A severe blizzard hit the US Gulf Coast region on Tuesday, covering many parts of the region with a blanket of snow. The storm disrupted life for about 1,500 miles from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the Atlantic coast of Carolina. Roads were closed in many places, passengers were stranded, and thousands of flights were canceled. At least 10 people have died due to the storm and the severe cold that came with it.
Snowfall records:
Snowfall records were broken in many parts of Florida. The snowfall record of 4 inches set in 1954 was surpassed in many places this time. New Orleans received 8 inches of snow on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 2.7 inches. Mobile, Alabama received 7.5 inches of snow, breaking the 1973 record of 3.6 inches. Pensacola, Florida received 7.6 inches of snow, breaking the 1954 record of 2.3 inches. Milton, Florida recorded the highest snowfall at 8.8 inches.
Casualties and accidents:
At least 10 people have died across the country due to the severe cold and snowstorm. Five people were killed in a crash caused by snow-covered roads in Zavala County, Texas. A 27-year-old woman has died after her car rolled over in Ozark, Alabama. Two deaths in Austin are being investigated as possibly cold-related. One person has died of hypothermia in Georgia.
Impact on airports and transport systems:
Airports in Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida were closed on Tuesday. Due to this closure, the impact was also felt on Wednesday. More than 1,200 flights were canceled across the country, mostly on routes to Texas and Louisiana. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi has closed its terminal and runway. Airports in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida, are scheduled to reopen Wednesday afternoon. Both airports in Mobile, Alabama, will remain closed until Thursday afternoon.
Road closures and warnings:
In Louisiana, Interstate 10 is closed in both directions from the Texas border to Baton Rouge. An Indiana company has brought 14 snow removal machines to clear streets in New Orleans. Roads in some counties of Alabama have been declared impassable and closed. 19 counties in Mississippi have ice on roads and bridges, increasing the risk of black ice. In Georgia, authorities have urged citizens to avoid travel on roads, as the snow is likely to melt and refreeze.
Warnings to citizens:
Many cities have urged citizens to avoid travel, as the sun is likely to melt and refreeze snow, increasing road hazards. More than 1,300 people in Houston have used the warming centers, and the city provides free transportation to them. In San Antonio, a woman took shelter in her dog’s kennel during the cold, which saved her life.
The blizzard has disrupted life in several southern states, and citizens have been urged to exercise caution.