A 'historic' snowstorm is beginning to spread snow and ice across a 1,000-mile stretch of the U.S., from central Texas to northern Florida.
“For parts of the western and northern Gulf Coast, this could be the largest snow and ice storm in more than 100 years and possibly one that people will remember for decades,” AccuWeather meteorologists said.
The storm threatens to shut down travel for days and knock out power in part of the region for an extended period, prompting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency in 61 counties.
And it could break records like Florida's highest 24-hour snowfall of four inches.
The first-ever snowstorm warning was also issued for southeastern Texas and southern Louisiana, including the city of Lake Charles, LA, where a mix of wintry weather conditions have already been reported.
As of 7 a.m. CST Tuesday morning, Lake Charles had already received nearly two inches of snow and could see up to four inches by noon CST.
Snow and ice are also accumulating rapidly in Texas, including in Houston, where officials have identified more than 55 areas of ice on major roadways.
The storm is forecast to move eastward across the Gulf Coast region during the day, bringing snow, ice and gusty winds to southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, Georgia and coastal Carolina.
A 'historic' snowstorm begins spreading snow and ice across a 1,000-mile stretch of the US, from central Texas to northern Florida (pictured)
The storm has already caused significant snowfall in parts of Texas and Louisiana, including Bourbon Street in New Orleans, pictured here on January 21, 2025
Winter storm warnings have been issued over a wide area stretching from southern parts of the Gulf Coast states to the Florida Panhandle and southeastern regions of the Carolinas.
This type of warning is issued when heavy snow is expected to fall at a rate of at least six inches in 12 hours, or at least eight inches in 24 hours, the NWS said.
The agency posted winter weather advisories over a narrower band from southeastern and south-central Texas to the southeastern corner of Virginia.
This indicates more moderate impacts, such as two to three inches of snowfall over 12 hours, a wintry mix of precipitation and/or blowing snow, the NWS said.
Major cities under alert include Houston, New Orleans, Tallahassee, parts of the Atlanta metro area and Charleston, South Carolina.
New Orleans is bracing for what could be its highest snowfall total since 1963, when 3 inches fell across the city. The current forecast for this area is five to eight inches.
If more than 8 inches are collected in The Big Easy, it would break the city's all-time snowfall record set in 1895.
City officials plan to close major highways, including highways 10, 310 and 510, as road conditions deteriorate. Ramps to US 90 and elevated bridges will also be closed.
Several weather warnings have been issued in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas and Virginia
By the time the storm ends on Wednesday, snowfall totals could range from less than an inch to eight inches
Houston is closing roads, schools and airports because one to five inches of snow had already fallen Tuesday morning.
Current road closures include all lanes of I-69 between FM-2218 to Harris-Ft Bend County Line, I-45 Gulf in both directions between Dixie Farm Road and I-610 South Loop.
The Houston Independent School District announced that all schools will be open Tuesday and Wednesday as roads have already become treacherous.
Both of the city's largest airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) – have suspended operations, leading to more than 1,300 flight cancellations.
In Louisiana, Lafayette Regional Airport also canceled all flights on Tuesday due to ice and snow on the runways.
The storm is expected to create hazardous travel conditions in the affected region. Ice covers a car in Galveston, Texas on January 21, 2025
An SUV drives down a snowy road in Galveston, Texas in the early morning hours of January 21, 2025
Affected areas of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas can expect one to five inches of snow today, with locally higher amounts of up to eight inches in isolated areas near the coast.
Cities in this region expecting snow include Montgomery, Alabama and Savannah, Georgia.
Winter weather will ease westward from the Mississippi River Tuesday evening, but snow will continue to fall in parts of Georgia, northern Florida and the Carolinas overnight into early Wednesday.
In the area from Northeast Florida to Southeast Georgia, there could be enough ice accumulation to topple tree limbs and cause scattered power outages.
The impact of Winter Storm Enzo is being amplified by a polar vortex currently sweeping across the eastern half of the US.
Bitter cold hit Monday and is expected to last through Wednesday, forcing 235 million Americans to brace for “life-threatening” temperatures that could feel as low as -50 degrees Celsius.
Arctic air will extend deep into the south and southeast. States within Enzo's path could experience wind chill temperatures of 10F to 30F, increasing the chance of snowfall across the region.
But the cold will also impact the Midwest, the Great Lakes and New England.
Meteorologists warned that the freezing temperatures will put extra strain on heating systems and electricity grids, force schools to close and pose a high risk of frostbite, hypothermia and effects on the immune system.
Houston is closing roads, schools and airports because one to five inches of snow had already fallen Tuesday morning. January 20, 2025
Meanwhile, another blast of Arctic air is heading toward the eastern US. Meteorologists have warned 235 million Americans from the Gulf Coast to New England, the Great Lakes and the Midwest to brace for 'life-threatening' cold weather
Much of this brutal cold will be driven by gusty winds that could cause temperatures to drop well below zero.
“In areas with windy conditions, such as much of the Midwest early this week, AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures could reach minus 40 to minus 50,” said senior meteorologist Adam Douty.
“It will feel brutally cold, and anyone adventuring outside could suffer frostbite to exposed skin within minutes,” he added.
The risk of cold-related illnesses such as frostbite, hypothermia and effects on the lungs or immune system will be high in areas affected by these bitterly cold winds.
Experts recommend staying indoors as much as possible when it is so cold outside. But if you have to be outside for extended periods of time, you should take extra measures to protect yourself from the life-threatening temperatures.
That includes making sure all of your skin is covered, wearing multiple layers of clothing, and taking breaks indoors to warm up whenever you can.
