Three people were killed after record levels of snow fell across an area of about 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers) of the southern U.S. on Tuesday, covering large parts of Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
The rare storm, which prompted the first-ever snowstorm warnings for several Gulf Coast counties, came amid dangerously low temperatures and dumped up to four inches in Houston, nearly four inches around New Orleans and as much as eight inches in Panhandle cities Florida.
The snow that normally wouldn't even phase Northeast communities closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more accustomed to hurricane layoffs than snow days.
Wintry weather swept across southwest Texas early Tuesday morning, leading to a crash that caused “multiple fatalities” east of La Pryor, Fox Weather reported.
The storm slammed into major Texas cities later Tuesday, bringing snow and sleet to Austin and San Antonio before strengthening over southeastern Texas.
Two people died in Austin due to the cold weather, according to a statement from the city government. No further details were provided, but the city said emergency services had responded to more than a dozen “cold exposure” calls.
Officials have also said one person in Georgia has died of hypothermia.
Snow blanketed the white-sand beaches of normally sunny vacation destinations, including Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola Beach, Florida.
Snow is starting to stick on I-285 in Tucker, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta
A man takes a photo with a sitting snowman in Houston, Texas, on January 21, after four inches of snow and sleet hit the area
People hang out on Pensacola Beach in Florida as the snowstorm rages by
The official record for snowfall in Florida is four inches, but unofficial snow reports for the Panhandle far exceed that. The city of Milton reportedly got 8.8 inches and Pensacola Beach about 6.5 inches.
“We used to think Blizzard Beach was an Orlando theme park,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joked on Tuesday. “It turns out we may see some snow on our beaches in northwest Florida and even into Tallahassee and beyond.”
DeSantis said the state has mobilized 250 Department of Transportation employees to administer deicing chemicals and staff 11 snow plows.
“Believe it or not, in the state of Florida we are mobilizing snow plows,” he added.
According to measurements from the National Weather Service, Alabama has broken snowfall records that haven't been surpassed in more than a century.
Mobile, Alabama, reached 5.4 inches and counting Tuesday, surpassing the city's single-day snowfall record of 5 inches set on January 24, 1881 and closing in on the all-time record of 6 inches of snowfall set in 1895.
In Louisiana, transportation agency employees worked through the night to prepare bridges and roads. Nevertheless, Louisiana State Police said Tuesday they had already responded to more than 50 crashes and urged people to stay home.
It was so cold in New Orleans that a street in the city froze over, allowing locals to play ice hockey.
In the photo: Snow plows are deployed in Houston. Florida also had to use snow plows, which is rare in the state
A mother walks with her two sons through heavy snow in New Orleans, Louisiana. The city received as much as 10 centimeters on Tuesday
During Tuesday's snowstorm, snowfall even reached South Carolina (photo).
A satellite photo of the polar vortex winter storm that has wrapped most of the southern US in frigid temperatures and record-breaking snowfall
An SUV drives along snow-covered Seawall Blvd. during a freezing winter storm in Galveston, Texas, Tuesday, January 21
A look at snowfall as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut face winter storm warnings and the entire region faces a significant snowstorm, in New York, United States on January 19, 2025
Nearly 2,000 flights to, from or within the US were canceled Tuesday, while about 10,000 others were delayed
There was also an attempt at urban skiing along Bourbon Street; a priest and nuns in a snowball fight outside a suburban church; snowboarding behind a golf cart; and sledding down the snow-covered levees of the Mississippi on kayaks, cardboard boxes and inflatable alligators.
Weather areas include major cities like Jacksonville, Florida, which are expected to see snow, sleet and accumulating ice through Wednesday.
The Jacksonville International Airport closed Tuesday evening due to the weather and said it planned to reopen at noon Wednesday. Schools canceled classes and government offices closed on Wednesday.
“We are expecting winter weather that we are not used to in Northeast Florida,” the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.
“The safest place you can be on Tuesday evening and Wednesday is at home.”
Nearly 2,000 flights to, from or within the U.S. were canceled Tuesday, while about 10,000 others were delayed, according to online tracker FlightAware.com.
Both Houston airports have suspended flight operations as of Tuesday.
Nearly every flight at New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport was canceled, but most airlines planned to resume operations Wednesday.
Vehicles pass a sign indicating Winter Storm-related operations on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Houston, ahead of forecast inches of snow and possible ice in Southeast Texas
A view of snowfall as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut face winter storm warnings and the entire region faces a significant snowstorm in New York
At least a dozen New York counties were also declared states of emergency, with up to two feet of lake-effect snow and extreme cold expected around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Wednesday.
Three people died Tuesday after record levels of snow fell across about 1,500 miles (2,500 kilometers) of the southern U.S.
The rare storm, which prompted the first-ever snowstorm warnings for several Gulf Coast counties, came amid dangerously low temperatures
The snow that normally wouldn't even phase Northeast communities closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students
Wintry weather swept across southwest Texas early Tuesday morning, leading to a crash that caused “multiple fatalities” east of La Pryor, Fox Weather reported.
The storm is now moving as far north as North Carolina, but current forecasts suggest it will be mainly located in South Carolina, Southern Georgia and northeastern Florida.
Extreme Cold Warnings remain in effect for most of Louisiana and southeastern Texas until 9 a.m. CST on Wednesday.
At least a dozen New York counties were also declared states of emergency, with up to two feet of lake-effect snow and extreme cold expected around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Wednesday.
Santa Ana winds are expected to return to Southern California.
In Southern California, where fires have killed at least 27 people and burned thousands of homes, dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds remained concerning.
The big freeze has been extensively documented on social media, with one X user sharing a video of members of the public participating in a snowball fight in New Orleans' Jackson Square.
You'll see locals bundled up in winter clothes as they laugh and throw snowballs at each other.
“Omg this is precious,” one X user commented.
Several social media users have been quick to comment on how rare the snowstorm is.
“For those who don't live in the South, you just don't understand how magical a snow day is for us. It really is pure magic. We're turning into a bunch of kids celebrating Christmas morning!,” one woman wrote after sharing a series of videos and photos of citizens enjoying the snow.
Another X account shared CCTV footage of the Florida snowstorm:
“This isn't Buffalo, NY, this is Pensacola, FL, with near whiteout conditions and heavy snow.
“This may be the closest Pensacola has ever seen to a Blizzard…Absolutely incredible.”
