Historic blizzard kills 7, leaves over 80 000 without power in Texas and Louisiana, U.S.
A historic blizzard swept through southeastern Texas and Louisiana on January 21, 2025, leaving at least 7 people dead and more than 80 000 without power.
Image credit: TxDOT- HOU District
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the first-ever Blizzard Warning for parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast on January 21, affecting regions along the Interstate 10 corridor. The storm caused multiple fatalities, widespread power outages, and severe disruptions to air, road, and sea transportation.
Temperatures plummeted to -5 °C (23 °F) in Austin, Texas, where at least 2 people died from exposure. Seven fatalities were reported across the state, with at least 2 deaths occurring in Zavala County Texas, two in Harris County, and one in Moore County.
Several people lost their lives in a major vehicle accident caused by icy road conditions as reported by the Uvalde County Constable’s Precinct 6 Office. The incident occurred at 00:45 LT on January 21 on a bridge along U.S. Highway 57 in Zavala County, Texas. The highway between La Pryor and Batesville remained closed for hours following the accident.
Emmanuel Zamora, Uvalde County Constable, confirmed that emergency crews struggled to reach the site because of icy conditions. “First responders on scene [are] indicating slippery roads while responding to [the] accident,” Zamora stated. “A medical helicopter could not respond to assist due to weather. Prayers for all involved.”
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a transmission emergency in southern and southeastern Texas after freezing precipitation damaged power lines. Power outages climbed beyond 33 000 customers — about 90 000 people.
The Port of Houston announced the closure of all 8 public terminals on January 21 and 22, with vessel operations resuming on January 22 evening, subject to weather conditions.
Port Freeport also restricted vessel activity while the Port of Corpus Christi resumed outbound vessel movement at midday on January 21, except for very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Inbound vessel movement was expected to restart later in the day.
Pilots assisting with vessel navigation at various ports suspended operations on January 20 and cited worsening offshore conditions.
Disruptions to oil and gas operations remained minimal despite the severe weather, with no major interruptions in natural gas flows or gasoline supply at fuel stations.
Authorities in Houston, Texas, closed George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Ellington Airport because of hazardous conditions, with operations expected to resume by January 22 morning.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) warned that Houston’s roadways were impassable, with Interstate 69 experiencing multiple accidents, including a crash involving at least 4 semi-trucks in Fort Bend County. Emergency officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, citing extreme danger from black ice and whiteout conditions.
“The roadways are going to be completely impassable. Do not roll the dice, stay off the ice,” Reece Hardy, Houston Police Captain, said in a video posted to X.
The blizzard brought wind gusts exceeding 56 km/h (35 mph) and snowfall accumulations between 8 cm (3 inches) and 20 cm (8 inches) across southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.
New Orleans reported 20 cm (8 inches) of snow, breaking the old record of 6.8 cm (2.7 inches) and marking this as the biggest snowstorm since 1948.
The highest recorded snowfall was 27 cm (10.5 inches) in Rayne, Louisiana, while Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported 20 cm (8 inches) which broke the previous 1963 record of 7 cm (2.7 inches).
Florida experienced unprecedented snowfall as well. In Milton, a preliminary total of 22.4 cm (8.8 inches) was recorded, more than doubling the state’s previous 24-hour snowfall record. The previous record, also set in Milton, was 10.2 cm (4 inches) on March 6, 1954.
Pensacola, Florida, also set a new all-time record with 19.3 cm (7.6 inches) of snowfall. Meanwhile, in Mobile, Alabama, snowfall reached 19 cm (7.5 inches), setting new all-time records for both single-day and two-day snowfall totals.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Lake Charles, Louisiana, confirmed that this was the first Blizzard Warning ever issued for the state. The storm system was driven by an Arctic front and moisture-laden low-pressure system and it created an extreme and rare winter event across the Deep South.
Governors of Texas and Louisiana declared states of emergency, with businesses and schools shutting down across both states. Officials urged residents to prepare for continued subzero temperatures and prolonged power outages.
The Houston Fire Department reported receiving over 60 emergency calls related to carbon monoxide poisoning, warning residents to position generators at least 1 m (3 feet) away from homes to prevent toxic fumes from entering living spaces.
“We’re doing everything we can to prepare for this winter storm,” John Whitmire, Houston Mayor said.
“We will be here to keep you safe and respond to emergencies, but we need your help.”
This historic winter storm for the Southern U.S. will move offshore on Wednesday morning, January 23. Behind the storm, arctic air will continue encompassing the eastern two-thirds of the Nation with only a slow return to normal temperatures expected by the end of the week.
References:
1 Three people die in snow storm covering southern United States – THE TIMES – January 22, 2025
2 Ports in Texas limit activity amid cold weather – Reuters – January 22, 2025
3 More Than 2,000 Flights Canceled as Rare Winter Storm Sweeps Across South – THE WALL STREET JOURNAL – January 21, 2025
4 Deadly vehicle accident briefly shuts down US Highway 57 in Zavala County, officials say – KSAT.com – January 21, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
Did the world just turn upside down? The Deep South got more snow than we got here in Southern Maine. I guess the weather fairies delivered the snow to the wrong address. The ski slopes are up here. That being said, I’m sorry for the loss of life.