A rare winter storm has swept through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast, enforcing the first blizzard warning for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. Airports and highways experienced significant disruptions, as about 2,000 flights were canceled nationwide and another 10,000 delayed. With plummeting temperatures reaching as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit in Houston, local officials have advised residents to stay indoors for safety until Thursday. The Arctic air mass has brought sub-freezing temperatures across the Eastern US, causing dangerous wind chills and raising concerns over frozen pipes and vulnerable vegetation.
The storm prompted states of emergency in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Schools canceled classes in anticipation of hazardous weather. Meteorologist Donald Jones noted the rare snowfall in the Gulf South, recalling, "The last time we saw snow of this magnitude was way back in 1960." Snowfall was forecasted to range from 1 to 2 inches per hour in areas such as Houston, New Orleans, and Pensacola. With residents rushing to stockpile supplies, officials reminded the public to stay off roads, warning of icy conditions and potential power outages.
Elsewhere, the Arctic blast affected areas from the Rockies to the Northern Plains. Severe wind chills extended as far east as Illinois, with advisories issued around the Great Lakes region. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
