An ABC News graphic shows the radar for the southeastern United States at 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (ABC News)
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) -- For much of the Gulf Coast, the snowstorm that's expected to end soon was a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm.
Many areas saw more snow than they have in at least 130 years, making this truly a historic event.
Florida just saw the most snow on record, with a preliminary 8.8 inches observed in Milton, which is north of Pensacola. This is the highest snow total on record for the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow reports from the last 24 hours include about 1.2 inches in Houston, Texas. That's the official number because it was taken at the city's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, but the southeast part of the city saw over 4 inces. The NWS said it “is one of the top snowstorms to impact the Houston area.”
Elsewhere in the South, the snowfall was higher. In Louisiana, Baton Rouge saw 7.6 inches, New Orleans saw 8 inches and Lake Charles saw at least 4.8 inches, with up to 6 inches in some areas. Lafayette has seen 9 inches.
The snowfall the most recent highest total in New Orleans was from New Year's Even in 1963 when 2.7 inches fell.
The 7.5 inches that fell in Mobile, Alabama, and the 7.6 inches in Pensacola, Florida, were all-time records.
Snow is still falling early Wednesday along the coastal Carolinas, in Georgia and in northern Florida.
About 5 inches have so far been reported in parts of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Even North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, said it's seen 3.8 inches -- and it’s still snowing there.
The snow is expected to end around 7 a.m. for the east coast, exiting Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, last.
Rain will continue in the Florida peninsula into the afternoon, heading south and exciting Miami, with lingering spot showers expected through the evening and again on Thursday for the Florida peninsula.
An ABC News graphic shows the weather forecast on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (ABC News)
(NEW YORK) -- The first-ever blizzard warning has been issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana as a historic snowstorm begins in the Gulf Coast and then pushes east across the South.
Over 7 inches of snow has been reported in Lafayette, Louisiana, and more than 5 inches of snow was reported near Beaumont, Texas -- the most snow Beaumont has seen in more than 100 years.
Authorities in Zavala County, Texas, said several people were killed in a major accident on slippery roads.
In Austin, Texas, county officials said they've responded to more than a dozen cold exposure calls, "including two fatal incidents."
One hypothermia-related death was also reported in Georgia, according to James Stallings, the director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Debilitating travel conditions are possible throughout the South.
Houston's airports are closed and over 2,000 flights are canceled across the U.S.
The Louisiana State Police said it's responded to more than 50 crashes on Tuesday and is urging everyone to stay home.
In three Alabama counties, officials warned that all roads are impassible.
On Tuesday morning, the snow is underway from Texas to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. By midday, the snow will leave the Houston area and push east, continuing across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia and the Carolinas.
By the evening, the snow will be ending in Alabama and still hitting Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
Blizzard-like whiteout conditions are being reported Tuesday morning around New Orleans, where residents are experiencing their biggest snowfall since 1963.
Most airlines at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have canceled flights.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, which spans Lake Pontchartrain outside of New Orleans, has been closed.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, may get 3 to 6 inches of snow and the Florida Panhandle may see 2 to 4 inches.
Parts of northern Georgia, including the Atlanta area, could see up to 2 inches of snow, state meteorologist Will Lanxton said.
Georgia officials warned that water pipes underground could freeze and burst.
Schools are closed from Houston to New Orleans to Savannah, Georgia.
"Our reality is this, we can do hurricanes and tropical storms, alright? We don't do cold and we don't do ice well," Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said Monday. "If you don't have to go outside, don't. Stay home."
Once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm hits Gulf Coast, with record-breaking snowfall in Florida
Posted/updated on:
January 22, 2025 at
6:00 am
An ABC News graphic shows the radar for the southeastern United States at 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (ABC News)
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) -- For much of the Gulf Coast, the snowstorm that's expected to end soon was a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm.
Many areas saw more snow than they have in at least 130 years, making this truly a historic event.
Florida just saw the most snow on record, with a preliminary 8.8 inches observed in Milton, which is north of Pensacola. This is the highest snow total on record for the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow reports from the last 24 hours include about 1.2 inches in Houston, Texas. That's the official number because it was taken at the city's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, but the southeast part of the city saw over 4 inces. The NWS said it “is one of the top snowstorms to impact the Houston area.”
Elsewhere in the South, the snowfall was higher. In Louisiana, Baton Rouge saw 7.6 inches, New Orleans saw 8 inches and Lake Charles saw at least 4.8 inches, with up to 6 inches in some areas. Lafayette has seen 9 inches.
The snowfall the most recent highest total in New Orleans was from New Year's Even in 1963 when 2.7 inches fell.
The 7.5 inches that fell in Mobile, Alabama, and the 7.6 inches in Pensacola, Florida, were all-time records.
Snow is still falling early Wednesday along the coastal Carolinas, in Georgia and in northern Florida.
About 5 inches have so far been reported in parts of coastal North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Even North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, said it's seen 3.8 inches -- and it’s still snowing there.
The snow is expected to end around 7 a.m. for the east coast, exiting Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, last.
Rain will continue in the Florida peninsula into the afternoon, heading south and exciting Miami, with lingering spot showers expected through the evening and again on Thursday for the Florida peninsula.
Historic snowstorm hitting the South from Texas to Florida
Posted/updated on:
January 21, 2025 at
1:44 pm
An ABC News graphic shows the weather forecast on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (ABC News)
(NEW YORK) -- The first-ever blizzard warning has been issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana as a historic snowstorm begins in the Gulf Coast and then pushes east across the South.
Over 7 inches of snow has been reported in Lafayette, Louisiana, and more than 5 inches of snow was reported near Beaumont, Texas -- the most snow Beaumont has seen in more than 100 years.
Authorities in Zavala County, Texas, said several people were killed in a major accident on slippery roads.
In Austin, Texas, county officials said they've responded to more than a dozen cold exposure calls, "including two fatal incidents."
One hypothermia-related death was also reported in Georgia, according to James Stallings, the director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Debilitating travel conditions are possible throughout the South.
Houston's airports are closed and over 2,000 flights are canceled across the U.S.
The Louisiana State Police said it's responded to more than 50 crashes on Tuesday and is urging everyone to stay home.
In three Alabama counties, officials warned that all roads are impassible.
On Tuesday morning, the snow is underway from Texas to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. By midday, the snow will leave the Houston area and push east, continuing across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and into Georgia and the Carolinas.
By the evening, the snow will be ending in Alabama and still hitting Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
Blizzard-like whiteout conditions are being reported Tuesday morning around New Orleans, where residents are experiencing their biggest snowfall since 1963.
Most airlines at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have canceled flights.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, which spans Lake Pontchartrain outside of New Orleans, has been closed.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, may get 3 to 6 inches of snow and the Florida Panhandle may see 2 to 4 inches.
Parts of northern Georgia, including the Atlanta area, could see up to 2 inches of snow, state meteorologist Will Lanxton said.
Georgia officials warned that water pipes underground could freeze and burst.
Schools are closed from Houston to New Orleans to Savannah, Georgia.
"Our reality is this, we can do hurricanes and tropical storms, alright? We don't do cold and we don't do ice well," Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said Monday. "If you don't have to go outside, don't. Stay home."
