I haven’t seen this much snow in New Orleans since I was backstage with The Rolling Stones in the 80s!
New Orleans can be described in a lot of ways: fun, wild, crazy. But today, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, New Orleans can officially be described as a WINTER WONDERLAND!
Occasionally, New Orleans is threatened with snow flurries, but any real measurable snow in the city is as rare as Patrick Mahomes having a bad game. In December of 2008, about 1 inch fell on New Orleans. Nearly 5 inches blanketed the city on New Year’s Eve 1963 and though records vary, between 5 to 10 inches covered the city on Valentine's Day 1895. And a few inches fell back in the 1800s, but any significant snowfall in New Orleans is unheard of - until today.
I don’t know the exact amount of snow that has fallen in the city and across the Gulf South as I write, but I just came in from doing a report from the snow storm in downtown New Orleans that is now posted on the Scoot On The Air FaceBook page and several inches - maybe 4 to 5 inches have accumulated - and the snow is not over.
It was weird watching the TV meteorologists show a graphic indicating that there was a 100% chance of snow today that could amount to 3 to 8 inches for the city. And their predictions came true. As seen in my report on the SOTA FB page, it’s not just snowing - New Orleans is being hit with a bona fide SNOWSTORM and the excitement felt throughout the city and the Gulf South is incredible! Kids here don’t have sleds, but many have made makeshift sleds out of various items and are sliding down the levees, which are as close to mountains as you will see in New Orleans. Kids are making snowmen and there was actually a run on carrots yesterday in anticipation of snowmen being built today. Dogs are running, jumping, and rolling in the snow and this must be especially wonderful for dogs like Siberian Huskies and Malamutes, who suffer greatly with the intense heat and humidity of summertime in New Orleans. What a treat this is for them!
I just returned from Portland and this is my first day back on the air and I was in snow on Mt. Hood, just outside of Portland, OR. I feel like I brought the snow back with me.
Having lived in Portland, Seattle, Denver, and Philadelphia I have been in the snow that is traditional in those cities and I can tell you that the snow we are experiencing in New Orleans today is quality snow. The snow falling on New Orleans and the Gulf South today is dry and fluffy and resembles the authentic snow in places that get snow every winter.
The excitement of schools and businesses being closed while people in New Orleans, of all places, enjoy a snow day, is hard to describe. In fact, everyone is so excited I know I speak for many when I say I don’t want it to end. But the forecast is for the snow to end early this evening and I hope people don’t suffer from PTSD: Post Traumatic Snow Disorder.
I hope you are enjoying this rare and thrilling diversion from Nature. Since it happens so rarely we need to relish every moment of New Orleans being a WINTER WONDERLAND!
