Historic storm: snow from Mexico to Florida

Airport closed

Millions of people in southeastern U.S. states are bracing for a rare winter storm that is moving along the northern Gulf of Mexico and will spread snow and freezing rain to nearly 2,000 km. The storm threatens to interrupt travel for several days and cause prolonged power outages in several regions. Houston’s two airports, George Bush and Hobby, have been closed to all air traffic since Tuesday morning.

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Snow in Florida

For parts of the western and northern Gulf Coast, it could be the largest snow and ice storm in more than 100 years. Major cities in the southern United States such as Austin, San Antonio and Houston in Texas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, Mobile in Alabama, Tallahassee and Jacksonville in Florida will all be affected by the storm due to snow. and/or ice.

Very problematic travel

Dry arctic air pushing south forces the storm and its winter precipitation along the Gulf Coast, which rarely experiences snow showers, much less snowfall of several inches as the storm prepares to do it. It goes without saying that these communities have little or no snow removal equipment. Travel will therefore be very difficult, if not impossible, in several sectors. The last time New Orleans received more than a few snowflakes was December 4, 2009. Since 1948, only eight times has enough snow fallen to measure. It could be the largest storm in more than 130 years for the New Orleans area, as well as much of south Louisiana and the central Gulf Coast.

Black ice in Florida

We have to go back to 1989 to talk about enough snow to be measured in Jacksonville, Florida. It was during the Christmas week storm, and nearly two inches of snow had fallen. In part of north-central Florida, enough cold air could sneak in for rain to turn into snow or freezing rain, particularly between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Up to 15 mm of icy conditions are possible west of Jacksonville, and in parts of southern Georgia.

Schools closed

The key will be whether the precipitation falls as sleet or snow rather than freezing rain. Unlike sleet or snow, freezing rain and wet snow can weigh down trees to the point of destroying them, dragging down power lines with them. In communities very unaccustomed to the cold, the consequences can be serious. Many highways, in addition to I-10 which runs west to east across the Gulf Coast, could be closed for an extended period of time. Schools may be closed for several days and some businesses may take time to reopen.

Several dangers

The bitter cold following the storm may cause a rare problem for residents of Southern states: the risk of frostbite and hypothermia for those poorly dressed or without heat. The power grid in the central and eastern United States could be strained as hundreds of millions of people try to turn up their heat. Icy conditions can cause problems for households and businesses that are without power for extended periods of time. Freezing air can burst pipes in unheated areas and cause significant water damage.

With the collaboration of Nicolas Lessard, meteorologist.