The major snowstorm that blanketed the Texas Gulf Coast yesterday swept eastward overnight, leaving Florida and Georgia airports covered under up to eight inches of snow. Across the Gulf Coast, numerous airports were forced to close due to the record snowfall.
Like most communities in the region where 60 degrees F is considered cold, Pensacola was hampered by a lack of snow-removal equipment. The city imported five snowplows from Atlanta, but those were being used solely to clear roadways, leaving Pensacola International Airport (KPNS) under 7.6 inches of snow and expected to remain closed until at least noon tomorrow.
According to the KPNS operations staff, vehicles are being driven on the runways and taxiways to break up the snow and ice, making it easier to melt—especially with temperatures expected to reach 38 degrees this afternoon. Christopher Adamson, general manager of the Pensacola Aviation Center and a lifelong Pensacola resident, told AIN he only recalled three instances of snow on the ground previously, but never more than two inches.
Further east, Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH) received about three inches of snow and is expected to reopen on Thursday by 6 p.m. Million Air is reporting that its FBO there is open and servicing helicopter operations. The company noted that it will have extra staff reporting in at 11 a.m. to be prepared if the airport opens earlier than expected.
As of this afternoon, the list of airport closures includes Southeast Texas Regional Airport (KBPT); in Louisiana, Lake Charles Regional (KLCH), Lafayette Regional (KLFT), Acadiana Regional (KARA), and Baton Rouge Metropolitan (KBTR) airports; Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport (KGPT) in Mississippi; and Alabama’s Mobile Downtown (KBFM) and Mobile Regional (KMOB) airports. In Florida, all airports have reopened except for KPNS and KTLH. Georgia’s Valdosta Regional (KLVD), Southwest Georgia Regional (KABY), and Columbus (KCSG) airports remained closed due to snow, as did Myrtle Beach International Airport (KMYR) in South Carolina. Most of those airports continue to accept helicopter operations.