It snowed in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday. (Michael DeMock/Getty Images)
A rare, historic snowfall blanketed parts of the southern United States on Tuesday, allowing residents to enjoy the rather unusual weather. A family went tubing in Houston. People make snowballs and snow angels. People were even seen skiing on Bourbon Street.
The storm brought snow to New Orleans, Louisiana, for the first time in 15 years. Nearby Kenner reported 4 inches of snow. The last time the area saw measurable snowfall was a tenth of an inch in 2009, and the city’s record snowfall was 2.7 inches in 1963, Axios reported.
New Orleans, a city primarily known for its heat and humidity, could see four to seven inches of snow as the National Weather Service issued its first blizzard warning for southern Louisiana.
News you can trust and daily fun, right in your inbox
Experience it firsthand — The Yodel is your go-to source for daily news, entertainment and light-hearted stories.
At the same time, much of the United States is experiencing the coldest temperatures of the season, with nearly 220 million residents in 40 states facing harsh temperatures and dangerous wind chills from the arctic air mass covering large swaths of the country.
Other areas across the South are experiencing intense snowfall, including Houston, Texas, which received more than 4 inches of snow Monday night into Tuesday morning. A winter storm warning is in effect for coastal Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Meanwhile, several schools in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana will remain closed until Wednesday. FlightAware reported that at least 95% of flights departing from Houston airports were canceled on Tuesday, while 89% of flights at New Orleans International Airport were also canceled.
New Orleans officials are urging residents to stay home and avoid driving as snowfall continues. The city does not have snowplows of its own but is getting help from the Louisiana Department of Transportation to clear roads and spread salt on the ice.
At a news conference Monday, Gov. Jeff Landy warned that if some areas like New Orleans get more than the “4-inch threshold” of snow, “the state will effectively shut down for at least a day or two.”
Sous chef Eric Walker has a snowball fight outside the Bourbon House restaurant in New Orleans’ French Quarter. (Michael DeMock/Getty Images)
People play in the snow in downtown Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. (Ashley Landis/AP)
In the photo, the dogs are wearing winter clothes and were taken in New Orleans. (Gerald Herbert/AP)
A man walks on snow in Houston. (Ashley Landis/AP)
People slide laundry baskets up the hill in Houston’s Eleanor Tinsley Park. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
Items were found Tuesday in storage bins, river pipes and other locations in Houston. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
Houston. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
A man takes photos of the Mississippi River during heavy snowfall in New Orleans. (Michael DeMock/Getty Images)
A car skidded on a nearly deserted stretch of Interstate 45 in Houston. (Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
Heavy snow covers Mardi Gras decorations in New Orleans. (Jake Brook/AP)
The Pete Fountain statue at New Orleans Music Legends Park on Bourbon Street in New Orleans is covered in snow. (Michael DeMock/Getty Images)
