Hard freeze paralyzes Deep South as harsh winter storm heads to New England

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The South awoke on Wednesday to a two-part Arctic mess. First came a thin blanket of snow and ice, and then came the below-zero wind chills. Dangerous, icy roads are reported from Texas and Louisana east to Georgia and North Carolina. (Jan. 17) AP

Sub-zero 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.

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 degrees, Baton Rouge 13 degrees, New Orleans 20 degrees, Hattiesburg 13 degrees, and Birmingham 10 degrees.

The brutal cold shut down interstates, triggered highway crashes and closed airport runways. Many school districts throughout the region closed Wednesday for the second straight day as officials attempted to keep children home and safe from the hazardous travel conditions. 

In Alabama, every public school system was closed statewide Wednesday, giving nearly 727,000 students the day off, according to AL.com. 

Air travel: Airlines waive fees as storm snarls flights ... again

In Mississippi, the department of transportation reported ice on the roads in every county in the state.

North Carolina, bracing for 4 to 8 inches of snow in the north central area, declared a state of emergency. 

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A person walks on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Mo. on Jan. 16, 2018.  Phu Nguyen, Missourian via AP

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Jeremy Roberts sits on a cot at a warming shelter opened by the Harris County Precinct One Constables Office and the American Red Cross at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church as freezing weather moves through the region on Jan. 16, 2018, in Houston.  Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle via AP

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Cows in the snow and temperature in the teens. A dusting of snow fell in Huntsville, Ala. on Jan. 16, 2018. Winter weather turned travel treacherous across the South, shutting down interstates in Louisiana, causing highway crashes in Kentucky and closing airport runways in Texas as snow turned the red clay white and prompted schools to close across the region.  Bob Gathany, AL.com via AP

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Joaquin Hilton shovels snow in downtown Paducah, Ky. on Jan. 16, 2018.   Ryan Hermens, The Paducah Sun via AP

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Emergency personnel remove patients for transport to area hospitals at the scene of a multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate 65 near Bonnieville, Ky. on Jan. 16, 2018. The wreck shut down the southbound lanes for several hours. Several people were transported from the scene to at least two different hospitals.   Neal Cardin, The News-Enterprise via AP

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Five-year-old Charlie Royal, center, chases his brother Holden Royal, 7, while playing at Riverview Park on Jan. 16, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga experienced a light dusting of snow by late afternoon. The fear of inclement weather closed several area schools.  C.B. Schmelter, Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP

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George Gilliam makes his way across West Main Street Jan. 16, 2018, in Tupelo, Miss., as he and few others brave the snow and wind to get around downtown.  Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Via AP

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Brandon Reddout looks at the damage done to his car after he was struck by a tractor trailer which ran off the road shortly after the collision on West Main Street in Tupelo Miss. on Jan. 16, 2018.  Thomas Wells, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Via AP

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Four-year-old Jack Debenport eats snow out of a toy shovel while playing at Riverview Park on Jan. 16, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga experienced a light dusting of snow by late afternoon. The fear of inclement weather closed several area schools.  C.B. Schmelter, Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP

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Brooke Meadows, left, and Alex Ondrus go for a walk in Radnor Lake State Park on Jan. 16, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. A winter storm brought snow and cold temperatures to the area, causing the closing of schools and businesses.   Mark Humphrey, AP

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Zach Arnold throws snow at his father Mark on Jan. 16, 2018, in Spring, Texas.  Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle via AP

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East Austin resident Carson Monahan scraps his delivery truck windshield from a thick layer of ice formed overnight from the recent storm on Jan.16, 2018, in Austin, Texas. A winter storm hit the Austin area overnight dropping temperatures below freezing with freezing rain, sleet and snow flurries.  Ralph Barrera, Austin American-Statesman via AP

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Icicles hang off a water fountain as freezing weather moves across the region Jan. 16, 2018 in Houston. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for southeast Texas until midnight Wednesday.  Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle via AP

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After a pair of Metro buses became disabled, commuters fight the elements to board another bus at McKinney St., and Louisiana St. on Jan.16, 2018, in Houston.  Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle via AP

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Evelyn Barrios, 9, and Nataly Barrios, 5, ride together in a laundry basket as a makeshift sled down a hill at Woldert Park in Tyler, Texas on Jan.16, 2018.   Sarah A. Miller, Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP

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Ice and snow begin to accumulate on this bush in Jackson, Miss. on Jan. 16, 2018. A band of freezing weather mixed with sleet and snow is expected to carpet a sizable portion of the state throughout the day and into the evening.  Rogelio V. Solis, AP

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Brayden Nevels, 12, plays with snow on Clay Street Downtown in Vicksburg, Miss. on Jan. 16, 2018. Ice had coated roads and bridges in 36 of Mississippi's 82 counties, mostly in the northern and central parts of the state, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in a statement Tuesday morning. Some of the heaviest snow in Mississippi was expected in the state's Delta region, where up to 3 inches was possible.   Courtland Wells, The Vicksburg Post via AP

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Nick Antiola bundles up as he tries to stay warm as the temperature continues to fall below freezing on Jan. 16, 2018, in Houston. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in Texas, where frigid temperatures have left runways and roads dangerously icy. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the Houston area on Tuesday. Sleet and freezing rain are forecast for parts of the state.   David J. Phillip, AP

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Icicles hang off the front of a vehicle as the temperature continues to fall below freezing on Jan. 16, 2018, in Houston.   David J. Phillip, AP

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Jim Noble gives his daughter Marlowe, 10, a push on her sled down an icy road by Bergfeld Park in Tyler, Texas on Jan. 16, 2018. Dangerous wind chills prompted school systems to close Tuesday across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri.  Chelsea Purgahn, Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP

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Slade Lewis walks near the Square as snow falls in Oxford, Miss. on Jan. 16, 2018. Ice coated roads and bridges in 36 of the state's 82 counties, the Mississippi Department of Transported said in a statement Tuesday morning.   Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle via AP

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Alexi Mojsejenko brushes snow off her car on Oldham Ave. during the morning snow in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 16, 2018.  Charles Bertram, Lexington Herald-Leader via AP

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Traffic makes its way north on Highway 7 as snow falls in Oxford, Miss., on Jan. 16, 2018. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued winter storm warnings in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.  Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle via AP

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William Hodge walks along Woodland Street in Nashville on Jan. 16, 2018.   George Walker IV, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

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Savannah Stucker, left, and Loretta Compton throw snow balls at Betty Virginia Park in Shreveport, La., on Jan. 16, 2018. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued winter storm warnings in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.   Henrietta Wildsmith, The Shreveport Times via AP

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Stacy Shoaf walks her dog Rambo as snow falls in Oxford, Miss., on Jan. 16, 2018. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued winter storm warnings in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.   Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle via AP

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A Lexington Streets and Roads snow plow works on clearing Euclid Ave. during the morning snow in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 16, 2018.   Charles Bertram, Lexington Herald-Leader via AP

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Adam Bowling rides a sled down a hill at Avent Park as snow falls in Oxford, Miss. on Jan. 16, 2018.  Bruce Newman, The Oxford Eagle via AP

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Eva Harden walks in the cold at the Northside MARTA transit station early Jan 16, 2018, in Atlanta. A winter weather advisory is in effect for today with snow in the forecast later in the evening.   John Spink, Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

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Morning commuters negotiate a snow-covered Tates Creek Rd. approaching Alumni Dr. during the morning snow in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 16, 2018.  Charles Bertram, Lexington Herald-Leader via AP

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Savannah Stucker makes a snow angel at Betty Virginia Park in Shreveport, La., on Jan. 16, 2018.  Henrietta Wildsmith, The Shreveport Times via AP

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Emily Massey pulls her daughter, Maggie Massy, down a snowy hill at Betty Virginia Park in Shreveport, La., on Jan. 16, 2018.  Henrietta Wildsmith, The Shreveport Times via AP

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Paul Netter spreads salt to melt the ice on the sidewalks outside the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville, Tenn. on Jan. 16, 2018. An ice storm with cold temperatures gripped much of the Deep South forcing businesses and schools to close in much of the area.   Rick Musacchio, EPA-EFE

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Berean Matthews, 11, rides on the back of her father Steve Matthews as they sled down a snowy hill on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler in Tyler, Texas on Jan. 16, 2018. Hundreds of thousands of students in Texas had a day off from classes Tuesday after frigid temperatures and icy roads made travel hazardous.   Sarah A. Miller, Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP

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Alyson O'Hern and her son Hank, 3, sled down a hill in Brentwood, Tenn. on Jan. 16, 2018.   Shelley Mays, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

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Paul Bianchi clears the driveway at the Brentwood YMCA in Brentwood on Jan. 16, 2018.  Shelley Mays, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

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Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal likewise 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. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation reported a 10-vehicle wreck on I-85 and a wreck involving five jackknifed tractor trailers on I-20.

Governors also declared states of emergency in both Louisiana and Alabama.

Nationwide, nearly 1,235 flights were canceled and another 3,235 delayed as of 1:20 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. 

Those figures were almost certain to worsen Wednesday as snow and ice affected airports from the Deep South to New England.

As the storm spread northward, forecasters called for one to 3 inches of snow from North Carolina into West Virginia, Delaware and Maryland through Wednesday evening.

At the same time, a second storm is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of snow on New England through Wednesday. The weather service warned of the potential of four or more inches of snow from central Massachusetts into eastern Maine.

In southern states unaccustomed to such harsh weather, the storm snarled rush hour travel Tuesday and Wednesday morning, particularly in Atlanta and northern Georgia, where state offices closed.

In snow-covered parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, temperatures may not rise above freezing until Thursday.

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.

Contributing: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY; Associated Press