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The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (via the Louisiana Municipal Association) is issuing this urgent notice regarding a severe, widespread winter weather event expected to most seriously impact the northern half of the state, with the greatest emphasis on the northeastern parishes. 

Current forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS) offices serving Louisiana (SHV, JAN, LCH, and LIX), the NWS Weather Prediction Center, and State Climatologist Jay Grymes indicate high confidence in an impactful and dangerous winter weather event beginning as early as Friday in the northwestern parishes and continuing into next week with bitterly cold Arctic air.

Key hazards include: 

• Freezing rain and icing: Accumulations of ¼      to 1 inch of ice are possible across much of the northern half of the      state. These amounts would be crippling, making travel extremely difficult      or impossible in affected areas for several days. A prolonged 3-day freeze      will exacerbate these conditions and could lead to widespread closures      into next week.
• Power outages: Ice loading on lines and      trees creates a strong potential for widespread power loss. This poses      significant risks to vulnerable populations, including those in hospitals,      nursing homes, and other care facilities reliant on electricity for life-sustaining      equipment. Communities should prioritize backup power planning, generator      safety, and coordination with utilities.
• Water system disruptions: In areas with      power loss or extreme cold, there is potential for loss of water pressure      and availability—particularly if residents leave faucets dripping to      prevent pipe freezing, which can strain systems during high demand or outages.
• Debris hazards: Significant tree limbs and      branches may fall due to ice weight, creating roadway blockages,      additional infrastructure damage, and safety risks.

This event shares many similarities with the devastating winter storm of February 2021. Residents and officials should recall the severe effects and risks from that event, which included several fatalities due to: 

• Wind chill exposure near 0°F,
• Carbon monoxide poisoning from improper use      of heaters, grills, or generators indoors or near homes,
• House fires from candles, space heaters, or      other unsafe heating methods.