BATON ROUGE – South Louisiana has experienced a historic winter storm that state climatologist Jay Grymes describes as “one of the most significant in over 100 years.”
The unprecedented event brought near-record snowfall totals of 5 to 9 inches across the region, with some areas even reporting double-digit accumulations. Combined with record-breaking cold temperatures, the storm has drawn comparisons to the most severe winter weather events in Louisiana’s history.
“This was Louisiana’s perfect winter storm,” Grymes explained. “We really had two different and unique ingredients that had to come together to make this event.” He pointed to the combination of an Arctic air mass and Gulf of Mexico moisture as the conditions that produced the widespread snowfall.
The Perfect Storm
“The main culprit was the Arctic outbreak—just bitterly cold Arctic air that dove southward very quickly out of the Arctic region. By getting down here so quickly, it didn’t have much of a chance to moderate,” Grymes said.
He added that a low-pressure system in the Gulf provided the second critical component: “This big Gulf rain-making system slowly tracked from west to east near the coast. This big blob of moisture spread inland, and that cold, heavy air dove under the dome of moisture, essentially serving as a freezer to turn Gulf moisture into snow.”
Record Snowfall and Bitter Cold
Baton Rouge recorded 7.6 inches of snowfall, pending official confirmation from the National Weather Service. If validated, this would be the second-highest snowfall in the city’s history, surpassed only by the 12.5 inches recorded during the Valentine’s Day blizzard in February 1895.
On the temperature side, Baton Rouge tied its second-lowest recorded temperature of 7 degrees, last reached on February 14, 1899, during another historic freeze. The city’s all-time record low remains 2 degrees, set on February 13, 1899.
“These numbers are just absurd,” Grymes said. “We’re basically talking about the second-largest snow event on record and one of the biggest freeze events at the same time. An argument could be made that this is probably the worst winter storm, at least for South Louisiana.”
A History of Winter Extremes in Louisiana
Louisiana typically experiences mild winters, making major snowstorms a rarity. The state’s record snowfall in February 1895 brought 12.5 inches to Baton Rouge, while the February 1899 freeze set all-time low temperatures across much of the southern United States. Grymes emphasized the unique nature of the current storm, noting that the 1899 freeze, while frigid, did not produce significant snowfall.
“This storm combined both elements—extreme cold and heavy snow—which makes it truly exceptional,” Grymes said.
Photo courtesy: Josh Howard
Lingering Cold and Cautions Ahead
With hard freezes expected to persist through Saturday, Grymes urged residents to remain cautious.
“It’s not over yet,” he warned. “This morning was the coldest of the string, but many neighborhoods in the region could see hard freezes for the next several mornings.”
As the region contends with the storm’s aftermath, its impact will likely be remembered as a defining weather event for generations.
“This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime storm for most of us,” Grymes concluded.
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One Response
Minden, LA, -16°F in Feb 1899..
That is brutal cold.