Ice Storm Warning issued for Shreveport Metro

The National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana has issued an Ice Storm Warning for Bossier, Caddo, and De Soto Parishes until 12:00 PM Monday afternoon.

An Ice Storm Warning means ice accumulations of up to 1/4 inch are possible and may cause damage to trees and power lines as well as make travel treacherous.

Preparations include keeping a flash light, batteries, food, and water in your home and vehicle. Do not travel unless you must as travel will be very dangerous between ice on roadways, downed tree limbs, and downed power lines.

Minor ice accumulations on elevated roadways, power lines, and tree limbs will be possible as far south as the Interstate 10 corridor including Lafayette and Lake Charles. All people are urged to monitor the latest bulletins from the National Weather Service as this is potentially a very hazardous situation.

Predicting Winter Weather

Winter weather comes in several different forms. These include freezing rain, sleet, and snow to name the three major types. Here is how they are predicted:

Freezing Rain

• Freezing rain occurs when the atmosphere is below freezing at or just above ground level but above freezing higher up. This phenomenon is called an "inversion".
• Freezing rain is characterized as liquid rain that freezes when it strikes a surface (e.g. ground, power lines, or tree limbs).
• The last major ice event occurred from December 24 - 26, 2000 in northwestern and north-central in Shreveport and Monroe. Accumulations ranged from 1/4 to 1 inch along and north of Interstate 20. Widespread power outages were reported in Minden, Homer, Arcadia, Farmerville, Ruston, and Monroe with nearly 50,000 people without power.

Sleet

• Sleet occurs when the atmosphere is below freezing near the ground and up high with an area of warmer than freezing air sandwiched in between.
• Sleet is characterized as small ice pellets. What happens is that snow flakes melt when they hit the warm air then refreeze in the cold air.

Snow

• Snow occurs when the entire air profile is at or below freezing. Snow may also occur if the freezing line is less than 1,000 feet above the surface.
• The last major snow event occurred on January 1, 2001 when over one inch of snow fell along a line from Leesville to Alexandria. Four people were injured in one of many car accidents in the Alexandria-Pineville Metropolitan Area.

Watch, Warning, and Advisory Terms

• Freeze Watch - temperatures of less than 25 are possible
• Freeze Warning - temperatures of less than 25 are possible for an extended period of time
• Wind Chill Advisory - wind chills of 0 - 13 are possible
• Wind Chill Warning - wind chills of less than 0 are possible
• Winter Weather Advisory - when ice, sleet, or snow are expected but in minimal accumulations
• Winter Storm Watch - ice or sleet accumulations of >1/4 inch or snow accumulations of >2 inches are possible for 12 hours within 48 hours.
• Winter Storm Warning - when winter storm watch conditions are expected within 24 hours.

River Flood Update 1/4/07

Several rivers are once again in flood stage this evening across Louisiana as a storm system dumps between 1.00 and 3.00 inches of rain with some areas recieving up to 6.00 inches of rain.

Rainfall Reports as of 4:00 PM Thursday, January 4, 2007

• New Orleans: 0.05 inches
• Baton Rouge: 1.40 inches --> Breaks record of 0.01 inches from 2004
• Lafayette: 1.99 inches
• Lake Charles: 2.59 inches --> Breaks record of 2.34 inches from 2004
• Alexandria: 2.02 inches --> Breaks record of 1.43 inches from 1939
• Shreveport: 0.85 inches
• Monroe: 1.20 inches

Here are some key river sites:

Vermilion River at Lafayette --> Minor flooding forecast

• Vermilion River peaked at 11.7 feet at 6:00 PM Thursday. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. At stages near 11.5 feet, minor flooding of Vermilionville and Beaver Park near the river will occur.

Calcasieu River at Oberlin --> Major flooding forecast

• The latest stage was 18.8 feet at 6:30 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 19.5 feet at 12:00 AM Saturday. Flood stage is 13.0 feet. At stages near 19.0 feet, major flooding will occur. Secondary roads and homes near the river will be affected.

Calcasieu River at Old Town bay (North Lake Charles) --> Moderate flooding forecast

• The latest stage is 5.6 feet at 6:40 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 7.0 feet. Flood stage is 4.0 feet. At stages near 7.0 feet, the lower end of Pickrel Lane near the river floods. Goos Ferry Road is impassable.

Pearl River at Pearl River (Town) --> Minor flooding forecast

• The latest stage is 15.6 feet at 7:00 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 16.0 feet. Flood stage is 14.0 feet. At stages near 16.0 feet, lower portions of streets in River Gardens Subdivision begin to flood. Secondary roads near the river and throughout Honey Island Swamp will remain inundated. Property in the vacinity of the gage is flooded threatening about 20 homes along the left bank. The Bogue Chitto Wildlife Refuge will be closed to hunting at the 15.5-foot stage.

Anselm Coulee at Ramblewood Drive, Lafayette, LA

2006 Weather Review

Happy New Year! These are some of the statistics from Jason's Weather Center for the year 2006:

• Highest Temperature: 102 on August 15*
• Lowest Temperature: 24 on December 19*
• Hottest Month: August with an average high of 96
• Coldest Month: February with an average low of 44
• Days with temperature >90: 111
• Day with temperature <32:>
• Total Rainfall: 45.88 inches*
• Wettest Day: April 29 with 2.88 inches
• Days with rainfall >0.01: 97*
• Days with rainfall >0.10: 68*
• Days with rainfall >1.00: 13
• Wettest Month: July with 7.63 inches
• Driest Month: March with 0.30 inches*
• Highest Wind Gust: 34 MPH on December 30
• Windiest Month: February with an average wind speed of 2.4 MPH
• Calmest Month: July and August with an average wind speed of 0.7 MPH**

* = new all-time record
** = tied all-time record