Deep Freeze Hits Southeast With Snowstorms, Widespread Claims, and Florida Crop Risk

A record-breaking Arctic outbreak swept across the Southeast, delivering rare snowfall, prolonged freezing temperatures, and widespread disruptions in states unaccustomed to sustained cold. Heavy snow in Tennessee and North Carolina led to hundreds of traffic collisions, flight cancellations, and extended highway shutdowns. In Charlotte alone, snowfall reached levels not seen in years, contributing to a major Interstate 85 traffic backup involving dozens of commercial vehicles. For auto and commercial adjusters, the volume of multi-vehicle accidents and delayed recoveries is likely to strain resources well into February.

Property risks escalated as temperatures plunged into the 20s across much of Florida, including key citrus-growing regions. The US Weather Prediction Center described the event as a rare long-duration hard freeze for Florida, raising concerns over burst pipes, uninsulated structures, and livestock exposure. In Polk County, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of Florida’s orange production, below-freezing temperatures threaten agricultural yields and associated crop insurance claims.

Power outages affected more than 194,000 customers across Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and Louisiana, compounding losses from a prior winter storm. Utilities such as Duke Energy urged customers to reduce demand to avoid grid failures, a reminder for adjusters to anticipate claims tied to frozen pipes, spoiled inventory, and business interruption. Fire risks also increased, with at least one structure fire reported in the Outer Banks as residents turned to alternative heating sources.

State officials in Tennessee emphasized that many policyholders are still addressing unresolved damage from Winter Storm Fern, signaling potential overlap in claim filings and disputes. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance reiterated its role in mediating denied claims, a development adjusters should monitor closely. With AccuWeather estimating $105 billion to $115 billion in total economic losses from the earlier storm and more winter systems forecast through mid-February, claims activity across the Southeast is expected to remain elevated.