PENSACOLA, Fla. − An unusual winter storm swept through the Southern states, setting record snowfall from New Orleans to Pensacola and now moving out over the ocean. This storm impacted an area that hasn’t faced such severe winter weather in decades, causing significant disruptions as it departed.

Cities in the South will continue to feel the effects of this cold snap for several days, as many are unprepared for such extreme chill. More than 130,000 residences and businesses were experiencing power outages on Wednesday across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Efforts to clear snow and ice, common in northern regions, are now taking place in the South despite a shortage of snow plows. Residents were advised to avoid travel on the icy roads, with temperatures predicted to hover near freezing on Thursday.

The storm began its journey on Tuesday in Texas, creating hazardous driving conditions before making its way eastward. Schools in the Houston-Galveston area were closed as snow accumulated, with totals reaching 6 inches.

Louisiana experienced its first-ever blizzard warning. New Orleans International Airport recorded 8 inches of snow, tripling the previous record from over 60 years ago, as reported by the National Weather Service. Records were also broken in Alabama, while some areas in Mississippi received up to a foot of snow.

The Pensacola region in Florida set a new state record, surpassing a 130-year-old mark for total snowfall. The National Weather Service indicated that Pensacola received at least 5 inches, while Milton received 9.8 inches, exceeding the previous record of 4 inches established in 1954.

“We urge our residents to stay off the roads,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves stated. “Not only are they putting themselves in danger, but they are also endangering our first responders and hampering our response efforts.”

Updates:

∎ Snowfall in New Orleans came close to breaking a 130-year-old record. The city hadn’t seen measurable snow since 2009, according to the National Weather Service.

∎ In Alabama, 7.5 inches fell in Mobile, marking a snow accumulation not seen in over 60 years as per the weather service.

Remarkable snowfall totals across the South

Babbie, Alabama, located 100 miles northeast of Pensacola, recorded the highest snowfall in the region with 11.5 inches, according to the National Weather Service snowfall report. Lafayette, Louisiana, reported 10.5 inches. Milton led Florida with several areas recording around 9 inches, as did Cordele, Georgia, located 160 miles south of Atlanta. La Porte, near Houston, Texas, measured 6 inches, while Evanston in Mississippi reported 5.5 inches.

However, a snowbelt city took the top spot, with 48 inches of snow falling in Rodman, New York.

Travel chaos caused by the storm

Travelers are still coping with the aftermath of a rare winter storm that swept through the Southeast on Tuesday. As of 8 a.m. ET Wednesday, over 1,300 flights across the U.S. were canceled, and nearly 1,000 were delayed, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Most cancellations affected flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, with both airports planning to resume normal operations later Wednesday after temporarily halting all flights. Significant flight disruptions were also noted in cities like New Orleans, Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. Read more here.

− Zach Wichter and Eve Chen

Generational storm hits Gulf Coast – with limited snow removal

The Gulf Coast is currently facing a snowstorm described as a once-in-a-generation weather event by the National Weather Service. How unprecedented is snowfall for these Southern cities?

“This will be the most significant winter storm the Greater Houston area has encountered since at least 1960,” stated the Houston weather service.

Meanwhile, New Orleans had not experienced measurable snow since 2009, and it has been 35 years since Jacksonville saw any snowfall.

“This will be an unprecedented snowfall event for the Gulf Coast,” meteorologist Paul Douglas noted on X, adding that many areas lack snowplows and will have to wait for the snow to melt away later in the week. Read more here.

− Doyle Rice

Excitement over rare snow in Louisiana

For 21-year-old meteorology student Gabriel Hebert, experiencing a record-breaking winter storm in Lafayette, Louisiana, is more than just a snow day; it’s an exciting educational moment.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” he told YSL News. “This is my favorite type of weather.”

Hebert has been tracking the storm closely and stayed up late to follow the snowfall. His family prepared by leaving cabinets open to prevent pipe freezing, agreed to avoid the roads, and stocked up on essential supplies.

“We aren’t sure how to get ready for something like this,” Hebert admitted, as his younger siblings happily enjoyed the snow. “I just want to enjoy this time with my family, watching them make snow angels and snowmen.”

− Sam Woodward

In New Orleans, enjoying the moment

Claire Spenard, a New Orleans resident, recalls many snow days from her upbringing in Rochester, New York. Initially dismissing the weather forecasts for the South as a joke, she now finds herself regretting not purchasing a shovel ahead of the storm as schools and major roads close.

“It reminds me of home, and I never thought I’d feel that way,” Spenard shared with YSL News.

The 23-year-old ballet teacher noted the city’s quiet streets filled with excited children playing in the snow for the first time. Her advice for those navigating the cold is to make way for passing vehicles while taking in the beauty around them.

“Take a moment to enjoy the scenery—it’s truly beautiful,” she reflected. “I think many people in New Orleans are doing just that, taking their time to appreciate it, as we often do.”

− Sam Woodward

Good sledding potential in Tallahassee

In winter, Florida residents typically store their pool floats, boogie boards, and kayaks. However, on Wednesday, people in North Florida may repurpose these items into makeshift sleds, Florida-style. Leon County Schools canceled classes on Wednesday due to the snowy forecast, giving kids in Tallahassee a snow day.

Tallahassee’s hilly terrain offers plenty of spots for sleighing, with one popular spot likely being Florida A&M University, noted for sitting on the highest of seven hills in the state capital.

− Alaijah Brown, Tallahassee Democrat

Contributing: Troy Moon, Edward Bunch III, and Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal