From Houston to Pensacola, nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline along the U.S. Gulf Coast was blanketed in as much as a foot of snow this week.
The storm shattered century-old records and left cities like New Orleans, Mobile, and Panama City Beach buried in snow.
A mix of joy and bewilderment set in across much of the South as the snowstorm moved through Tuesday and Wednesday. One New Orleans resident wrote on threads “I saw it with my own eyes, and I still can’t believe how much snow New Orleans got.”
On average, the state of Louisiana receives less than half an inch of snow a year. On Tuesday, portions of the state along the Gulf Coast were under the first Blizzard warnings issued in the state’s history. Winds and heavy snow across the region reduced visibility and made travel nearly impossible. Thousands of flights were canceled, leaving passengers unexpectedly stranded in a once-in-a-lifetime weather event.
New Orleans revels as blizzard brings “much needed” joy and pause to the city
New Orleans, Louisiana received one of the highest snow totals across the South. Ten inches of powdery, white snow covered historic landmarks like the French Quarter and Jackson Square. And while the city’s schools and many businesses shuttered, and most motorists stayed home, residents took full advantage of the rare experience.
“#SneauxDay in New Orleans was next level,” Threads user Dani Kennedy wrote. “Can’t believe this actually happened. I’ve witnessed some wild things in this city, but this one definitely takes the (king) cake.”
Photos from Tuesday show New Orleanians sledding down levees, having snowball fights in the streets, and enjoying beer chilled in the snow drifts.
The historic snowstorm came just weeks after a devastating terror attack rocked the city. In the early morning hours of New Years Day, Shamsud Din-Jabbar maneuvered around police barriers and plowed his pickup truck through a crowd on Bourbon street. After crashing, Din-Jabbar exited the vehicle and began firing at police officers. The attack killed fourteen people simply hoping to celebrate the start to 2025 with loved ones.
For some, the snowstorm came at just the right time.
“New Orleans needed this snow!” Threads user Timothy Pakron (@mississippivegan) wrote. “It’s been truly magical and has lifted our spirits.”