The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite caught this unusual view of snow across the southern United States on January 12, 2011. The swath of white follows the track of a winter storm that moved across the country between January 9 and January 11. The rare snow led governors in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee to declare emergencies, reported the Associated Press.
From the distance of space, the snow is serene. The blanket of white highlights the countless rivers and lakes that branch from the Mississippi River. It emphasizes the east-west contour of the Ouachita Mountains in western Arkansas. Lines of clouds hide the snowy landscape in Alabama and Tennessee and states to the east.
Daily images of the southern Unites States are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System.
- Associated Press. (2011, January 10). Frozen South: Could be days before thaw comes. Accessed January 12, 2011.
Note: Often times, due to the size, browsers have a difficult time opening and displaying images. If you experiece an error when clicking on an image link, please try directly downloading the image (using a right click, save as method) to view it locally.
This image originally appeared on the Earth Observatory. Click here to view the full, original record.