Unprecedented Winter Storm Strikes Southern U.S.
A rare winter storm is sweeping across the southern United States, delivering unprecedented weather conditions.
TroibNews 
A significant winter storm, described as a once-in-a-generation event, swept through a large area of the southern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, on Tuesday. This storm brought heavy snow, sleet, and ice, creating dangerous travel conditions in a region not accustomed to such severe cold weather.
The storm affected as many as 235 million Americans, and the U.S. National Weather Service characterized it as "a generational winter storm event."
For the first time, the NWS issued a blizzard warning for certain areas in southern Louisiana and far eastern Texas, where heavy snowfall and strong wind gusts resulted in whiteout conditions.
The NWS cautioned that roads would be "extremely hazardous if not impossible for much of the area, and travel is highly discouraged" overnight and into Tuesday.
As a result of the storm, schools, government offices, and many businesses closed across the region. Numerous roads were covered with snow, while others were obstructed by a mix of snow and ice. By Tuesday morning, wind chills caused temperatures to plunge into the teens along much of the Gulf Coast, with northern Texas experiencing single-digit temperatures.
Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that over 2,100 flights into or out of the affected airports, primarily in Texas and Louisiana, were canceled on Tuesday. Operations at several airports in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida were also halted due to the storm.
Large stretches of Interstate 10, a major route through Texas and Louisiana, were closed due to perilous conditions.
In Houston, Texas' largest city, snowfall ranged from seven to 15 centimeters, while parts of southern Louisiana saw accumulations exceeding 15 centimeters by Tuesday afternoon.
In a location just north of Rayne, Louisiana, approximately 27 centimeters of snow was recorded before noon. The unusual weather even resulted in snow covering sandy beaches along Texas' coast on Tuesday morning.
In response to this extraordinary storm, governors of Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, declared a state of emergency.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
The storm affected as many as 235 million Americans, and the U.S. National Weather Service characterized it as "a generational winter storm event."
For the first time, the NWS issued a blizzard warning for certain areas in southern Louisiana and far eastern Texas, where heavy snowfall and strong wind gusts resulted in whiteout conditions.
The NWS cautioned that roads would be "extremely hazardous if not impossible for much of the area, and travel is highly discouraged" overnight and into Tuesday.
As a result of the storm, schools, government offices, and many businesses closed across the region. Numerous roads were covered with snow, while others were obstructed by a mix of snow and ice. By Tuesday morning, wind chills caused temperatures to plunge into the teens along much of the Gulf Coast, with northern Texas experiencing single-digit temperatures.
Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that over 2,100 flights into or out of the affected airports, primarily in Texas and Louisiana, were canceled on Tuesday. Operations at several airports in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida were also halted due to the storm.
Large stretches of Interstate 10, a major route through Texas and Louisiana, were closed due to perilous conditions.
In Houston, Texas' largest city, snowfall ranged from seven to 15 centimeters, while parts of southern Louisiana saw accumulations exceeding 15 centimeters by Tuesday afternoon.
In a location just north of Rayne, Louisiana, approximately 27 centimeters of snow was recorded before noon. The unusual weather even resulted in snow covering sandy beaches along Texas' coast on Tuesday morning.
In response to this extraordinary storm, governors of Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, declared a state of emergency.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
