Louisiana – A sharp chill cuts through the predawn air across southeast Louisiana, leaving grass stiff, windshields frosted, and breath visible under streetlights. Winter rarely lingers this long along the Gulf Coast, but this morning feels different.
According to the National Weather Service in New Orleans, a Freeze Warning remains in effect from midnight through 9 a.m. for Upper Jefferson, Upper St. Bernard, and western Orleans parishes. Temperatures may dip as low as 27 degrees, cold enough to damage crops, sensitive plants, and unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Frost has already formed across neighborhoods from Metairie to Gretna, with cold air settling efficiently under calm winds. While major road icing is not expected, bridges and elevated ramps could feel slick early, especially along I-10, the Crescent City Connection, and sections of I-610 during the morning commute.
Conditions improve quickly after sunrise. Sunshine takes over, and temperatures rebound toward the upper 50s by afternoon, easing concerns for the rest of the day. Still, the morning freeze serves as a reminder that winter hazards remain possible even along the Gulf Coast in February.
Clouds increase tonight as warmer air moves in. Tuesday turns noticeably milder, with highs climbing near 70 degrees. Rain chances return late Tuesday night into Wednesday, bringing showers and a few embedded thunderstorms as a frontal boundary passes through the region.
Behind that system, breezy but cooler conditions settle in Wednesday night. Temperatures dip into the upper 30s, though no additional freeze warnings are expected. By Thursday and Friday, sunshine dominates again, and highs recover into the mid-to-upper 60s ahead of the Feb 6–8 weekend.
Residents should protect tender plants, check on pets and neighbors, and use heaters safely this morning. Did you wake up to frost where you live, or did the cold catch you by surprise?
