Unprecedented Winter Storms Lead to First-Ever Blizzard Warnings in Parts of the US Deep South | US News
Unprecedented winter storms have triggered severe cold weather alerts – some of the earliest on record – in the US Deep South.
For the first time ever, Lake Charles, Louisiana, issued a blizzard warning on Tuesday, according to local meteorologists.
The National Weather Service (NWS) projected historic snowfall ranging from three to six inches (eight to 15cm) across Houston, New Orleans, Alabama, and Florida.
Forecasters indicated that Texas was preparing for a remarkable snowfall rate of one inch (2.5cm) per hour from Tuesday into Wednesday.
Heavy snow in Houston on Tuesday. Pic: AP
Police assist residents in a suburb of New Orleans on Tuesday. Pic: AP
New Orleans’ French Quarter on Tuesday. Pic: AP
Blizzard conditions are expected to deliver significant snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain along the Gulf Coast from Texas to North Carolina, a scenario typically reserved for regions further north.
Additionally, arctic air will lead to colder-than-normal winter temperatures along the eastern US coast and upper Midwest.
Residents in the Dakotas and other parts of the Midwest are being cautioned about hypothermia and frostbite risks, with wind chills anticipated to reach between -34C and -46C.
Sledding in Houston. Pic: AP
Children enjoy the snow in Houston, Texas on Monday. Pic: Reuters
Snow blankets Canal Street in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday. Pic: AP
Thousands of Flight Cancellations
Nearly 2,000 flights were canceled nationwide on Tuesday, accompanied by around 10,000 delays.
Both airports in Houston announced the suspension of all flights due to the expected severe weather.
Snow removal in progress at the closed George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Pic: AP
Prior to the snow onset on Monday, the mayor of the city, John Whitmire, cautioned residents state-wide: “Prepare to stay in your homes or warming places for the next 48 hours.”
“The clear skies projected for Wednesday should not deceive you. This is a serious arctic event,” he stated.
Meteorologist Daniel Jones commented on the record snowfall in the Deep South: “The last occurrence of snow of this extent was in 1960.”
“By today’s standards, this will be an extraordinary and unforgettable storm for this region,” he added.
Snow in Vermont on Tuesday. Pic: Reuters
Teams removing drifting snow in Benton Harbor, Michigan on Monday. Pic: AP
Emergency declarations have been enacted by governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, advising the closure of schools and businesses.
Additionally, ten counties in New York have implemented emergency protocols.
Freezing weather conditions necessitated the relocation of inauguration events in Washington DC indoors to the Capitol’s Rotunda for the beginning of Donald Trump’s second presidency on Monday.
