As the nationwide winter storm approaches, South Louisiana is expected to experience heavy rain, wind and freezing temperatures.
Louisiana has already issued a winter storm warning and a state of emergency. LSU weather expert Jill Trepanier shared what students can expect in the coming days.
Trepanier, LSU professor and chair of the Geography & Anthropology department, has expertise in hurricane climatology.
Trepanier said students can expect an increase in cloud cover and slight rain on Friday. She said the severe storm will begin on Saturday, with wind speeds increasing in the morning and thunderstorms by the afternoon.
Trepanier added that temperatures should stay relatively warm on Saturday but will drop into the 40s overnight. Rain will continue through Sunday.
“The real threat will be Sunday afternoon and evening and into Monday,” Trepanier said.
Temperatures will drop into the 20s Sunday night and will cause the water on the roads to freeze. Trepanier said slippery roads will be the main problem caused by the storm; Louisiana does not have the infrastructure to combat icy roads.
The severity of the storm on Sunday will determine whether or not LSU is open Monday. While there is no way to know for sure yet, Trepanier said she would guess LSU will most likely be closed Monday.
Trepanier encourages students to stock up on food before the severe weather. She said that students who live off campus should leave their faucets dripping overnight on Sunday.
She explained that students who live in houses with an outdoor spigot for a hose can take a piece of a pool noodle and wrap it around the faucet as an insulator.
To keep indoor temperatures warm, Trepanier said students can roll up towels and stuff them at the base of doors and windows. She heavily advised against indoor fires.
“No generators inside either. People can die from carbon monoxide very easily,” Trepanier said.
Trepanier said the good news is this storm will not last long. She expects temperatures in South Louisiana to warm up in February but said the state might experience a couple more instances of severe cold before spring.
