Houston to Jacksonville: Snow and ice forecast for the Gulf Coast
A "rare and especially dangerous winter storm" is starting to unfold across the Gulf Coast states, threatening to shut down travel for millions.
Aaron Jayjack is in Houston, Texas, where a rare winter storm is bringing blizzardlike conditions from Louisiana to Texas.
A historic winter storm is about to unfold across the Gulf Coast states with accumulating snow and dangerous ice from Texas to Florida, including major cities and highways.
"This will be a rare and especially dangerous winter storm right along the upper Gulf Coast that will result in major and lengthy disruptions to travel," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "The electrical grid in the central and eastern U.S. may be stressed as hundreds of millions reach to turn up the heat."
Here is the snow and ice forecast for some of the biggest cities in the path of the evolving storm:
Houston snow forecast
Between 2 and 4 inches of snow is forecast to fall in Houston through Tuesday afternoon. Some sleet and freezing rain may also mix in with the snow, especially south of the city.
The last time more than 2 inches of snow accumulated in a single calendar day in Houston was in February of 1960, when 3 inches piled up in the city.
New Orleans snow forecast
New Orleans is predicted to experience the first accumulation of snow in more than a decade, with 3 to 6 inches expected by Wednesday morning.
The last time measurable snow fell in New Orleans was in December 2009, when only 0.1 of an inch accumulated. However, the last time that a snow shovel was needed in the city was in December 1963, when 2.7 inches blanketed the city.
Mobile, Alabama, snow forecast
It is rare for snow to fall along the Gulf coast due to the warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, but the upcoming storm is still forecast to deliver 1 to 3 inches to Mobile, Alabama, through Tuesday night.
Snow has not been as rare in Mobile compared to other areas along the coast, with 1 inch of snow falling as recently as Dec. 8, 2017. However, it has been over three decades since at least 2 inches accumulated, and 52 years since a snowstorm covered the city in over 3 inches of powder.
Jacksonville ice forecast
In northern Florida, the upcoming storm will likely deliver more ice than snow, which can glaze highways and weigh down trees, resulting in widespread disruptions in daily routines. This includes Jacksonville, where ice accumulations are likely to reach dangerous levels.
A significant ice storm is also possible across southeastern Georgia, including sections of Interstate 75 and Interstate 95. Arctic air in the wake of the winter storm will cause overnight temperatures to dip below freezing through the end of the week, which can cause any wet areas to freeze up ahead of the morning commute.
Read more about the upcoming winter storm that is spreading across the southern U.S.
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