The "sneauxpocalyse" is a few hours away from beginning, and New Orleans city leaders are reassuring residents that they are prepared for the challenge the winter weather poses.
They're also asking residents to not take any chances once the weather hits.
"If you've never driven on snow or ice, don't even try it," New Orleans City Government chief administrative officer Gilbert Montano said. "It's profoundly difficult, and it's better to stay home and stay safe."
City homeland security director Collin Arnold echoed those calls. He said the snow will be stuck to the ground until as late as Thursday, which is why it's important residents stay off the road until through the end of the week.
"It's gonna be very difficult for us to keep all these roadways clear--if not impossible--and that's where the public is going to come in, and we're going to need their assistance to stay off the road starting tonight on into potentially Wednesday," Arnold said.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says her officers will be proactive in closing roads before they become icy and impassible.
"We are going to close mainly those streets where there is elevation, such as on-ramps to get up on the interstate, the bridges, (and) things like that. That's the main impact where we're going to start those closures," Kirkpatrick said.
According to Arnold, New Orleans residents have until the end of the day to run their last-minute errands and to finish winterizing their homes.
"We're asking that residents stock up on essentials like medicine and non-perishable foods now," Arnold said. "You have time today to get those things."
Arnold also urges residents to wrap their pipes if they already haven't so they can protect both their homes and the city's water system and water pressure "so that we don't have to continuously issue boil water advisories and so worse things don't happen with the water system."