A rare winter storm swept the U.S. Gulf Coast on Tuesday, breaking century-old snowfall records and plunging much of the country into a deep freeze. Snowstorm warnings covered 31 million people from Texas to Virginia, with snowfall reaching unprecedented levels in southern states.
Houston, the U.S.’s fourth-largest city, saw deserted streets as 4 inches of snow fell. Schools closed for two days, and authorities investigated two weather-related deaths. “I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and never seen snow like this,” said Ishan Bhaidani, a Houston fintech consultant.
New Orleans experienced nearly 10 inches of snow, possibly breaking an 1895 record. Mobile, Alabama, shattered a 144-year-old record with 6 inches of snow. The storm snarled travel, canceling over 1,000 flights at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Temperatures plunged into single digits, prompting warnings about frostbite and frozen pipes. Snow, ice, and strong winds disrupted road and air travel and threatened power lines. Southeastern Texas saw power outages affecting 30,000 homes, though the number dropped to 8,000 by evening.
Warming centers opened in Atlanta and Montgomery as schools and government offices closed. Across the South, icy roads and gusty winds created hazardous conditions.
Elsewhere, Arctic air gripped the eastern U.S., with Grand Lake, Colorado, hitting a bone-chilling -39°F (-39°C). The brutal cold is expected to linger through midweek.
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