After a rare winter storm that pummeled the southern United States with record snowfall, the region was dealing with a dangerous new threat Thursday morning: snow on roads that, in some parts, will be completely gone by the end of the week. But it cannot melt.
From the swamps of Louisiana to the beaches of the Carolinas, conditions sent a similar message to officials throughout much of the South. The effects of the storm were not over, he told residents, and driving on slippery snow-covered roads remained a hazard.
While temperatures briefly rose above freezing in parts of Louisiana, southern Alabama and Mississippi, overnight temperatures plunged in areas including coastal communities in Georgia, northern Florida and the Carolinas, causing snow and ice on roads. Frozen. Morning commuters face an increased risk of black ice, thin patches that can form unexpectedly and almost invisibly as they mix with the asphalt.
“Snow is snow, and it’s going to present a hazard to motorists if they’re not prepared,” National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Ban said.
The risk is worse in a region that is not used to extreme cold weather, and where snow plows are not regularly stored properly. Temperatures could drop as low as 12 degrees Fahrenheit in southern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and parts of the Florida Panhandle Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a severe cold warning for the area through midmorning. of
The storm has already disrupted the region, with several schools canceling classes this week, delaying or canceling flights at airports and making travel nearly impossible. By Thursday morning, hundreds of flights were canceled and several Southeast airports halted operations.
Charleston International Airport in South Carolina was closed Wednesday due to snow and ice, and it was unclear when it would reopen Thursday. At New Orleans International Airport, all flights departing before noon Thursday were canceled, although airlines were planning to resume operations in the afternoon.
Florida’s Tallahassee International Airport and Mobile, Ala.’s regional and international airports were expected to resume operations Thursday afternoon.
At least 10 people have also been killed in Texas, Alabama and Georgia by the whirlwind of arctic air.
And cities received record amounts of snow: Mobile reported 7.5 inches. Pensacola, Fla. achieved 7.6 inches, breaking the 1895 record of three inches. And New Orleans saw eight inches, more than Anchorage this month.
In Georgia, the State Patrol responded to more than 3,000 calls since Tuesday evening, including 370 vehicle crashes, the agency said in a statement.
In North Carolina, where East Coast communities received up to six inches of snow, the state Department of Transportation deployed more than 1,300 trucks to clear roads.
“It’s important to remember that temperatures will remain below freezing for the next few days. Any snow that melts will refreeze each evening,” said Will Ray, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Management.
Several officials and utility companies urged residents to help conserve power.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Baldwin EMC, an electric utility in south Alabama, said in a post on social media.
In Mobile, a port city on the Alabama coast, residents’ initial jubilation about the snow turned to concerns about travel, as many roads have been deemed impassable.
“Snow has been beautiful and fun, but underneath all that snow and ice there can be many problems,” Baldwin County Public Schools System Superintendent Eddie Tyler wrote in a letter to parents after school was canceled. rest of the week.
In Tallahassee, Florida, police officers used pepper balls to break up a snowball fight. In a statement, the Tallahassee Police Department confirmed that its officers arrived at the scene of the winter disturbance after people complained of being hit in the head with snowballs. In a statement, police confirmed that officers used the tactic when they were also hit in the face, and the crowd refused to stop.
In Louisiana, the state Department of Transportation said parts of Interstate 10 between the Texas border and Lake Charles would reopen Wednesday night, but a large portion of the highway remained closed in both directions Thursday morning.
The Georgia State Patrol said it has responded to more than 100 vehicle crashes. In DeKalb County, Ga., more than 100 vehicles are stuck on icy roads and “hindering emergency response efforts,” officials said.
Officials said progress on clearing the roads was slow due to freezing temperatures. Even some fire trucks were stuck.
“This is a serious situation,” said Lorraine Cochran Johnson, the county’s chief executive. “We are asking for everyone’s patience and cooperation as our teams work around the clock to ensure the safety of the public.”
Ali Watkins And Ceylan Yeğinsu Cooperation reporting.
