There's been some chatter of potential snowfall in the New Orleans area, and that has plenty of locals grabbing their winter coats and hoping for a repeat of last year's picturesque snow event. It was a dazzling sight to see New Orleans landmarks coated in a blanket of white and, while he says he understands the enthusiasm of residents who want to see an encore, LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim advises newfound snow enthusiasts to tamp down expectations.
"That event that we experienced last year is so extraordinarily rare. It's more than a once in a lifetime event, it's probably even greater than a once in a century event," Keim points out. This is because temperatures in New Orleans rarely drop to below freezing levels and remain there for long enough for conditions to create snowfall. "To get a snow storm in New Orleans, it requires a very unique set of meteorological circumstances that doesn't happen all that often. And all those unique conditions have to come together at just the right time," he went on to add.
"There were still piles of snow on the sides of the roads last year in New Orleans even a week after the event. How likely is that to ever happen? Whenever we get a snow event, it usually sits around for about two hours. But, the ground is so warm, it just melts right off," Keim points out. "This one is going to go down for a snow storm for the ages. It's just such a rare occurence to pull this many ingredients together at just the right time to create a snow event like that. It's just not very likely. In fact, I think it's extremely unlikely," Keim notes.
While the snowy landscape made for great photos, Keim is also quick to point out that the infrastructure of this region is ill-equipped to deal with snow. So, while it's fun for the kids (and adults who rarely see it), it's probably best in a currently cash-strapped city to keep the snow at bay for at least another year.