Acadiana residents woke up to an extraordinary and rare sight this morning: a blanket of snow covering homes, cars, and roads. Even more shocking, Louisiana is under its first-ever Blizzard Warning, issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Lake Charles, alongside an ongoing Winter Storm Warning.

Blizzard Warning Details

The Blizzard Warning, in effect until noon today, includes Lafayette, Vermilion, Acadia, Jeff Davis, Cameron, and Calcasieu parishes. The NWS defines a blizzard as conditions involving frequent wind gusts of 35 mph or more, combined with heavy snowfall reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile. This warning means that travel is not only hazardous but potentially life-threatening.

What to Expect

Meteorologists across the region have been sounding the alarm about this unprecedented weather event:

Daniel Phillips, KATC Meteorologist: "An active Blizzard Warning in Louisiana. 2025 is off the rails."

Breyanna Lewis, KATC Meteorologist: Describes the storm as "New York weather without New York," noting winds between 25-30 mph and drastically reduced visibility.

Trevor Sonnier, KLFY Meteorologist: Emphasized that by definition, Acadiana is experiencing a full-blown blizzard.

Snow accumulation of 2-4 inches is expected, with the possibility of higher totals in some areas. Meanwhile, winds are creating dangerous conditions, with snow blowing across roadways and obscuring vision.

Safety First

Local authorities and meteorologists are urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Strong winds and slippery conditions have already made travel treacherous. If you must leave, ensure your car is winter-ready, drive slowly, and keep an emergency kit on hand.

For those at home, ensure you have enough food, water, and warmth as power outages may occur due to the strong winds and icy conditions. Stay tuned for updates.

How to Prepare

  • Limit outdoor activities.
  • Bring pets inside to protect them from freezing temperatures.
  • Check on neighbors, especially the elderly or those without proper heating.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for Louisiana, and while it may be stunning to witness snowflakes in the bayou, staying safe should be the top priority.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

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