A wintry cold front is barreling toward Louisiana, with temperatures predicted to dip dramatically as early as Monday night, ushering in what forecasters say will be a two-day freeze.
According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, temperatures will plunge steeply Monday night with below-freezing temperatures beginning Tuesday evening.
The impending cold prompted Gov. Jeff Landry last week to declare an emergency for the state, and New Orleans enacted a citywide freeze plan. Officials warned residents to prepare for icy roadways in some parts of the state and the potential for frozen and burst pipes.
National Weather Service forecasters said temperatures will plummet Monday night across southeast Louisiana, with temperatures on the northshore dipping below freezing for as many as 10 hours overnight.
Northern Tangipahoa and Washington parishes are under a hard freeze warning beginning Monday evening and stretching into Tuesday morning.
Some spots — elevated surfaces like bridges, tree branches and poles — could see a light accumulation of freezing rain across the region.
But New Orleans will see its coldest temperatures Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to the latest forecast. It anticipates temperatures could reach as low as the teens, with extreme gusts of wind adding to the chill. The area should experience freezing temperatures for as many as 15 hours.
On the northshore, temperatures could tip into the teens, with the wind chill making it feel like the single digits, forecasters said. Temperatures will remain below freezing for as many as 20 hours.
By midday Wednesday, temperatures should warm into the 40s, according to the forecast.
The city’s freeze plan, which was announced by Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office on Friday, includes an overnight “warming center,” where residents without adequate heat or shelter can take cover in the generator-equipped Rosenwald Recreation Center annex building on Broad Street. The center will be open from 6 p.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the notice.
Entergy and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans have temporarily suspended shutoffs, the agencies announced last week.
To prepare for the impending cold, weather forecasters and government officials have encouraged residents to focus on the four “p’s,” which include people, pets, pipes and plants.
People should minimize their time outside, the National Weather Service said, and pets should be kept indoors. When pets must go outside, forecasters encouraged bundling them up.
Frozen pipes can be prevented by allowing water to drip from the faucet furthest from the water meter overnight or whenever temperatures drop below freezing, city officials said. Running more than one faucet is unnecessary, the officials added, and can spike water and sewer costs.
To protect them against a freeze, bring plants inside and cover those that cannot be sheltered. Outdoor plants should be watered as early in the day as possible.
To avoid skyrocketing heating costs, Entergy New Orleans asks residents to set their thermostats to 68 degrees, warning that every degree more than that can result in a 3% increase in electricity or gas costs.
For additional information and for city-specific updates, residents can visit ready.nola.gov.
