Weather
Louisiana Winter Weather: 10 Historic Snowfall Events That Defied the Odds
Baton Rouge, LA – Louisiana may be better known for hurricanes, humidity and mild winters, but historical weather records reveal a surprising reality: Parts of the state have received more than 20 inc
By Avery Collins · 2026-10-21T13:08:54.508Z
Baton Rouge, LA – Louisiana may be better known for hurricanes, humidity and mild winters, but historical weather records reveal a surprising reality: Parts of the state have received more than 20 inches of snow in a single day. With winter 2026 27 approaching, those records demonstrate how dramatically Southern winter weather can change.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information, Rayne in Acadia Parish recorded 24 inches of snow on Feb. 15, 1895, the highest single day measurement in Louisiana's supplied county level snowfall records.
That historic storm also produced extraordinary snowfall across southwestern Louisiana, including 20 inches near Lake Charles.
Louisiana's Top 10 Historical One Day Snowfall Events The following measurements represent 10 separate calendar dates in NOAA's parish level records. Multiple locations reporting snowfall during the same event are not counted separately.
24.0 inches — Rayne, Acadia Parish: Feb. 15, 1895. 20.0 inches — Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish: Feb. 14, 1895. Part of the same historic February 1895 storm. 14.0 inches — Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish: Dec. 21, 1929. 13.8 inches — Cheneyville, Rapides Parish: Dec. 22, 1929. Part of the same December 1929 storm. 12.0 inches — Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish: Feb. 13, 1960. 11.8 inches — Meraux, Orleans Parish: Jan. 22, 2025. 11.0 inches — Marrero, Jefferson Parish: Jan. 21, 2025. Part of the same January 2025 storm. 11.0 inches — Calhoun, Ouachita Parish: Jan. 30, 1949. 9.0 inches — Riverton Lock 3, Caldwell Parish: Jan. 31, 1949. Part of the same January 1949 storm. 8.5 inches — Epps, West Carroll Parish: Jan. 14, 1982. Why Louisiana's Snowfall History Matters Louisiana's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico provides abundant atmospheric moisture. When unusually cold Arctic air moves south, that moisture can help generate significant winter precipitation.
The February 1895 storm remains especially remarkable because substantial snowfall reached communities near the Gulf Coast.
More recently, the January 2025 winter storm demonstrated that major snowfall remains possible across southern Louisiana, including the New Orleans metropolitan area.
Snow and ice can create particularly serious transportation problems along Interstates 10, 12, 20 and 49, where winter conditions are relatively uncommon.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? Even if Louisiana experiences a warmer than average winter, significant snowfall cannot be ruled out.
El Niño can influence winter temperatures, precipitation and storm tracks across the southern United States, but it does not prevent individual outbreaks of freezing weather.
Historical records do not establish whether another major snowstorm will occur during winter 2026 27.
However, Louisiana's snowfall history demonstrates that rare winter events can produce extraordinary results when the right atmospheric conditions develop.
For residents from Shreveport and Alexandria to Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and New Orleans, the message is clear: A generally mild climate does not guarantee a snow free winter.