Louisiana
NOAA's Long-Range Winter Forecast Details Louisiana's Odds for Icy Weather
LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) – After an excruciatingly hot summer, some folks in Louisiana are hoping for a cooler winter to try and take the edge off. Some (especially students throughout the state) might even be hoping for some snow days this year.
However, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) long-range forecast does not offer much to anyone hoping for a lot of cold and ice.
NOAA released its forecast last week, and it looks like the warm summer months will lead to warmer-than-usual winter months and fewer chances for frozen weather.
“The September-October-November (SON) 2024 temperature outlook favors above-normal temperatures across a majority of the contiguous U.S. with the largest probabilities (exceeding 60%) forecast for New England and parts of the Southwest,” NOAA said in an update issued on August 15. “Increased below-normal temperature probabilities are forecast for southwestern Alaska, while above-normal temperatures are more likely across northern Alaska.”
On top of that, NOAA says that “La Niña is favored to develop during September-October-November,” with a roughly 70 percent chance of that forecast happening.
How Cold Will It Be?
We don’t have exact temperatures, but NOAA is predicting that temperatures will be higher than average this winter across the southwest and along the southern border.
In other words, you might not need the heavy winterwear quite so much this year.
And if you’re looking for a snow day, there’s a chance you’ll be disappointed.
According to the NOAA forecast, the chances of precipitation across the southwest and even across the southern part of the country into southern California will be experiencing less precipitation than normal – likely due to the impacts of the La Niña system expected to develop.
The fall forecast from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is renowned for its long-range forecasts, cites “near-normal” temperatures for Louisiana
This means that temperatures will be in the lower 70s by the time we get to November, which will be a significant cool-off from September (upper 80s) and October (mid-70s).
But after that comes winter, and the first frost of the season is expected to hit Louisiana around the time November is ending and December is coming around.
While that first frost is comforting, it doesn’t mean a very icy winter is in the cards.
READ MORE: Farmer’s Almanac Predicts the First Frost Dates of 2024 for Louisiana
Here’s the list of first frost dates for Louisiana, so you can see how quickly we’ll start getting that cooler weather.
• Lafayette, La. – November 26, 2024
• Alexandria, La. – November 18, 2024
• Baton Rouge, La. – November 17, 2024
• Lake Charles, La. – November 28, 2024
• Monroe, La. – November 8, 2024
• Natchitoches, La. – November 21, 2024
• New Orleans, La. – December 19, 2024
• Ruston, La. – November 8, 2024
• Shreveport, La. – November 16, 2024
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Gallery Credit: Joe Cunningham
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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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