Winter Storm Enzo Poses 'Rare' and Possibly Historic Snow Threat to Gulf Coast and Southeast

Mar. 15, 2025

Winter storm Enzo brings heavy bands of snow and sleet on January 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas.Photo:Danielle Villasana/Getty

Danielle Villasana/Getty

Winter Storm Enzo is already impacting portions of the U.S. South and could drop several inches of snow in spots not typically accustomed to such winter conditions.The “rare winter storm” could drop a “historic” amount of snow along portions of the Gulf Coast and Southeast over the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service’sWeather Prediction Center.Forecasters suggest cities like Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Ala., Pensacola, Fla., and others along the Interstate 10 corridor could see between three and six inches of snow.Snowfall rates in some areas could reach an inch or more an hour. Sleet and freezing rain are also expected “further east into Georgia, northern Florida, and the eastern Carolinas,” according to officials.Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect from the southernmost part of Texas to the Carolinas, according to theNational Weather Service. Blizzard warnings have even been issued along the Louisiana coastline.As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, nearly four inches of snow had already fallen in Houston, according tothe NWS officein the city.Some parts of Louisiana had four inches of snow fall before noon as well, according tothe NWS office in New Orleans.Allen Parkway is covered in snow as winter storm Enzo brings heavy bands of snow and sleet on January 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas.Danielle Villasana/GettyTravel has already been impacted in areas where snow has started to fall, the Weather Prediction Center said. The storm is expected to cause “major highway and air traffic disruptions” that could last “for several days even after the snowfall ends.”Meanwhile, “dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values” are also expected for much of the southern and eastern portions of the U.S. in the coming days.Most impacted locations are expected to see temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below January averages on Tuesday.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Weather Prediction Center noted many areas may see record-low temperatures on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 22, “especially along the Gulf Coast and into the Tennessee Valley.”Extreme cold advisories have been issued for Texas’ panhandle and far western portions, as well as most of New Mexico and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service.The same advisory has been issued for much of the Midwest, including all of Minnesota and Wisconsin, most of Iowa, northern Illinois, northern Nebraska, eastern North and South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Winter Storm Enzo is already impacting portions of the U.S. South and could drop several inches of snow in spots not typically accustomed to such winter conditions.

The “rare winter storm” could drop a “historic” amount of snow along portions of the Gulf Coast and Southeast over the next couple of days, according to the National Weather Service’sWeather Prediction Center.

Forecasters suggest cities like Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Ala., Pensacola, Fla., and others along the Interstate 10 corridor could see between three and six inches of snow.

Snowfall rates in some areas could reach an inch or more an hour. Sleet and freezing rain are also expected “further east into Georgia, northern Florida, and the eastern Carolinas,” according to officials.

Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect from the southernmost part of Texas to the Carolinas, according to theNational Weather Service. Blizzard warnings have even been issued along the Louisiana coastline.

As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, nearly four inches of snow had already fallen in Houston, according tothe NWS officein the city.

Some parts of Louisiana had four inches of snow fall before noon as well, according tothe NWS office in New Orleans.

Allen Parkway is covered in snow as winter storm Enzo brings heavy bands of snow and sleet on January 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas.Danielle Villasana/Getty

Travel has already been impacted in areas where snow has started to fall, the Weather Prediction Center said. The storm is expected to cause “major highway and air traffic disruptions” that could last “for several days even after the snowfall ends.”

Meanwhile, “dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values” are also expected for much of the southern and eastern portions of the U.S. in the coming days.

Most impacted locations are expected to see temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below January averages on Tuesday.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Weather Prediction Center noted many areas may see record-low temperatures on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 22, “especially along the Gulf Coast and into the Tennessee Valley.”

Extreme cold advisories have been issued for Texas’ panhandle and far western portions, as well as most of New Mexico and Colorado, according to the National Weather Service.

The same advisory has been issued for much of the Midwest, including all of Minnesota and Wisconsin, most of Iowa, northern Illinois, northern Nebraska, eastern North and South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

source: people.com