Nearly 2,000 flights within the US and internationally have been cancelled, around 10,000 flights delayed
\n Houston
\nA powerful winter storm charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast has prompted widespread disruptions, with highways closed, airports suspended, and the first-ever blizzard warning issued for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana.
\nThe storm, which is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, has plunged much of the eastern US into a deep freeze, affecting millions across the region.
\nBy Tuesday, nearly 2,000 flights within the US and internationally had been canceled, and around 10,000 flights delayed, according to FlightAware.
\nIn Houston, both major airports suspended operations in anticipation of hazardous conditions, while local authorities warned residents to stay off the roads.
\nHouston\u2019s low temperatures were forecast to dip to 18\u00b0F (-8\u00b0C), threatening to freeze exposed pipes and causing significant disruptions to daily life.
\nThe storm\u2019s reach extended from Texas to North Carolina, with winter storm warnings covering a vast swath of the South. In New Orleans, temperatures in the 30s were rare, with locals like Lakesha Reed, manager of Beaucoup Eats catering, facing canceled travel plans due to the cold snap.
\n\u201cWe can barely drive in the rain,\u201d she said, noting that the previous year\u2019s Mardi Gras was celebrated in shorts.
\nRecord snowfall is expected across the region, with areas along the Interstate 10 corridor, including Houston, New Orleans, and Mobile, Alabama, forecast to receive up to 6 inches (15 cm) of snow.
\nThe blizzard warning in Lake Charles, Louisiana, marked a historic moment, with winds and heavy snow reducing visibility in a region not accustomed to such conditions.
\nAs temperatures plunged, governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama declared states of emergency, and many school systems closed for the day.
\nLocal authorities urged residents in Louisiana to stay indoors, with officials warning of dangerous ice accumulation on roads.
\nIn preparation for power outages, warming centers were set up across communities to shelter the homeless.
\nAs the storm continued eastward, dangerously cold wind chills were expected to persist, particularly in the Upper Midwest, where temperatures could feel as cold as -50\u00b0F (-46\u00b0C).
\nIn Texas, the extreme cold prompted concern over frozen pipes, with many homeowners seeking help from plumbing services.
\n\u201cThere is a little bit of panic,\u201d said Jonathan LeBron, plumbing manager at Nick\u2019s Plumbing in Houston, noting an uptick in calls from residents concerned about frozen pipes.
\nThis unusual cold snap follows a polar vortex disruption, with the Arctic blast affecting the region well into the week.
\nResidents across the eastern US are bracing for more harsh weather, with temperatures only expected to gradually return to normal by the end of the week<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nearly 2,000 flights within the US and internationally have been cancelled, around 10,000 flights delayed Houston A powerful winter storm charging through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast has prompted widespread disruptions, with highways closed, airports suspended, and the first-ever blizzard warning issued for southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The storm, which is expected to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":456906,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-456895","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n