A winter storm affected a large area of the United States, leaving record amounts of snow in several states. In Houston, 48 centimeters fell, while 39 centimeters were recorded in Galveston. Additionally, the cold spread across much of the continental territory due to a disruption of the polar vortex. Tom Kines, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, pointed out that many children would have the chance to enjoy snowball fights for the first time.
In Louisiana, near Lafayette, 26.5 centimeters of snow accumulated, approaching the state record set in 1960 of 33 centimeters. The National Weather Service reported that between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, there was between 18 and 20 centimeters of snow, while in Texas, the Houston-Galveston area received between 5 and 10 centimeters before noon. The NWS office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, issued its first snowstorm warning.
Florida also experienced record snowfall, breaking marks set decades ago. The NWS office in Mobile reported that Pensacola received 12.5 centimeters of snow, and Mobile airport recorded 15.7 centimeters. Snow even reached coastal cities in Florida, something uncommon in the Gulf of Mexico region.
The combination of a snowstorm and extreme cold surprised many residents, creating a unique situation. In cities like Houston, daily life was disrupted, with businesses closed and extreme weather conditions. Parts of southeast Texas experienced wind chill values as low as -12 degrees, according to alerts from the National Weather Service.
Amid the historic snowfall, residents and workers located in usually warm areas enjoyed the snow, building snowmen and participating in snowball fights. The rarity of the winter phenomenon in these regions created an atmosphere of surprise and fun, despite the difficulties posed by the extreme weather.
