USA TODAY International Edition
Hard freeze paralyzes Deep South on way to New England
Subzero wind chills turned a layer of snow and ice into a travel nightmare Wednesday as a harsh winter storm system wreaked havoc from southeast Texas to western Massachusetts — and Thursday could be just as frigid.
At least five people have died as a result of the snow and cold.
The National Weather Service warned of a hard freeze in portions of the Deep South into early Thursday. Power was knocked out to at least 100,000 homes and businesses, the Weather Channel said.
On Wednesday, Jackson, Miss., posted a low of 10 degrees, its coldest weather in 21 years. Houston also posted a record low of 20 degrees for the date. In other areas across the South, Dallas hit a low of 15, Baton Rouge 13, New Orleans 20, Hattiesburg 13 and Birmingham 10.
The cold shut down interstates, triggered highway crashes and closed airport runways. Many school districts closed for the second straight day as officials tried to keep children home and safe from the hazardous conditions.
In Alabama, every public school system was closed Wednesday, giving nearly 727,000 students the day off, according to AL.com.
In Mississippi, the department of transportation reported ice on the roads in every county.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal issued a state of emergency for 83 counties, spanning much of central and northern parts of the state. Forecasters said travel could be difficult in north Georgia because of below-zero wind chills.
Governors also declared states of emergency in Louisiana and Alabama.
There is some good news on the horizon: Much milder weather is forecast for the eastern half of the U.S. by the weekend, the Climate Prediction Center said.