Officials urge Louisiana residents to prepare for winter weather threat

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Officials are urging safety and preparation this weekend as Louisiana braces for winter weather expected to bring freezing temperatures and potential ice accumulation.

Experts say the major impacts will be in the northern half of the state, but residents statewide should prepare now for what’s ahead.

“Certainly, keep track of the weather,” said Jay Grymes, Louisiana state climatologist.

Freezing temperatures and ice threat

Temperatures are set to drop to near and below freezing in the coming days. Experts warn about the potential for freezing rain and ice accumulation across some parts of Louisiana.

“The question we still have right now is just how far south will the winter weather get, particularly the icing. Because icing of all the elements, icing is the most dangerous,” Grymes said.

The number one threat for the capital region is the cold into next week, when multiple problems will start to emerge.

“The real story here is, be prepared for the possibility of a little bit of icing. Even if we say it’s less than 50-50 chance, it’s still possible. And that could be a problem Sunday evening,” Grymes said.

Preparation recommendations

Many residents are buying firewood to stay warm during frigid temperatures.

“I think that people are getting a little anxious with the cold weather coming, and they want to prepare. And so I think that they’re getting firewood that way. They make sure, you know, if they lose electricity or anything like that, that they have some way to keep their house warm,” said Wade Bailey, owner of WB Lawn and Landscape.

Grymes says before temperatures drop, residents should wrap their pipes over the next few days and be mindful of space heaters and portable generators.

Experts say to not leave space heaters on while sleeping or when not around to monitor them. For generators, make sure they are far enough away from your home to avoid carbon monoxide fumes from getting inside.

“Do those things wisely, and we should be okay,” Grymes said.

“I think it’s very important to prep, and we’ll see if it happens. But, you know, it’s better to be prepared than not be,” Bailey said.

Tomorrow, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will hold a news conference ahead of the winter weather to urge folks around Louisiana to stay alert.

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