A rare and deadly winter storm blanketed the southern U.S. on Tuesday, leaving inches of record-setting snow and halting travel for millions of Americans in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.
New Orleans resident Ian Spooner told CBS News 24/7, "I was born and raised in New Orleans. I can count on one hand how many times it snowed, and it never snowed like this." The last time New Orleans saw snow was in December 2004, according to the National Weather Service, and it was just half an inch.
The storm's impact was widespread, with at least 400 flights delayed and 350 more canceled before midday Tuesday. Airports in Houston and New Orleans were shut down as snow piled at the entrances. The Tallahassee International Airport in Florida canceled all flights after 3 p.m. and suspended operations until at least noon on Wednesday.
Record-breaking snowfall was reported across the region. The state of Louisiana saw a record-breaking snow total of over 10 inches in the city of Rayne. New Orleans saw nearly 9 inches of flurries. This snowfall is unprecedented for the area, with the oldest records from a sub-station in New Orleans reporting 10 inches of snow in 1895 and 14.4 inches in 1909.
The National Weather Service issued its first-ever blizzard warning for southern Louisiana on Tuesday due to the rough and unprecedented conditions. Blizzard warnings are issued when an area is expected to see frequent wind gusts over 35 mph, as well as reduced visibility from snow.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings are also still in effect for parts of Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas.
7 Comments
Eugene Alta
A little snow shouldn't shut down an entire region. What happened to resilience?
Loubianka
I hope everyone stays safe! It's concerning to see such extreme weather in the South.
BuggaBoom
I can't believe they canceled all those flights over a bit of snow. It's getting ridiculous.
KittyKat
Stop complaining about the snow! It's a natural occurrence, and people need to adjust.
Katchuka
Never thought I'd see snow like this in New Orleans! It’s both beautiful and alarming.
Africa
Hearing about this storm is exhausting. Everyone needs to chill out and enjoy the snow.
Muchacha
Why is there a blizzard warning for southern Louisiana? This is just winter weather!