MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana State Police issued a temporary emergency exemption from certain federal motor carrier safety regulations ahead of severe winter weather.

The exemption, effective 12:01 a.m. Jan. 20 to 11:59 p.m. Feb. 2, 2025, applies to motor carriers assisting with disaster relief, including power grid repairs and the delivery of essential goods like fuel and groceries.

Motor carriers under an Out-of-Service Order are not eligible for the exemption.

The public is urged to stay informed on weather and travel conditions through 511la.org and LSP’s social media. In the event of ice on bridges, LSP will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and local law enforcement.

For assistance or to report hazardous conditions, call *LSP (*577).

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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch covering much of central and south Louisiana.

It will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and will last a full 24 hours.

Meteorologist Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we are looking at the biggest snowfall event in decades.

“We’re looking at anywhere between about three to up to seven inches of snowfall (on) Tuesday,” Jones says. “It’s going to begin shortly after midnight and kind of continue through the day. And that’s going to be one of the more significant snowfall seen in recorded history really across parts of this area.”

While snow in Louisiana is rare, all 64 parishes have experienced measurable snow at least once since records have been kept.

The record snowfall event for south Louisiana happened in 1895, when 20 inches of snow was recorded in Lake Charles.

Central Louisiana is looking at the highest snowfall totals.

Alexandria, Leesville, Bunkie, Opelousas and DeRidder could see a half a foot of snow.

“Five to seven inches is our first estimate,” says Jones. “I’m not going to call it a guess, but that’s our forecast for north of the I-10 corridor; and then right along the I-10 corridor in south, three to five inches. That is a significant snowfall for this area and one of the highest we’ve seen in quite some time.”

Jones says because temperatures will be below freezing for a long period, the snow will likely stick around for a couple of days.

“Any snow that falls is going to accumulate, and it’s going to remain on the ground at least through Wednesday afternoon,” Jones warns. “I think we’re going to rise above freezing for a few hours Wednesday afternoon. That may allow it to start to thaw out a little bit. But if it doesn’t thaw out in that few hour period, then we’re going to go into Thursday as well.”

Jones says the probability of snow falling south of I-20 to the coast is 70% to 90%.

“These will likely continue to increase as we go through the next couple of days, but to see a 70% to 90% chance of snow three days in advance in this part of the world, that’s extremely rare,” Jones says. “That’s something I don’t think I’ve seen at any point in my career so far in the 16 years I’ve been a meteorologist.”

Pete Hegseth has picked up another key vote for confirmation as President-elect Trump’s secretary of defense.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Friday said he will vote to confirm Hegseth, an Army combat veteran whose nomination was under question because of his remarks questioning women’s roles in the military, sexual misconduct allegations, as well as allegations that he drank alcohol while working previous jobs.

Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week relatively unscathed amid questions from lawmakers. 

DEM SENATOR’S ‘LIES AND STUPIDITY’ AT HEGSETH HEARING ROASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ‘CLOWN SHOW’

“The President’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth, has impressive academic qualifications, conducted himself very well in the Senate Armed Services hearing, and has a commendable record of service in uniform. He assured me he will surround himself with a strong support team,” Cassidy said in a statement. “I will vote for his confirmation.”

Hegseth has seen a wave of support from Republicans, including Sen. Joni Ernst, of Iowa, who previously expressed concerns about his nomination.

PETE HEGSETH SAYS HE HASN’T HEARD FROM WEST POINT SINCE EMPLOYEE ‘ERROR’ DENYING HIS ACCEPTANCE

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., attends a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 5, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said Hegseth passed his confirmation hearing with “flying colors.”

“They tried to rattle him. They brought out all these anonymous allegations. He had an answer for every one of them,” Tuberville said at the time. 

During his proceedings, protesters were hauled out in zip ties after interrupting the hearing. 

Democratic lawmakers also grilled Hegseth about his stance on women in combat roles, prompting him to push back that his argument related to women serving in the military focuses on military standards not eroding. 

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) (L) introduces U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, i Washington, D.C.  (Getty Images)

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“I would point out I’ve never disparaged women serving in the military,” he told Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “I respect every single female service member that has put on the uniform, past and present. My critiques, senator, recently and in the past, and from personal experience, have been instances where I’ve seen standards lowered.”