[PHOTOS] Historic Storm Blankets Gulf Coast With Up To eight” Snow and Unprecedented Blizzard Warnings

New Orleans and the Gulf Coast skilled unprecedented snow on Tuesday, January 21. In some areas, accumulations reached eight inches, shattering the earlier report of two.7 inches set in 1963.

Based on Climate Nation, New Orleans has seen extra snow this yr than Anchorage, Alaska.

The storm, half of a bigger system affecting the Gulf Coast, introduced uncommon winter circumstances to a number of states:

– Louisiana: New Orleans noticed the very best totals, with 8 inches in some areas.
– Mississippi: Jackson recorded 6 inches of snow.
– Alabama: Cell acquired 4 inches, whereas Birmingham noticed 5 inches.
– Florida: Pensacola measured 2 inches of snow, a rarity for the Sunshine State.

I’m nonetheless in disbelief this occurred. Right here it’s. Timelapse of historic New Orleans snow storm. Snow obtained as much as 12 inches on my snowboard within the French Quarter. pic.twitter.com/M9byQeZJGL

— Payton Malone WWL-TV (@paytonmalonewx) January 22, 2025

The snowfall paralyzed New Orleans, closing main highways and the Louis Armstrong Worldwide Airport. Officers declared a state of emergency and urged residents to remain dwelling as a result of treacherous highway circumstances.

Regardless of the challenges, many New Orleanians embraced the uncommon occasion. Social media is full of photographs of snowball fights within the French Quarter and makeshift sleds on Bourbon Road.

2 inches of snow on Bourbon Road and we obtained skis out. Northerners look away pic.twitter.com/PViW9ilnLb

— FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) January 21, 2025

Officers warn of potential energy outages and burst pipes as temperatures stay beneath freezing.

A uncommon mixture of meteorological elements prompted the historic snowfall. A surge of Arctic air plunged southward, bringing frigid temperatures to the area. This chilly air mass collided with a low-pressure system that pulled important moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The interplay between these two programs created the proper circumstances for heavy snowfall in areas that sometimes expertise delicate winters. The trajectory resembled a tropical storm, carving an icy path from Texas to Georgia and the Carolinas. This uncommon setup allowed snow-to-water ratios to be increased than traditional, leading to snowfall totals exceeding many forecast fashions.