A major winter storm is moving toward Louisiana, and state meteorologist Jay Grimes says the northern parishes will take the hardest hit. Areas north of a Natchez-Alexandria-Lufkin line could see half an inch to more than an inch of ice. That amount of ice can cripple roads, power systems, and rural communities. Grimes said temperatures in those areas may stay below freezing for more than 60 hours. A layer of snow could also fall on top of the ice, keeping it from melting and making conditions last even longer.
Ice creates problems that rain does not. An inch of rain is normal for Louisiana, but an inch of ice adds weight to trees and power lines. Tree limbs freeze first, snap, and then fall on power lines. That causes most outages during a storm like this.
The storm will stretch far beyond Louisiana. Grimes says the system will run from New Mexico to Maine, leaving a footprint more than 2,000 miles long. Arkansas and Missouri are also preparing for dangerous ice and freezing temperatures.
There is one long-term benefit. Snow in the Ohio Valley could raise Mississippi River water levels. That may help southeast Louisiana, where low river levels recently caused saltwater problems in Plaquemines Parish.
South Louisiana will avoid most winter weather. Areas below U.S. 190, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, should not see ice or snow. Still, Monday morning will bring a hard freeze. Students will need to dress warmly as they head to school.
Grimes says his team will continue to monitor the storm as it moves across the state.