Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said during a conference call with the Governor Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, parish presidents, and local leaders that his main concern with the winter storm expected in the state is highway safety.
"We're not a state that's very well equipped to handle heavy snow," said Landry. "We're going to urge our citizens to be patient as we work to clear the roads and make it safe for them to travel."
While the forecast calls for significant snow and maybe some sleet or wintry mix in some areas, forecasters do not expect freezing rain that would stick to and weigh down power lines.
Nevertheless, it will still be very cold, with wind chills in the teens in some parts of the state, and 36+ hours of temperatures at or below freezing.
"Many communities may not get above freezing on Tuesday and only briefly above freezing on Wednesday," said State Climatologist Jay Grymes.
Officials point out that means ice on roadways, particularly elevated roadways, will be a problem that will last well into the week.
There is also a concern that if too many homes have pipes freeze and then burst, or even if massive numbers of homes run their faucets to protect against freezing, it could lead to a loss of water pressure.
