Tuesday, January 21, 2025 A rare and historic winter storm has brought unprecedented chaos to parts of the US Deep South, delivering heavy snow, record-breaking cold, and widespread travel disruptions. This unseasonable weather event has left millions scrambling as roads are closed, airports suspend operations, and emergency declarations are issued across multiple states. The Gulf Coast, a region typically associated with hurricanes and balmy weather, is now blanketed in snow.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued its first-ever blizzard warning for southwest Louisiana, while predicting that snowfall rates could exceed an inch per hour in parts of eastern Texas and the western Florida Panhandle. By Tuesday morning, major cities like Houston and New Orleans were covered in snow, a surreal sight for areas unaccustomed to winter storms. The snowfall has already disrupted daily life, with school closures and massive delays in transportation.
The storm is part of a bitterly cold air mass descending over the southern and eastern US, pushing temperatures far below January averages. Meteorologists are warning that record lows could be shattered from the Gulf Coast up into the Tennessee Valley, posing additional hazards for residents and travelers alike. “This is an extraordinary event,” said March Chenard, a meteorologist with the NWS.
“The combination of extreme cold and heavy snowfall makes this one of the most significant winter storms to ever hit the region.” Governor.
