a generation.”
Snow blankets New Orleans on Jan. 21, 2025. AP
A snowy Bourbon Street on January 21, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana ExclusiveAccess.Net/ShutterstockStorm hard on the Big Easy
New Orleans was pounded by up to eight inches of snow, which blanketed the city’s palm trees and forced schools and major highways to close Tuesday.
The normally balmy city, which hasn’t had “measurable” snowfall since 2009, shattered its one-day snow total record of 2.7 inches, set on Dec. 31, 1963.
“This creates a very dangerous situation, not only for travel but for people, pipes, pets and plants,” Luisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said at a press conference.
Most flights at the city’s Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were canceled Tuesday.
A statue of Pete Fountain is covered in snow inside New Orleans Musical Legends Park on Bourbon Street on Jan. 21, 2025. Getty ImagesFlakes fly in Florida
The storm dumped more than 8 inches of snow on the Florida panhandle between Tuesday and Wednesday— more than doubling the state’s record — and creating treacherous driving conditions.
The city of Milton, roughly 20 miles from Pensacola, tallied 8.8 inches while other nearby areas were hit by 7 to 8 inches.
Florida also saw major impacts from the winter storm, with officials urging residents to prepare as the system continued to move off to the east. Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida/AFP via Getty ImagesBy contrast, the Sunshine State’s previous snowfall record was set at 4 inches in Milton on March 6, 1954.
Meanwhile, a nearly 70-mile stretch of the major highway Interstate 10 was closed from the Alabama state line to Crestview, Florida as dangerously icy conditions led to a series of vehicle crashes.
On Wednesday, officials also issued winter weather warnings in Jacksonville, where streets were dangerously icy and the city’s airport was closed.
Houston-area hammered
Houston was hit by four inches of snow as officials declared a winter storm warning in the southeast section of Texas.
Forecasters also issued the first ever blizzard warning for the nearby city of Lake Charles, La., roughly 140 miles from Houston.
Roads are covered with snow in Houston, Texas on Jan. 21, 2025. Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto/ShutterstockAirports in Houston closed as icy road conditions caused a car crash with multiple fatalities in the city of La Pryor Tuesday, officials said.
The storm then moved east, bringing snow and sleet to Austin and San Antonio.
Overall, the city Pine Forest, east of Houston, had the most snowfall with 6 inches.
With Post wires
