Snow in Louisiana

For snow to push into Louisiana, extreme weather conditions for the area must be present, usually a low-pressure system coupled with unusually low temperatures.

[1] Average snowfall in Louisiana is approximately 0.2 inches (5.1 mm) per year, a low figure rivaled only by the states of Florida and Hawaii.

Occasional ice and sleet storms do considerable damage to trees, power and telephone lines, as well as make travel very difficult.

2014: The early 2014 North American cold wave that blew through the eastern portion of the continental United States produced record low temperatures and brought freezing snow and sleet to Louisiana.

[7] Schools across the state closed, and a Blizzard Warning was issued for the first time in Louisiana’s history due to the heavy snowfall and winds exceeding 35 mph (56 km/h).

[8][9] Because of the scarcity of freezing temperatures in Louisiana, many citizens of the region are often left unprepared to handle what might be considered a storm of little consequence in more northern states.

[12] The state's typically humid subtropical climate rarely encounters precipitation coupled with freezing temperatures.

[15] Natural disasters such as hurricanes are far more common, and such an ecosystem is ill prepared for snow, particularly the seafood supply on which Louisiana relies for much of its revenue.