Winter Storm Enzo: Snow In Florida, New Orleans, Houston; Schools Closed Across The South

A winter storm sweeping across the South dumped historic snow from Texas to Florida, brought widespread airport and road closures and gave students in several cities a rare snow day.

Children made snow angels in New Orleans, beaches in Florida and Alabama were covered in white and at least one person flew down a hill near downtown Houston on snow skis.

The system, named W​inter Storm Enzo by The Weather Channel, will continue to impact wide parts of the region as it moves eastward.

C​lick here for the full forecast, and follow our winter storm maps tracker here.

H​ere are our live updates from Tuesday:

(​5:56 p.m. ET) Where The Snow's Headed Next

F​rom weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:

Enzo's flakes will continue to fall from north Florida to the Carolinas and southeast Virginia into early Wednesday. While the snow is less unexpected in the Carolinas compared to Florida or Louisiana, it could still have some big impacts for the morning commute in cities like Charleston, Savannah and Wilmington, North Carolina. Ice may continue to cause issues in north Florida into the overnight hours, too.

(​5:36 p.m. ET) Florida Snowfall Record Likely Broken

T​he National Weather Service confirmed 5 inches of snow fell in Pensacola, Florida, likely breaking a statewide 24-hour record set in 1954.

(​5:32 p.m. ET) Atlanta School Closures Announced

From weather.com producer and Atlanta resident Pat Maddox:

Just got the word that Atlanta Public Schools are closed. I just went for a walk around the neighborhood and not surprised. It's already very icy and I saw a few cars coming home skid out.

(5:05 p.m. ET) Top Snowfall Totals

Five and a half inches of snow is being reported in Florida’s far western Panhandle. If the number holds through further investigation by the National Weather Service, that will be a new snowfall record for the entire state.

And more could still come down.

Here’s a look at the top snowfall totals by state from Enzo so far:

• A​labama: 5 inches in Bay Minette (northeast of Mobile)
• F​lorida: 5.5 inches in Molino (north of Pensacola)
• L​ouisiana: 10.5 inches in Rayne (near Lafayette)
• M​ississippi: 4 inches in Lumberton (south of Hattiesburg)
• T​exas: 6 inches near Pine Island (near Beaumont)

(​4:53 p.m. ET) E​mergencies Expand

T​he city of Savannah is the latest to declare a state of emergency because of the weather.

Per a social media update: "City offices & facilities closed today at noon and will remain closed Wednesday, Jan. 22. Thursday operations will be determined based on weather outcomes. Emergency services will remain open."

(​4:49 p.m. ET) Heads Up, Florida Drivers

F​rom weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:

Over the next few hours, we should see some changeover to freezing rain or sleet in the eastern Florida panhandle, south Georgia and the coastal Carolinas. Roads should get worse in a hurry in those areas, just in time or just after rush hour.

(​4:40 p.m. ET) Why This Snow Isn't Great For Making Snowballs

F​rom weather.com digital meteorologist Sara Tonks:

Today's snow across the Gulf Coast and Southeast is a fairly dry snow, so the ratio of snow to the rainfall equivalent is higher than the 10:1 rule of thumb that a lot of people point to.

Unfortunately, that means the snow isn't the best for making snowballs.

Read Tonks' full writeup to l​earn more about wet, heavy snow vs. dry, fluffy snow.

(​4:25 p.m. ET) 'Surreal' Scenes In New Orleans

From weather.com producer Joy Kigin, who's in the city on personal travel:

"It's surreal seeing the French Quarter so quiet, covered in snow. The city feels frozen in time, but the businesses that stayed open have been a lifeline - locals here really know how to take care of people, even in the strangest of circumstances."

(3:49 p.m. ET) School Closings Mount Across Southeast

From weather.com staff writer Jenn Jordan:

Schools across the South are announcing more closures as Winter Storm Enzo sweeps through, creating snowy, icy conditions in areas unaccustomed to such weather.

At least 17 counties in Alabama and more than a dozen in Mississippi have already canceled Wednesday classes. In Florida, 31 districts and counting have shut down schools, with one even extending closures into Thursday.

Georgia isn’t escaping the storm either, with dozens of counties under winter weather advisories and warnings. Many school districts and colleges are already sending students home early for the day today. As the storm intensifies, school leaders in Atlanta are set to make a decision about Wednesday’s classes by 5 p.m.

(3:09 p.m. ET) W​hy This Graphic Is Bonkers

F​rom weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles on this graphic from the National Weather Service:

Snow in Florida is a rarity all by itself, but heavy snow is exceptional anywhere in the South. Drivers in the panhandle are more used to driving in hurricanes or severe weather, but these white out conditions are something most native Floridians have never seen.

(2:38 p.m. ET) H​ere's How Much Snow Could Fall Across The South

W​e've told you today about snowfall in places like Houston, New Orleans and even Florida. Here's a look at the forecast for major cities across the South, through tomorrow.

(​2:32 p.m. ET) Orange Beach, Alabama, Covered In Snow

T​he sand at one of Alabama's most popular beach getaways is unrecognizable today. A social media post from the city calls it "History in the making."

(​2:26 p.m. ET) Travel Woes Mounting Across The South

W​ith roads and airports shutting down, anyone traveling today or tomorrow needs to stay on top of the forecast.

M​ore than 2,100 flights across the country are canceled today, with hundreds of others delayed, according to online tracker FlightAware.com

Here are just some of the airports already closed or shutting down, or operating under very limited traffic, this afternoon:

• D​estin-Fort Walton Beach and Tallahassee International in Florida
• Houston's Bush-Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport
• L​ouis Armstrong New Orleans International
• G​ulfport-Biloxi Regional in Mississippi
• Lake Charles Regional and Acadiana Regional in Louisiana
• M​obile Regional in Alabama

(1:59 p.m. ET) W​hy Do We Name Winter Storms?

T​he Weather Channel names winter storms in order to bring awareness of the dangers to those in the system's path. The criteria for naming includes significant snow and/or ice impacting at least one region of the country, with the potential for major impacts like hazardous travel conditions, power outages and tree damage.

R​ead more in this article from weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman.

(1:49 p.m. ET) I​t's Official - There's Snow In The Florida Panhandle

From weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:

Snow has reached the 50th state this season. While Enzo is just getting started in Florida, an additional 3-5 inches are expected from 1 p.m. local time through the end of the event, so that record we mentioned below probably will not stand at the end of the storm. Among the sights to be famous after Enzo passes, snow on Florida beaches is one we'll be remembering years from now.

(1:43 p.m. ET) NOLA Airport Sees Most Snow In Records Going Back Nearly 80 Years

From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:

New Orleans International Airport just came in with 4 inches. That’s the heaviest snow in airport records dating to 1948, per the National Weather Service.

But the all-time record in NOLA is still quite a bit higher than that at 8 inches in February 1895.

(1:36 p.m. ET) Tallahassee International Airport To Close

The airport in Florida's capital city is canceling all commercial flights after 3 p.m. eastern time today and is suspending all operations until at least noon Wednesday. Tallahassee is under a winter storm warning, with the precipitation moving in late this afternoon into the night.

(1:15 p.m ET) Record Snow In Florida?

From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:

Several inches of snow could fall in parts of the Florida Panhandle

The Florida record for the most snowfall in 24 hours is 4 inches, so we could see a preliminary new record equaled or broken if we hit that number.

That record was set in March 6, 1954, in the Panhandle community of Milton.

(1:00 p.m. ET) Alabama County: All Roads Should Be Considered Impassable

Escambia County, in south central Alabama is asking everyone to stay off the roads. In a press release, the County Engineer said all roads and bridges should be considered impassable “until further notice.” The county closed schools and government offices ahead of the storm’s arrival on Tuesday.

(12:48 p.m. ET) An Unnatural Habitat In Louisiana

From weather.com writer Jenn Jordan:

A blue heron found itself walking in a winter wonderland, trudging through blowing snow outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana as Winter Storm Enzo wreaked havoc.

Neighbors captured the bird’s bewildered stroll, speculating what it must think of the frozen chaos. The National Weather Service issued its first-ever blizzard warning for the county, with roads and bridges shuttered by the storm.

(12:24 p.m. ET) Texas Transportation Department Deploys Plows To Houston

Some residents in Houston may have to wait until warmer temperatures hit the city for roads to clear. Houston does not own snow plows, as the area so rarely sees snow.

“It so rarely snows here,” Erin Jones, a spokeswoman for the city’s public works department told The New York Times, “They would basically sit in storage year after year.”

Houston does have a supply of sand and brine to help melt snow and ice on highways and overpasses. The Texas Transportation Department sent plows to the city, the question remains whether they will be enough for the job.

(12:06 p.m. ET) Road Conditions Deteriorate In Alabama

From weather.com writer Jenn Jordan:

The County of Mobile has issued a Public Safety Alert declaring all roads and bridges impassable until further notice. Motorists are being urged to stay off the roads to make way for emergency vehicles. The alert comes as heavy snow continues to fall in the area. Official measurements confirm around 1 inch has fallen so far, though blowing winds are lending to higher piles of snow in some locations.

Being on the ground in Mobile, myself, I can say it's been a long time since the city has seen anything like this. From my view, most people are heeding warnings and staying off of the roads, though conditions are likely to get worse as freezing temperatures continue for the next several hours and into overnight.

(11:57 a.m ET) Snow On The Beach In Galveston, Texas

In an almost surreal scene, snow blanketed Galveston Island beaches Tuesday, and a restaurant built on stilts to save it from hurricane flooding had snow on its roof. Snow showers were expected to continue in the area until the early afternoon.

(​11:33 a.m. ET) Top Snowfall Totals In Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi

F​rom weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:

H​ere's where we've seen the most snowfall so far:

• Houston: Up to 4 inches
• New Orleans: At least an inch
• Lake Charles, Louisiana: At least 4 inches
• Lafayette, Louisiana: At least 7 inches
• Picayune, Mississippi: At least 1.1 inches
• Austin, Texas: 0.5-1.0 inches
• San Antonio, Texas: Coating (0.1 inches)

(11:16 a.m. ET) Multiple Deaths Reported In Icy Texas Crash

A local official in Zavala County, Texas, says "multiple” people are dead after a crash near a bridge on Highway 57. The area is located in southwest Texas.

Local reports say the crash happened around 12:45 a.m. local time. In a Facebook post, Uvalde County Constable Emmanuel Zamora said the weather conditions prevented a medical chopper from responding to the scene. The highway was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

(​11 a.m. ET) Power Outages Rise In Texas

More than 47,000 customers are without power in Texas, with most of the outages clustered along the Gulf Coast. Hidalgo County has the highest number of outages so far with more than 18,000, according to PowerOutage.us.

See our pro tips here for surviving a cold-weather power outage.

(​10:55 a.m. ET) Snowfall Tops 3 Inches In Houston

From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce:

Suffice it to say this is very, very unusual, rare and in some cases the snow totals could be historic.”

We’ve got snow in New Orleans, generally we’re seeing 3 to 4 inches in Houston, and the highest total is 4 to 6 inches in Southeast Texas.

This is something we’ll remember for a long time.

(10:47 a.m. ET) Cold Shuts Down Houston Space Center

Space Center Houston is closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the storm, including all tours and experiences on the grounds.

“We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you soon!” Space Center Houston announced on their website, where updates will be posted.

(10:22 a.m. ET) Rare Snowfall In Houston, New Orleans

(​10:03 a.m. ET) Schools Closed In Florida, Across The South

S​chools are closed or releasing early today in 15 of Florida's 67 counties, stretching across the Panhandle to the center of the northern part of the state.

M​ore than a dozen districts in Alabama closed or delayed school.

S​chools are also closed today in Houston and New Orleans.

(9:27 a.m. ET) Video Shows Palm Trees Blowing In Heavy Winds

A video shows what near-blizzard conditions look like in southern Louisiana. Palm trees can be seen blowing in heavy winds surrounded by snowfall at the New Orleans Lakefront.

(9:20 a.m. ET) 'It Is Snowing At The Office!!!'

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in New Orleans shared video and some excitement as blustery snow moved into the city. The snow is expected to get more intense throughout the morning. Schools across the city are closed and residents are being advised to stay off the roads. Scroll down for an earlier update on Louisiana highways being shut down today due to the hazardous snow and ice.

(9:09 a.m. ET) How Much Snow Will There Be?

The latest forecast calls for at least a few inches of snow from southeast Texas into Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and northwest Florida. Bands of heavier snowfall could dump up to a half-foot in some locations, such as southern Louisiana and southeast Texas.

Georgia and the Carolinas could see anywhere from a dusting of snowfall to a few inches of accumulation. Southern Georgia and the coastal Carolinas are expected to see the greatest snowfall totals.

(8:35 a.m. ET) New Orleans May See Highest Snow Total Since 1950

If accumulation exceeds 2.7 inches in New Orleans, it will be the most snow the city has seen since December 1963.

The city’s biggest snowstorm on record was in February 1895, with 8 inches of snowfall.

Winter Storm Enzo could be one of Lake Charles, Louisiana’s top five biggest snowstorms if 3 or more inches fall there. The city saw its all-time record of 22 inches in February 1895.

(8:33 a.m. ET) Louisiana Airport Shuts Down

The Lafayette Regional Airport has canceled all flights on Tuesday due to ice and snow on the runways. In a post to X, the airport encouraged fliers to check with individual airlines for the latest flight information. Lafayette is under an unusual blizzard warning until noon local time and could get as much as 4 inches of snow.

(8:23 a.m. ET) Several Road Closures In Houston Area

Snow and ice are affecting Houston roads Tuesday morning, with more than 55 areas of ice on major roadways, according to Houston Transtar.

Road closures include all lanes of I-69 between FM-2218 to Harris-Ft Bend County Line, I-45 Gulf in both directions between Dixie Farm Road and I-610 South Loop.

(8:12 a.m. ET) Winter Storm Enzo Maps Tracker

We’ve launched our maps tracker so you can follow the path of Winter Storm Enzo’s snow and ice, winter weather alerts and more as it moves across the Gulf Coast and the South. All of the maps will be updating constantly throughout the day.

(7:54 a.m. ET) More Than An Inch Of Snow So Far In Lake Charles, Louisiana

So far, Winter Storm Enzo has dropped nearly 2 inches of snow on Lake Charles, Louisiana. One resident shared video to X of the snow blanketing her backyard and her generator before dawn. All of Louisiana’s southern parishes declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival.

(​7:10 a.m. ET) This Is Why Houston's Schools And Airports Are Closed

R​oads in the Houston area were quickly becoming treacherous as the snow rates picked up this morning, and a video posted to X by Storm Chaser Houston showed why all residents were urged to stay home.

P​rior to the storm's arrival, the Houston Independent School District announced that all schools would be closed today and tomorrow. Both of the city's two biggest airports also suspended operations, leading to the cancellation of more than 1,300 flights into and out of Houston.

(​6:45 a.m. ET) New Orleans Expected To Close Major Interstates

H​oping to get out and drive around in the snow in the Big Easy today? First of all, that's a really bad idea. Secondly, interstates 10, 310 and 510 will be closed by the city as conditions worsen. Ramps to U.S. 90 and elevated bridges will also be closed.

A​nd the other roads are expected to be very dangerous. NOLA.com has a complete list of road closures around New Orleans.

T​he city would see its highest snow total since December 1963 if it tops 2.7 inches during Enzo; we're forecasting 3 to 5 inches.

(​6 a.m. ET) Lake Charles Under First Blizzard Warning Ever

I​n a shocking turn of events that shows the rarity of such a winter storm, a blizzard warning has been issued this morning for parts of far southwestern Louisiana, including the city of Lake Charles, and a few Texas counties just across the border.

T​he National Weather Service's office in Lake Charles issued the warning until noon local time today and announced that it was a first for the region. We're expecting at least a few inches of snow to fall in the area, but strong winds will lead to blowing snow that will make travel extremely difficult.

W​inter storms must meet specific criteria in order to be called a blizzard; find out about what it takes by reading this.