Southern towns, including Florida, have experienced snowstorms that broke records in what many are calling a once-in-a-lifetime event. For the first time, people saw snow on beaches, and some were even able to throw snowballs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. In Mississippi, families without sleds used creative alternatives like inflatable alligators, laundry baskets, and yoga mats to slide down snow-covered levees.
Here are some of the heaviest snowfalls across the South:
Milton, Florida:
Milton, a small town near Pensacola, recorded a huge 9.8 inches (24.9 cm) of snow. This would break Florida’s all-time snowfall record set in 1954 if confirmed. Michael Mugrage, a meteorologist from Mobile, Alabama, called it “an incredible, incredible event,” emphasizing how rare it is. Although the total is still unofficial and will be reviewed by the state’s climate office, it highlights how unusual this snowfall is for the region.
Pensacola, Florida:
Pensacola’s airport recorded 7.6 inches (19.3 cm) of snow, breaking the city’s previous record of 3 inches (7.6 cm) set back in 1895.
New Orleans, Louisiana:
New Orleans also saw record-breaking snow, with 10 inches (25 cm) falling in some areas. This surpassed the city’s previous record of 2.7 inches (6.8 cm) from 1963. There was even an unofficial report of 11.5 inches (29.2 cm) in Saint Bernard Parish, located to the east of New Orleans.
Houston, Texas:
Houston, which doesn’t usually get snow, experienced up to 4 inches (10 cm) of snow. Some areas southeast of the city, like La Porte, reported up to 6 inches (15 cm).
Charleston, South Carolina:
Charleston saw more than 4 inches (10 cm) of snow, which led to the airport closing, as well as the Ravenel Bridge. Ice on the cables of the bridge caused safety concerns, as large chunks of ice could fall onto vehicles below.
Mobile, Alabama:
At Mobile Regional Airport, 6.2 inches (15.7 cm) of snow was recorded, breaking the city’s previous one-day snowfall record of 5 inches (12.7 cm) from 1881. Several areas around Mobile reported even more snow, with unofficial reports of over 9 inches (23 cm).
This massive snowfall event has left many amazed at the unusual weather across the South.
