(AP) — A winter storm brought snow to parts of the U.S. South, moving into Alabama and Tennessee on Monday after blowing across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi the day before. The blanket of white falling across the region forced some school and government office closures, and fostered some play time for adults and children cooped up in the pandemic.
As many as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow fell across parts of southern Texas, the National Weather Service in Houston reported Sunday night. The snow contributed to slick roads and power outages, but some families took time to enjoy the weather in areas like Austin and College Station.
The system moved into Louisiana and Mississippi during the nighttime hours, with Louisiana State Police warning people in an online video to stay off the roads if possible.
By Monday morning, a light dusting covered grassy and elevated surfaces across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.
More than 100,000 customers in Texas and over 45,000 customers in Louisiana were without power early Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us, a utility tracking website.
Several school districts were closed, delayed or scheduled for only virtual learning in Mississippi and southern Arkansas, news outlets reported.
Vehicles driving in the snow on the southbound of Highway 6 Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP) 
Heather makes a snowball and hands it to her son, Weston, 5, to build a snowman at Santa’s Wonderland on Highway 6 Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in College Station, Texas. The family of five drove up from Waller to find snow. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP) 
Mary Perry helps her daughter Louisa, 3, decorate a snowman her father Sam, right, made Sunday Jan. 10, 2021, as snow fell in Waco, Texas. (Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune Herald via AP) 
Kolby, 16, plays snow fight with his two younger siblings at Santa’s Wonderland on Highway 6 Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in College Station, Texas. The family of five drove up from Waller to find snow. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP) 
Myla Martinez, 7, is pulled on a tube in the snow Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, near Benbrook Community Center in Fort Worth, Texas. National Weather Service in Fort Worth predicted 1 inch to 2 inches of snow will fall in Tarrant and Dallas counties over the course of the day. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP) 
Jonathan Godoy, 5, right, throws a snowball at Iris Gonzalez, 13, during the snowstorm Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, near Benbrook Community Center in Fort Worth, Texas. National Weather Service in Fort Worth predicted 1 inch to 2 inches of snow will fall in Tarrant and Dallas counties over the course of the day. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP) 
Baylor University students make snow angels after at least five inches were reported throughout Central Texas Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Waco, Texas. ( (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP) 
Disc golfers make their way through the snow that dropped at least five inches of snow at their tournament in Cameron Park, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP) 
An American flag snaps in the wind while snow and ice cover new automobiles at a dealership, late Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. A winter storm is coating parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi with snow on Sunday and into Monday morning. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The National Weather Service in Jackson said 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of snow were expected for areas including Vicksburg and Yazoo City, with locally heavier amounts possible.
Communities further south in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama missed the snow, but got rain or sleet.
