Louisiana
FIRST ALERT: Extreme cold and dangerous wind chills in South Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Extreme cold and dangerous wind chills have settled into South Louisiana following this weekend’s winter storm.
EXTREME COLD WARNING
An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect through Tuesday at noon. Temperatures are expected to stay in the teens and 20s, with wind chills in the teens and possibly single digits, both this morning and again Tuesday morning.
Take action now to protect people, pets, pipes, and plants. Keep in mind that home fires are more common during winter due to increased use of fireplaces and portable heaters. Always follow recommended safety precautions when heating your home.
TODAY’S COLD FORECAST
After a frigid start with widespread hard freeze conditions, temperatures will only recover to the upper 30s this afternoon. A persistent northerly breeze will keep conditions feeling bitterly cold all day.
Wind chill values will struggle to rise out of the teens until late morning, only reaching the low 30s this afternoon. It will remain dangerously cold all day long.
Temperatures will fall back below freezing quickly after sunset, leading to another widespread hard freeze overnight into Tuesday morning.
DANGEROUS COLD TUESDAY MORNING
Overnight temperatures into Tuesday morning are expected to drop into the teens across much of South Louisiana, with 20s closer to the coast. Combined with winds, feels-like temperatures will be even colder, resulting in another morning of extreme cold and hard freeze conditions.
MORE FREEZING MORNINGS
Expect several more mornings below freezing this week. Temperatures moderate slightly by Friday, but another strong cold front arrives late Friday into Saturday, bringing another round of very cold air and potential hard freeze conditions.
EXTENDED FORECAST
Dangerous cold remains in place through Tuesday, followed by continued below-normal temperatures for the rest of the week. Another surge of colder air returns heading into the weekend, keeping freezing mornings in the forecast.
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Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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