How much snow has fallen? Map shows record-breaking numbers

A rare and deadly winter storm descended across the southern U.S. on Tuesday, leaving some record-setting snow totals and halting travel for millions of Americans in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.

“I was born and raised in New Orleans,” Ian Spooner told CBS News. “I can count on one hand how many times it snowed, and it never snowed like this.” As of Wednesday morning, the city had 10 inches on the ground. The last time New Orleans saw snow was in December 2004, according to the National Weather Service, and it was just half an inch. 

At least nine weather-related deaths have been confirmed around the region.

With much of the southeast under winter weather advisories, and some areas even getting a blizzard warning, here’s how the cold and windy conditions are impacting the region:

Snow totals map

According to CBS News meteorologist Jessica Burch, 4 to 8 inches of snow have fallen across southern Alabama, Mississippi and Florida’s Panhandle.

Some areas in the Panhandle recorded over half a foot of snow, shattering long-standing snow records, CBS Miami reported. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the town of Milton, near Pensacola, set a new statewide snow record with 8 to 9 inches on the ground — more than double the previous Florida record of 4 inches, set in 1954.

“This storm is unprecedented for its breadth and scope; we just don’t have anything we can compare it to,” NEXT Chief Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said. “This will go down in history as the Gulf Blizzard of 2025.”

The state of Louisiana saw a record-breaking snow total of over 11 inches in the city of Chalmette. New Orleans and several other communities got 10 inches. 

There are different snow reporting sites within New Orleans, but the oldest records from a sub-station that’s no longer in service reported 10 inches of snow in 1895, and 14.4 inches in 1909. Another reporting site at the New Orleans International Airport, which began recording snow accumulation in 1948, reported their highest previous total snow record as 2.7 inches in 1963. All that is to say, no one alive in the area has ever seen this much snow.

Videos posted by residents to social media showed not only the amount of snow but the speed at which the snow came down. The rough and unprecedented conditions led the National Weather Service to issue its first-ever blizzard warning for southern Louisiana on Tuesday.

A blizzard warning goes into effect when an area is expected to see frequent wind gusts over 35 mph as well as significantly reduced visibility from snow.

Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings were issued Tuesday for parts of Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas.

Snow triggers flight delays

At least 2,572 flights were delayed and 2,039 more were canceled by midday Wednesday, according to the flight tracking company FlightAware, with Atlanta and Houston having the most. 

On Tuesday, the Houston and New Orleans airports were shut down as snow piled at the entrances. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Aviation Board said automatic doors were shuttered so they wouldn’t open and close during the hazardous weather event.

In Florida, the Tallahassee International Airport canceled all flights after 3 p.m. Tuesday and suspended operations until at least noon on Wednesday. The state’s governor and the governors of Georgia and Louisiana have all declared a state of emergency for the hardest-hit areas.

Photos show the rare snowfall blanketing the South

contributed to this report.

• Winter Weather
• Texas
• Florida
• Snow Totals
• Louisiana