A historic winter storm has brought accumulating snow to places that rarely see a flake, with snow falling along the Gulf Coast from Texas through Louisiana and into Florida. All-time snowfall records fell in several southern cities, and hard freezes behind the storm are stressing pipes, roads, and power infrastructure across a region built for heat, not ice.

Cold-Weather Grid Stress in Warm-Weather States

Southern grids face their toughest tests in extreme cold, when electric heating demand surges past summer peaks and generation equipment strains in unfamiliar conditions. Homeowners across the South remember the hard lessons of past February freezes. When demand spikes and equipment falters, outages can arrive with little warning, and in bitter cold they are dangerous.

Preparing for Possible Impacts

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly in the cold.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler keep heat running when the grid cannot.

Stay Informed

Freezing temperatures will linger for days behind this storm. Monitor local forecasts, protect exposed pipes, and check on vulnerable neighbors.