Weather Service Now Rethinking Snow Forecast for Louisiana

(KMDL-FM) Forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, have issued a rather rare warning for Louisiana's I-10 corridor. That warning has to do with keeping you and your family safe in bitterly cold conditions. And if you haven't stepped outside this morning, that warning is in effect for today.

Here are the Winter Weather Advisories for the I-10 corridor as they stand right now. There is a Freeze Warning that will be in effect until 9 this morning for Louisiana parishes roughly south of U.S. 190 to the coast. Temperature readings in the mid to lower 20s will be common before sunrise. Wind chills in the warned area could feel as low as 15 degrees.

READ MORE: Acadiana Schools Adjust for Bitter Cold Conditions

A Cold Weather Advisory covers a larger area of the state, and as you might imagine, the concerns with this advisory are very similar to those expressed in the Freeze Warning. The Cold Weather Advisory will be in effect for Central and Southern Louisiana until 10 this morning.

How Will The Current Cold Snap Affect Louisiana's Winter Snow Outlook?

Following last winter's historic snowfall in Louisiana and in the Gulf South, people are a lot more in tune with the potential for more falling and freezing precipitation. Obviously, this Arctic Blast won't bring snow to the Gulf Coast as the one we had this past January did, but is this now a foreboding of what to expect in the coming months?

READ MORE: How Much Snow Fell in Louisiana Earlier This Year?

The Department of the National Weather Service that is responsible for those kinds of forecasts is the Climate Prediction Center. They are the forecast wing that offers the long-range outlooks of six to ten days up to three months at a time.

Just a few days ago, the CPC updated its long-range winter outlook for the nation and Louisiana, and here is what we can expect for December, January, and February. Of course, this is a generalized forecast, and specific anomalies and variances can and will occur. And yes, this all plays into Louisiana's snow potential for Winter 2026.

What Is Louisiana's Forecast for Precipitation This Winter?

Here's what that looks like on a map courtesy of the National Weather Service and the Climate Prediction Center. As you can see, the outlook for Louisiana is slightly drier than normal. And while that doesn't mean there can't or won't be any snow, the likelihood, based on this forecast, would not be that great.

Okay, we know we need precipitation if we're going to have snow. And the prognostication for that appears to be less than glowing, as you can see above. The other ingredient needed for snow in Louisiana is a temperature below freezing. And not only does the temperature need to be below freezing, but it also needs to be well below freezing for several hours for frozen precipitation to "stick".

How Cold Will Louisiana's Winter Be This Year?

In the case of this past January's record snowfall, there were record-low temperatures that accompanied the falling snow. That's why the snowfall amounts were so high, and it took so long for the snow to melt off the roadways and rooftops around town. So, will it be cold enough to snow in Louisiana this winter?

The forecast graphic from the CPC above suggests that Louisiana might not have enough "cold" to sustain a winter storm as we did last season. But remember, this graphic is about averages and not specific weather events. So, we can't rule out another Louisiana snow event, but based on the general outlooks for temperature and precipitation, it certainly doesn't seem to be that likely.

By the way, speaking of long-range outlooks, the current prognostication for Christmas Day in Louisiana calls for partly cloudy skies and afternoon temperatures in the upper 70s. So, any snow gear or cold-weather clothing you get for Christmas might have to wait a few days until it gets cold again, maybe in January.