Louisiana's Chilly Surprise: What's Happening with the Weather?

A cold front swept through Louisiana, bringing strong winds and a significant drop in temperature on a Monday, catching many off guard after a warm Christmas.

Strong Winds and Wind Advisory

• Wind speeds: 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
• Areas affected: New Orleans, Slidell, and Lafayette.
• Wind advisory in effect until 3 p.m.

Power Outages

• New Orleans: Over 1,000 people lost power early in the morning, mostly restored by 7 a.m.
• Tangipahoa Parish: More than 1,300 people without electricity by 8:35 a.m.
• Crews worked quickly to restore power.

Dramatic Temperature Drop

• Freezing conditions expected overnight, especially north of Interstate 10 and 12.
• Cold weather advisory from midnight to 9 a.m. affecting Baton Rouge and Slidell.
• Wind chill made it feel even colder, with temperatures in the upper 10s to lower 20s.

Advice to Residents

• Protect pipes, pets, and plants from frost.
• New Orleans and Lafayette saw wind chills in the 20s.

Extended Cold Weather

• Tuesday and Wednesday: Cold weather persisted, especially overnight.
• Frost expected in Baton Rouge by New Year’s Eve.
• Temperatures forecast to rise on New Year’s Day.

Weather Forecast for Key Cities

New Orleans

• Monday: Breezy, high near 53°F, low 37°F.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 50°F, low 37°F.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 56°F, low 43°F.
• New Year’s Day: Sunny, high near 66°F, low 53°F.

Baton Rouge

• Monday: Breezy, high near 53°F, low 37°F.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 50°F, low 37°F.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 56°F, low 43°F.
• New Year’s Day: Sunny, high near 66°F, low 53°F.

Lafayette

• Monday: Breezy, high near 53°F, low 37°F.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 50°F, low 37°F.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 56°F, low 43°F.
• New Year’s Day: Sunny, high near 66°F, low 53°F.