A rare winter storm churned across the U.S. Gulf Coast on Tuesday, bringing heavy snow, ice and wind gusts to a region where even flurries are unusual.
As the storm moved east, crews near Houston plowed highways, while downtown streets, covered in white, were virtually deserted during the morning rush.
In the center of Houston, few people ventured out into the snow as some restaurants and bars remained closed. The Houston metro rail was running but passengers were scarce. Schools were closed Tuesday and Wednesday as the city expected about four inches of snow to fall.
Snow was also falling in New Orleans, where as much as eight inches were expected to accumulate by the end of the day, threatening to tie a record set in 1895. The last time the city received any measurable snowfall was 2009, according to the National Weather Service.
“Stay home and stay off the roads,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell as winds whipped snow in her face during a video message on X.
The storm is expected to crawl through Mississippi, Georgia and Florida early this week. Up to five inches of snow were forecast for Mobile, Ala.a, where such accumulations have not been seen in more than 60 years, according to the NWS.
A snowstorm warning was in effect for 31 million people—from southern Texas east through Georgia and north to the Carolinas and into Virginia—on Tuesday until Wednesday morning, the service said.
Air Travel Affected by Winter Storm
Hundreds of flights in and out of the region’s airports were delayed or canceled on Tuesday morning. Some 960 flights departing or bound for Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport were canceled, according to Flightaware.com.
Also closed was Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. Officials at IAH and Hobby said Tuesday morning that teams remained on site to prepare for when they can return to service. The airports closed late Monday at midnight in anticipation of the arctic blast.
Anyone with travel plans in and out of the affected areas is advised to check with their airlines.
—As reported in Reuters and multiple news sources.
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