A rare and powerful winter storm is descending upon the US Gulf coast, threatening to blanket the region from Texas to Florida in heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. About 40 million people are under some type of winter weather hazard warning, as a surge of frigid Arctic air sends temperatures plummeting.
States of Emergency Declared, Flights Grounded
In preparation for the unusually severe weather, the governors of Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have declared states of emergency. Many school districts have also announced closures for Tuesday. Both Houston airports said they would suspend flight operations starting Tuesday due to the expected hazardous conditions.
Residents from Texas to north Florida were rushing to insulate pipes, check heating systems and stock up on emergency supplies.
– The Guardian
The National Weather Service is forecasting between 3 and 7 inches of snow and sleet for parts of southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans. Northern Gulf coast areas could see 1-2 feet of snow.
Bitter Cold Spreads Across the South and East
While the Gulf coast braces for snow and ice, the blast of Arctic air is sending a deep chill across a huge swath of the South and East. Wind chill warnings extend from the Texas Gulf coast all the way to northern Florida. The frigid airmass will keep temperatures below freezing across much of the region through midweek.
- 170 million people from the Rockies eastward are under cold weather advisories
- Exposed pipes and vegetation are at risk of damage from the extended freeze
Officials in Louisiana are urging residents to “stay home” and avoid traveling on icy roads during the storm. Warming centers are being opened to get vulnerable people out of the dangerous cold. The rare snowfall and frigid temperatures threaten to cause widespread power outages across the region.
Travel Disruptions Spread
The winter storm’s impacts are being felt across the country’s air travel network. FlightAware reported nearly 600 flight cancellations within, into or out of the US by Monday evening, along with almost 6,500 delays. Over 1,700 flights have already been preemptively canceled for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a state of emergency was declared on Monday night across at least a dozen counties in New York as heavy lake-effect snow was expected around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through Wednesday – with 1-2ft (30-60cm) possible – along with extreme cold temperatures.
– The Guardian
The U.S. is no stranger to severe winter storms, but this event is notable for its geographic reach – stretching from Texas to New York – and for dumping such significant snow and ice accumulations in regions like the Gulf coast that rarely see wintry weather on this scale. As the storm unfolds, residents are urged to avoid travel, protect property from the prolonged freeze, and stay tuned to local updates.
