A historic winter storm swept across the southern United States on January 22, 2025, leaving a trail of devastation, icy roads, and rare snowfall. Stretching from Texas to North Carolina, the storm brought freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and sleet, claiming at least eight lives and grounding flights.

Cities unaccustomed to winter weather, including New Orleans, Atlanta, and Jacksonville, experienced ice buildups that paralyzed daily life. In New Orleans, a 10-inch (25-centimeter) snowfall shattered previous records, surpassing totals in Anchorage, Alaska, since December, according to the National Weather Service.

Government offices and schools for over a million students were forced to close as states dealt with icy highways, bridge closures, and treacherous conditions. In Louisiana, the southernmost interstate, I-10, faced shutdowns, and bridges over the state’s bayous became dangerously slick.

In Charleston, South Carolina, crews battled for 16 hours to clear the Ravenel Bridge, which carries 100,000 vehicles daily. Georgia troopers answered over 1,000 emergency calls from stranded drivers as icy conditions wreaked havoc on roads.

The storm triggered the first-ever blizzard warnings for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts, even blanketing Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola Beach, Florida, with snow. South Carolina's beaches transformed into winter wonderlands, giving residents a rare chance to sled on surfboards.

The National Weather Service warned that freezing temperatures and wind chills would persist across southern states into Thursday, with widespread frost expected through the weekend. As the South grappled with this unprecedented winter storm, it underscored the challenges posed by extreme and unexpected weather.