Between January 20 and 22, 2025, an unprecedented winter storm—dubbed the Gulf Coast Blizzard—swept across the southern United States, delivering record-breaking snowfall to regions unaccustomed to such conditions. The storm, fueled by an arctic air mass and a disrupted polar vortex, brought blizzard conditions to parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, leading to widespread disruptions and fatalities.
Record-Breaking Snowfall
The blizzard shattered longstanding snowfall records across the Gulf Coast. In Louisiana, Chalmette recorded an astonishing 11.5 inches of snow, while New Orleans experienced 8 inches, marking its snowiest day since records began in 1948 . Mobile, Alabama, reported 7.5 inches, surpassing a 130-year-old record.
Florida’s Panhandle saw unprecedented snowfall, with Milton recording 9.8 inches, more than doubling the state’s previous record of 4 inches set in 1954 . Pensacola also reported 8.9 inches, leading to the closure of a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 10 due to hazardous conditions.
Human Impact and Fatalities
The severe weather conditions resulted in at least 13 fatalities across the affected states. In Texas, a collision on the Nueces River Bridge claimed five lives, while two individuals in Austin succumbed to cold exposure . Alabama reported two deaths: one from a house fire caused by using a stove for heat and another from a car crash on icy roads. Georgia recorded a death due to hypothermia, and additional fatalities were reported in Louisiana and Florida.
Infrastructure and Transportation Disruptions
The blizzard led to significant disruptions in transportation and infrastructure. Major highways, including parts of Interstate 10, were closed due to snow and ice. Air travel was severely affected, with over 1,800 flights canceled on January 22 alone, impacting airports in Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Charlotte . Power outages affected more than 77,000 customers across the region, and schools were closed for over a million students.
Meteorological Factors
The storm’s severity was attributed to a combination of factors, including a strong arctic air mass and a disrupted polar vortex, which allowed cold air to plunge deep into the southern United States. This rare convergence of meteorological events led to the first-ever blizzard warnings issued for parts of Louisiana and Texas.
Climate Considerations
While individual weather events cannot be solely attributed to climate change, scientists note that a warming Arctic can lead to more frequent disruptions of the polar vortex, potentially increasing the likelihood of extreme cold events in lower latitudes . The Gulf Coast Blizzard of 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the increasing volatility of weather patterns in a changing climate.
