Winter storm coats Southern states with blanket of snow

Associated Press
Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 7:25 a.m. | Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 7:25 a.m.

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Houston Chronicle via AP

Vehicles driving in the snow on the southbound of Highway 6 Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in College Station, Texas.

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An American flag snaps in the wind while snow and ice cover new automobiles at a dealership, late Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. A winter storm is coating parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi with snow on Sunday and into Monday morning.

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Star-Telegram via AP

Jonathan Godoy, 5, right, throws a snowball at Iris Gonzalez, 13, during the snowstorm Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, near Benbrook Community Center in Fort Worth, Texas. National Weather Service in Fort Worth predicted 1 inch to 2 inches of snow will fall in Tarrant and Dallas counties over the course of the day.

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Star-Telegram via AP

Myla Martinez, 7, is pulled on a tube in the snow Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, near Benbrook Community Center in Fort Worth, Texas. National Weather Service in Fort Worth predicted 1 inch to 2 inches of snow will fall in Tarrant and Dallas counties over the course of the day.

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Waco Tribune-Herald via AP

Disc golfers make their way through the snow that dropped at least five inches of snow at their tournament in Cameron Park, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Waco, Texas.

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Houston Chronicle via AP

Heather makes a snowball and hands it to her son, Weston, 5, to build a snowman at Santa’s Wonderland on Highway 6 Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in College Station, Texas. The family of five drove up from Waller to find snow.

A winter storm has brought snow to parts of the U.S. South, moving into Alabama and Tennessee on Monday after blowing across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi the day before. The blanket of white falling across the region forced some school and government office closures, and fostered some play time for adults and children cooped up in the pandemic.

As many as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow fell across parts of southern Texas, the National Weather Service in Houston reported Sunday night. The snow contributed to slick roads and power outages, but some families took time to enjoy the weather in areas like Austin and College Station.

The system moved into Louisiana and Mississippi during the nighttime hours, with Louisiana State Police warning people in an online video to stay off the roads if possible.

By Monday morning, a light dusting covered grassy and elevated surfaces across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.

Snowfall totals of about 4 inches (10 centimeters) were expected for areas between Center, Texas, and Natchitoches, Louisiana, KSLA-TV reported. State government offices in 29 parishes will be closed Monday — including in Caddo Parish, where Shreveport is located — according to The Advocate.

More than 100,000 customers in Texas and over 45,000 customers in Louisiana were without power early Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us, a utility tracking website.

Several school districts were closed, delayed or scheduled for only virtual learning in Mississippi and southern Arkansas, news outlets reported.

The National Weather Service in Jackson said 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of snow were expected for areas including Vicksburg and Yazoo City, with locally heavier amounts possible.

Communities further south in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama missed the snow, but got rain or sleet.