Unprecedented snowstorm hits US Gulf Coast as wildfire rages in California
A rare snowstorm swept across the US Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida, paralyzing travel and claiming at least 11 lives. Simultaneously, a wildfire north of Los Angeles consumed over 9,400 acres on Wednesday, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.
Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures caused fatalities in Texas, Alabama, and Georgia, primarily due to car accidents and hypothermia, according to ABC News. Texas reported seven deaths, Alabama two, and Georgia one. Snowfall records were shattered, with seven to eight inches recorded between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, surpassing New Orleans’ previous record of 2.7 inches set in 1963.
The storm disrupted air travel, with over 3,800 flights canceled across Tuesday and Wednesday. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport suspended all outgoing flights on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, strong winds and dry conditions fueled a wildfire north of Los Angeles, quickly spreading across 9,400 acres. Los Angeles County authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for 31,000 residents, with another 23,000 under evacuation warnings.
Firefighting efforts are strained, with the International Association of Fire Fighters president attributing the crisis to the intensifying effects of climate change. “We’ve surpassed human limits to prevent or control wildfires during extreme wind-driven events,” he said.
The events have reignited debates over climate policies, following President Donald Trump’s executive order to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement upon his return to office.
