A severe winter storm, bringing heavy snow and icy conditions, moved eastward across the southern U.S. on Friday. This prompted governors to declare states of emergency and widespread school closures.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders deployed the National Guard to assist stranded drivers. Millions of children across numerous southern states, from Texas to Georgia and South Carolina, were affected by school closures.
Significant snowfall was predicted for northern Arkansas and Tennessee, with anticipated accumulations of 6 to 9 inches (15 to 22 centimeters), according to the National Weather Service.
Parts of Arkansas received up to a foot (31 centimeters) of snow, resulting in continued school closures. Memphis, Tennessee, had already accumulated 6 inches of snow by Friday morning, with more snowfall ongoing.
Further south and east, in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, a wintry mix of sleet, snow, and ice created hazardous travel conditions.
Twelve-year-old Mikayla Johnson enjoyed the Atlanta snow, taking advantage of her day off from school to build snowmen.
Mikayla, who was with her father, Nate, exclaimed, “My first thought was, WOW! We haven’t had snow since I was like 4 — the good snow, at least. So, I’m really happy.”
Central Oklahoma and northern Texas experienced snowfall reaching 7 inches (18 centimeters) in some areas.
In the Kansas City area, students returned to school on Thursday after a three-day snow closure, only to have classes canceled again on Friday due to more snow.
Snowfall in metro Atlanta began before dawn, causing hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at the Atlanta airport, according to FlightAware. A ground stop was implemented before 8 a.m., halting all air traffic. Atlanta, a major Delta Air Lines hub, is the world’s busiest airport.
Four passengers sustained injuries following a Delta Air Lines flight’s aborted takeoff on Friday morning, according to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials.
One passenger required hospitalization, while three others received on-site treatment for minor injuries. This incident added to airport delays, though Delta stated the weather’s role in the aborted takeoff remained unclear.
Other airports experiencing significant delays and cancellations included Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas-Fort Worth; and Nashville. Fifty-five passengers from three diverted American Airlines flights spent Thursday night at Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Approximately 75,000 fans were expected at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the college football championship semifinal.
The cold snap coincided with
Southern discomfort
Snow accumulations of up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) were predicted for parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia through Saturday. Snow and ice accumulation in metro Atlanta posed the risk of treacherous road conditions and potential power outages.
Over 1 million public school students in metro Atlanta and north Georgia received a snow day or participated in online learning.
Following a severe 2014 snowstorm that stranded many, Georgia officials swiftly canceled in-person classes and closed offices on Friday.
Georgia emergency officials highlighted lessons learned from past ice storms. Crews were actively towing stalled vehicles, addressing a significant issue from previous storms where roads became congested with disabled vehicles, according to James Stallings, director of Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Numerous schools in northern Alabama closed due to snow and ice covering roads, rendering some impassable, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Tennessee also declared a state of emergency. Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the state’s largest district with over 100,000 students, closed all schools. Tours at Graceland were also canceled.
Joe Feliciano delivered mail in snowy Nashville. A Florida native, he expressed cautious confidence in his ability to navigate snowy conditions, emphasizing the importance of slow and careful driving.
Feliciano commented, “This is like, ‘Wow!’ This is a lot of snow,” adding that he relocated to Tennessee in late 2023.
Parts of South Carolina experienced their first wintry weather in three years. The state Department of Transportation treated major highways, but vehicles were sliding off icy Interstate 95. Some schools closed.
Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency for North Carolina. The approaching storm led to the cancellation of a planned outdoor inauguration ceremony.
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Loller reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press reporters Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Jeff Martin in Kennesaw, Georgia; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.