An unprecedented and lethal winter storm is enveloping the South, blanketing Houston and other cities along the I-10 corridor with heavy snow, leading to the issuance of the first-ever Blizzard Warning for parts of the Gulf Coast.

A tragic accident was reported by Uvalde County Constable Emmanuel Zamora early Tuesday near La Pryor, Texas, on Highway 57 in Zavala County, where “several fatalities” occurred due to icy road conditions. “First responders are dealing with very slippery roads,” Zamora noted on social media, indicating that medical evacuation by helicopter was not possible due to the storm.

Snow Predictions for New Orleans, Lake Charles: The National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has confirmed that the storm is generating blizzard-like conditions in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, with significant snow accumulation and winds exceeding 35 mph. This marks the first time such a warning has been issued in Louisiana.

The storm is expected to continue through Tuesday morning, bringing dangerous conditions for both travel and outdoor exposure.

Houston Residents Urged to Stay Home, Airports Shut Down: In anticipation of this severe weather, Houston officials had been preparing, with Mayor John Whitmire emphasizing the readiness of emergency services.

“Please limit your time outdoors and stay at home,” Whitmire advised, highlighting the risk to both citizens and first responders in treacherous conditions. Schools, universities, and even hospitals have scaled back operations, with all transportation services halted.

Houston Police Department’s Captain Reece Hardy warned on social media, “The roads are going to be impassable. Please don’t risk it on the ice.”

With numerous road closures reported, particularly in Fort Bend County, emergency management officials urged residents to avoid travel, especially over bridges and elevated roadways.

“Exercise extreme caution if you must be outside due to the ice,” officials cautioned, noting the unusual weather for Southeast Texas where residents might lack appropriate winter gear.

Impact on Infrastructure: The highways around Houston are snow-covered, and Interstate 69 has seen multiple accidents, including a significant crash involving semi-trucks. The Texas Department of Transportation has warned against travel.

Power outages are on the rise, with over 33,000 customers affected, according to FindEnergy.com. ERCOT has declared a Transmission Emergency due to ice causing transmission issues, but the grid remains operational.

Concerns about safety with the use of generators for power and heat have escalated, with the Houston Fire Department responding to numerous carbon monoxide incidents.

“Be very careful with where you place your generators,” advised Fire Chief Thomas Munoz, stressing the importance of maintaining a safe distance from homes to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

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(Image credit: Houston Chronicle)