By Jessica Matthews 
Governor Jeff Landry warns about historic snowfall keeping residents homebound across Louisiana as the state faces its most severe winter weather crisis in over a century. I’ve analysed the official reports, emergency declarations, and meteorological data to bring you the complete story of this unprecedented weather emergency.
Louisiana’s “Bayou Blizzard of 2025”: A Historic Winter Emergency
Between January 20th and 24th, 2025, Louisiana experienced what meteorologists officially named “The Bayou Blizzard of 2025” – a winter storm system of unprecedented magnitude for this typically warm Gulf Coast state.
For the first time in Louisiana’s recorded weather history, the National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings, signalling the extraordinary nature of this winter event.
“This new event could be historic,” Governor Landry cautioned in his early statements, words that would prove prophetic as record-breaking snow and ice accumulated across the state.
Governor Landry’s Proactive Emergency Response
Taking decisive action, Governor Jeff Landry issued a State of Emergency on January 18th, 2025 – a full two days before the storm arrived. This early declaration proved crucial, enabling:
- Immediate activation of direct state assistance to parishes
- Mobilisation of emergency response resources
- Coordination between state agencies and local governments
- Preparations for widespread infrastructure impacts
As conditions deteriorated, Governor Landry’s messaging became increasingly urgent: “I’m strongly advising residents about the possibility of near record amounts of snowfall in South Louisiana,” he warned during a televised press conference.
The Governor particularly emphasised the danger would persist even after snowfall ceased. “As roadways begin to thaw during the day, they will likely refreeze overnight, leading to black ice formation,” Landry explained, identifying it as “the biggest threat” on roadways – “not just dangerous but potentially deadly.”
Record-Shattering Snowfall Measurements Across Louisiana
The snowfall totals reported throughout Louisiana were truly extraordinary for a state that typically records just 0.2 inches annually – comparable to Florida and Hawaii:
- Bayou Region: A remarkable 8-12 inches, the most significant snowfall since 1895
- Near Chalmette: 11.5 inches total accumulation
- New Orleans: 10 inches (officially the snowiest day since 1948)
- Baton Rouge: 7.6 inches (breaking records dating back to 1892)
- Thibodaux: 8.5 inches (the highest measurement since record-keeping began in 1893)
- Des Allemands: A resident reported an astonishing 12 inches falling in just ten hours
While northern states might routinely handle such snowfall amounts, Louisiana’s infrastructure, homes, and emergency services are simply not designed for these conditions, making the impact far more severe.
Arctic Temperatures Compound the Winter Crisis
The snowfall was accompanied by dangerously cold temperatures that Governor Landry warned would affect “even regions that did not experience substantial snowfall”:
- Over 48 hours of continuous below-freezing conditions statewide
- Lafayette recorded a historic low of 4 degrees
- Wind chill values plummeted into single digits
- Many areas remained below freezing until Thursday, several days after the initial snowfall
- Some locations experienced what Governor Landry described as potentially “the coldest morning in more than a hundred years”
Unprecedented Transport System Shutdown
The winter emergency brought Louisiana’s entire transportation network to a standstill:
- All interstate systems closed, including I-10, I-510, and I-310
- All on-ramps and off-ramps leading to US 90 and elevated bridges shut down
- Mississippi River bridges – crucial transportation arteries – closed
- The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced numerous closures on state routes and bridges throughout multiple parishes
“Stay off the roads and remain at home,” became Governor Landry’s most emphatic directive, stressing that the combination of heavy snow and strong winds created “life-threatening conditions.”
Critical Infrastructure Impacts and Safety Concerns
Beyond transportation disruptions, the winter emergency threatened essential services and created serious safety hazards:
Water Systems at Risk
Governor Landry explicitly warned residents the weather event would “most likely affect their water supply.” He advised:
- Wrapping pipes to prevent freezing
- Allowing faucets to drip
- Preparing for potential water outages
In West Baton Rouge Parish, officials asked residents to conserve water, highlighting the strain on systems not designed for prolonged freezing temperatures.
Power Grid Challenges
While major utility providers maintained relatively stable service initially:
- Entergy deployed approximately 1,600 workers on standby for restoration efforts
- Service disconnects were suspended through January 26th
- Vinton reported a third of residents without electricity for over 24 hours
- East Feliciana Parish experienced over 460 customers without power
- Utility companies warned that restoration efforts might be slower due to icy road conditions
Critical Home Heating Safety Warnings
Governor Landry emphasised life-saving safety precautions:
- Never use gas or electric stoves/ovens to heat homes (fire and carbon monoxide risks)
- Ensure working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with charged batteries
- Follow strict safety guidelines for space heaters (floor placement, away from flammables, never unattended)
- Check on vulnerable neighbours, especially the elderly
- Know symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion
Coordinated Government Response Efforts
The Louisiana state government implemented a comprehensive emergency response:
- Governor Landry extended closure of state offices through Thursday, January 23rd
- The DOTD actively pretreated priority roadways across the state
- Louisiana State Police coordinated with DOTD and local law enforcement on road closures
- The 511 phone system, 511la.org website, and Louisiana 511 smartphone application provided real-time road condition updates
In a notable display of interstate cooperation, Governor Landry thanked Governor Sarah Sanders of Arkansas for providing essential resources, including 12 tri-axle dump trucks with snow plows, salt spreaders, and drivers.
Historical Context: Louisiana’s Unprecedented Winter Event
What made this storm truly historic was its exceptional nature for Louisiana’s typically subtropical climate:
- First-ever blizzard warnings issued for Louisiana
- Most significant snowfall in the bayou region since the Great Freeze of 1895
- Baton Rouge experienced its snowiest day since 1892
- New Orleans saw its snowiest day since 1948
- The National Weather Service office in Lake Charles issued its first-ever blizzard warnings due to heavy snowfall and winds exceeding 35 mph
Previous notable Louisiana snow events include:
- The Great Blizzard of 1899 (3.8 inches in New Orleans)
- December 1929 Shreveport storm (11.0 inches)
- The “Snow Bowl” in Shreveport (2000)
- Christmas Eve snowstorm (2004)
- New Orleans snowfall (2008)
- The cold wave of 2014
- Widespread snow and ice (2021)
Yet none matched the 2025 storm’s combination of record-breaking snowfall, prolonged freezing temperatures, and widespread impact.
FAQs: Louisiana’s Historic Winter Emergency
How unusual is significant snowfall in Louisiana?
Extremely rare. Louisiana typically receives about 0.2 inches of snow annually. Measurable snow in Northwest Louisiana occurs roughly once every other year, while southern regions can go decades without significant snowfall. The average Louisianan might see meaningful snow only a few times in their lifetime.
What specific dangers did Governor Landry warn about?
Governor Landry emphasised several critical dangers:
- Life-threatening road conditions from snow and ice
- Black ice formation as the most deadly threat
- Carbon monoxide poisoning from improper heating methods
- Freezing pipes causing water supply disruptions
- Prolonged below-freezing temperatures affecting the entire state
How did Louisiana prepare for this unprecedented storm?
Louisiana implemented numerous preparedness measures:
- Early State of Emergency declaration (January 18th)
- Pretreatment of priority roadways
- Coordination between state agencies and local governments
- Deployment of emergency response resources
- Public information campaigns about safety precautions
- Suspension of utility disconnections through January 26th
What precautions were recommended for Louisiana homes?
Officials advised protecting the “four Ps”:
- People: Stay home, check on vulnerable neighbours
- Pets: Bring animals indoors
- Plants: Cover or bring sensitive plants inside
- Pipes: Wrap exterior pipes, allow faucets to drip, know how to shut off water
Lessons from Louisiana’s Winter Emergency
This historic winter emergency exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure designed for heat rather than cold, prompting likely reviews of:
- Winter storm preparedness plans
- Critical infrastructure resilience
- Emergency communication systems
- Interstate resource-sharing protocols
- Public awareness strategies for extreme winter conditions
As Louisiana recovers from this unprecedented weather disaster, it’s clear that Governor Jeff Landry’s early warnings about historic snowfall keeping residents homebound played a crucial role in reducing what could have been an even more catastrophic impact on the state’s residents and infrastructure.