NAS Pensacola closed to traffic into and out of base
The historic Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, which has launched countless Navy aviators into the skies, closed its main gate today to incoming and outgoing vehicle traffic.
Commanders shut down “both inbound and outbound traffic due to hazardous road conditions across the bridge leading to the air station brought on by ,” this afternoon.
The base has been since before World War I.
Houston’s airports to reopen tomorrow
Houston’s airports, closed today because of the bitter cold and snow, will reopen tomorrow with the first arrivals at 10 a.m., a spokesperson for the airports said.
TSA lines will be open at 9 a.m., and the first departing flight is scheduled for 11 a.m.
The snow has stopped falling in Houston, but all that slush and snow will refreeze tonight, the National Weather Service said. People were cautioned to be careful and limit time outdoors.
Whiteout conditions blanket much of the South
About 46 million people were living under winter weather alerts this afternoon as snow and rain pounded much of the South, from Texas to Virginia.
Another 172 million people are under cold alerts, enduring temperatures 20 to 35 degrees below average throughout wide swaths of the country, including the South, the Great Plains, the Midwest and the interior Northeast.
Low temperatures will drop into the single digits and teens across much of the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic into tonight.
University of Florida closes campus due to winter weather
The University of Florida because of winter weather and the potential for icy roads. It will be closed from midnight tonight until 12:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Classes are set to resume with the 12:50 p.m. period, and employees are expected to return to work at 12:30 p.m., UF announced.
The P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School will close at 6 p.m. today and tomorrow, with plans to reopen Thursday. Baby Gator child care services will also be closed tomorrow. Florida Fresh Dining will remain open.
UF Health clinical operations will continue as scheduled. Employees and personnel outside of Alachua County are advised to follow local government closure guidelines.
Video shows airboat doing donuts in snow-covered Louisiana field
A vehicle usually associated with cruising through the swampy waters of the bayou was recorded today doing tricks in a snowy patch of land in Louisiana.
The clip, posted to X, was recorded in Charenton, about 50 miles southeast of Lafayette.
Port Houston announces 2-day closure due to winter weather
Port Houston, one of the largest ports in the United States for waterborne shipping, announced all of its facilities will be closed today and tomorrow because of winter weather conditions.
“We potentially will resume vessel operations at the container terminals on Wednesday evening, if conditions allow,” the shipping port .
Port Houston has committed to opening gates on Saturday to assist customers.
“The safety of our team and users remains our top priority. We continue to monitor conditions and will provide another update Wednesday around Noon,” it said.
Parts of Louisiana get over 10 inches of snow in historic storm
The rare winter storm continues to cross the Southeast this afternoon, producing whiteout conditions and 1 inch-per-hour snowfall rates. Totals as of 2 p.m. ET include:
- 10.5 inches in Rayne, Louisiana
- 7.5 inches in Lafayette, Louisiana
- 6.0 inches in Pine Forest, Texas
- 6.0 inches in Lake Charles, Louisiana
- 5.2 inches in Beaumont, Texas
- 4.0 inches in New Orleans
- 3.0 inches in Houston
Jacksonville International Airport to close due to winter weather
Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport joins several other that will be temporarily closed because of winter weather conditions.
The airport will close after the last scheduled departure at about 8 p.m., with plans to reopen at 12 p.m. tomorrow.
“Travelers are encouraged to check flight status with their airlines for the most up-to-date information about their itineraries and for rebooking options,” .
Buffalo declares state of emergency amid severe lake-effect snowstorm, closes major skyway
Severe winter weather is also pummeling the Northeast. Mayor Chris Scanlon declared a state of emergency for Buffalo, New York, today in response to a severe lake-effect snowstorm affecting the area.
“My top priority is the safety of our residents, and our emergency response team is actively monitoring the storm while working closely with local and state agencies to respond effectively to this severe weather event,” Scanlon said in a post on X. “I urge all residents to stay indoors if possible and follow all emergency directives.”
The Buffalo Common Council also issued a travel advisory on X, citing deteriorating weather conditions, including blowing and drifting snow and poor visibility.
The advisory announced the closure of the Buffalo Skyway, a major bridge and elevated roadway that connects downtown Buffalo with the northern end of the Buffalo Harbor.
Winter storm forces airports across the Gulf Coast to shut down
‘This doesn’t happen very often’: Houston firefighters, police have snowball fight
The official X account of the city of Houston posted video today of its emergency personnel engaging in a playful snowball fight amid the rare winter storm.
“Some of our and first responders are enjoying the snow between calls,” the caption said. “Please continue to stay off the roads, and stay warm and safe at home.”
Mobile County declares all roads, bridges too dangerous for travel
A major Alabama community along the Gulf of Mexico told residents to stay off all roads and bridges as a historic cold snap plagues the region.
All travel outside “should be suspended or delayed,” according to the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, spelling the word IMPASSABLE in all caps.
A host of schools and other government services had before this roads advisory was issued.
Texas energy grid is withstanding the winter storm — for now
Texas energy officials voiced optimism today that they’ll be able to keep the lights on and heaters blasting, as bone-chilling conditions crossed the Lone Star State.
As of , “the grid continues to have sufficient resources to meet demand,” according to a statement by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the independent operator that provides power across.
ERCOT was little known outside Texas before a winter storm in 2021 nearly collapsed the grid and .
Video shows ‘sneaux’ piling up in Louisiana
Video from Mandeville, a city in Louisiana on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, shows the rare sight of “sneaux” piling up in this Gulf Coast community.
Sunny Florida could become ‘winter wonderland,’ DeSantis warns
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged his constituents to be careful and steer clear of this “winter wonderland” that’s .
“I don’t have to tell anybody that we’re not necessarily used to walking in a winter wonderland here in Florida,” Tuesday in Tallahassee. “This is atypical weather for our region, even northern Florida.”
Some regions of the state could get up to 6 inches of snow, according to DeSantis.
New Orleans Causeway ‘closed until further notice’
A key New Orleans thoroughfare was shut down Tuesday because of and , officials said.
The New Orleans Causeway is “closed until further notice” according to a message blasted out by the NOLA Ready Emergency Alert System that urged Big Easy residents to stay “warm, stay safe and stay off the roads.”
The bridge had already been before Tuesday’s full closure.
Satellites confused by how cold it is in the U.S. and Canada
Infrared satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows just how cold things are back on Earth.
“An example of how cold it is,” the National Weather Service wrote on X. “Satellite is confused with what’s clouds and what’s the ground.”
‘Several fatalities’ in Texas crash caused by icy conditions
First responders were at the scene of a major accident involving “several fatalities” due to icy roads outside of La Pryor, Texas, about 100 miles west of San Antonio.
The accident happened early this morning on Highway 57 between La Pryor and Batesville, Uvalde County Constable Emmanuel Zamora , closing the highway for several hours. The scene was cleared and the highway was reopened at 3:23 a.m. local time.
“Medical helicopter could not respond to assist due to weather. Prayers for all involved,” Zamora said.
Dangerous ‘rare winter storm’ hits Gulf Coast as it braces for historic snowfall
Weather forecasters and public agencies issued health and power loss warnings Tuesday as a ““ gripped parts of the southern and eastern United States.
“A bitterly cold airmass will remain in place for much of the South and eastern U.S. over the next couple of days,” the National Weather Service said early Tuesday in a forecast as it advised the public about the prospect of heavy snow, freezing rain and a “significant winter storm.”
Several states have declared emergencies, with temperatures expected to be 20 to 30 degrees below the January average for most locations, forecasters said. The mercury is set to dip to single-digits in some part of the Midwest.
“Many record lows are possible Wednesday morning, especially along the Gulf Coast and into the Tennessee Valley,” the weather service said.
