Those of you in north Louisiana could be in for cabin fever, as this ice storm could trap you indoors all weekend long. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…Jeff Palermo.”

While North Louisiana will be in for dangerous storms and the New Orleans area will be a little too warm for there to be any danger, the Baton Rouge area is right on the line. The winter storm watch does extend to the Capitol region, so those of you in that area should monitor conditions carefully.

Utility crews throughout the state are in position ready to restore power when the power gets knocked out by the ice storm. Brandon Frey, the executive secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, says icy roads will make the response much trickier, so you can do your part by staying off the roads.

Cut 3 (10) “…into those areas.”

And while the precipitation will be over by Sunday, the start of the work week will be brutally cold, even for standards in areas much farther north of here – lows in the teens for north Louisiana, and upper teens for south Louisiana. Mark Wilson with the LSU Ag Center says to help protect outdoor plants from the extreme cold, make sure they’re thoroughly watered.

Cut 12 (09) “…start to drop.”

A powerful winter storm will hit Louisiana this weekend. The biggest threat is the ice north Louisiana will possibly see. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 8 (13) “…see something”

A quarter inch or more of freezing rain and ice is expected to form on Louisiana roads between the I-20 corridor and the Arkansas border.

Governor Landry has declared a state of emergency. Landry says while Louisiana had a historic snow event last year, snow is easier to deal with than ice.

Cut 26 (13)  “…them to fail.”

The last major ice storm to hit Louisiana was February 2021 and many customers were without power for two to four days.

With the ice storm’s imminent arrival, utility crews are ready to restore power when the power gets knocked out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Many homeowners are trying to protect outdoor plants, shrubs and trees that are sensitive to below freezing temperatures. Mark Wilson with the LSU Ag Center says if you can’t bring them inside, at least move them closer to your house if they are in a container…

Cut 14 (14) “…will help”

Much of the state is bracing for the ice storm of 2026. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s currently a stalled cold front in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Cut 7 (13) “…at the surface.”

Keim says that creates the perfect environment for wintry precipitation – normally snow; but in this case, it will be in the form of freezing rain. Keim says the northern half of Louisiana could see up to an inch and a half of ice, more than enough to rip down limbs and powerlines and transform roads into skating rinks.

If you’re in an affected area, Rodney Mallett with DOTD is urging you to stay off the roads this weekend.

Cut 11 (11) “…on ice.”

Utility crews throughout the state are in position ready to restore power when the power gets knocked out by the ice storm. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says like all other utility companies throughout the state, Entergy is bringing in extra personnel.

Cut 6 (10) “…safely as possible.”

As if this weekend’s ice storm wasn’t enough, the start of next week will be brutally cold by anyone’s standards, not just Louisiana’s – in the teens and possibly single digits in north Louisiana and in the upper teens or low 20s in south Louisiana. Mark Wilson with the LSU Ag Center says if you have shrubs and plants that were planted in the last two years, cover them now before the cold arrives.

Cut 13 (10)  “…insulation.”

If you’re married, I hope you’re on good terms with your spouse, because you’re very likely going to be spending all weekend together holed up inside your home. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…Jeff Palermo.”

While north Louisiana is certain to be plagued by icy conditions and the New Orleans area will be a little too warm to be in any danger, Baton Rouge is somewhat in the middle. The winter storm watch does extend as far southeast as Baton Rouge; forecasters are urging people in the area to keep a close eye on conditions.

Utility crews have been preparing for the ice storm. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says Entergy crews have been working to minimize power outages by cutting back branches from powerlines.

Cut 5 (10) “…they do break.”

Brandon Frey, the executive secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, says if you encounter a downed powerline, do not touch it or approach it under any circumstances.

Cut 4 (09) “…to do anything.”

Utility companies say the very best thing you can do to help them is to stay off the roads altogether, so that you can keep them clear so that they can get to wherever they need to go to fix whatever needs to be fixed to get the power turned back on.

A powerful winter storm will arrive in Louisiana later today. The biggest threat is the ice that this storm will bring with north Louisiana getting the brunt of it. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 8 (13) “…see something”

A quarter inch or more of freezing rain and ice is expected to form on Louisiana roads between the I-20 corridor and the Arkansas border. Road closures are likely with this event.

State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says travelers can find information regarding road closures by downloading the 511 mobile app or visiting the 511 Traveler information website….

Cut 10 (08) “…points north.”

With the ice storm’s imminent arrival, utility crews are ready to restore power when the power gets knocked out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Republican state lawmaker Julie Emerson has dropped out of the U-S Senate race. Emerson says with Congresswoman Julia Letlow’s entrance into the race, the path to victory that was visible a couple months ago has diminished. Emerson also says she respects President Trump’s decision to endorse Letlow in the race.

The ice storm of 2026 is coming. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Brandon Frey, the executive secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, says icy roads will make the response much trickier, so you can do your part by staying off the roads.

Cut 3 (10) “…into those areas.”

The state department of transportation says it has field crews ready to begin pre-treating roads and bridges. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says they’re closely monitoring the forecast and prepared to close certain bridges and overpasses that are deemed impassable.

Cut 9 (12)  “…is going to be.”

Not only will it be unbearable to be outside this weekend, but bitterly cold temperatures are in the forecast for early next week. Lows in the teens for north Louisiana early and low 20s, upper teens for south Louisiana. Mark Wilson with the LSU Ag Center says to help protect outdoor plants from the extreme cold, make sure they’re thoroughly watered.

Cut 12 (09) “…start to drop.”

The sixth-ranked LSU women’s basketball team dominated Texas A&M last night by a score of 98-54. Head coach Kim Mulkey was not with the team this week due to a family emergency. She was in Texas as her 7-year-old grandson was hospitalized with a ruptured appendix. Associate Head Coach Bob Starkey filled in for Mulkey’s absence, and Mulkey says that she will always prioritize her family first.

Cut 22 (18): “and it did.”

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team defeated Missouri State 60-51 on the road last night to win their fifth straight game.

McNeese women’s basketball won their eighth straight game last night after head coach Ayla Guzzardo took down her former team in Southeastern by a score of 72-30.

New LSU transfer wide receiver Jackson Harris of Hawaii was the first player to commit to the Tigers in the transfer portal cycle. Harris met Lane Kiffin on his visit and says he has the utmost respect for his new coach.

Cut 16 (10) “…so am I.”

The College Football Playoff is reportedly set to remain a 12-team field in 2026. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey pushed for a 16-team model, but Big 10 commissioner Tony Petitti would have only agreed to it if Sankey committed to a 24-team field after three years.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is back in action today as the Bulldogs host Kennesaw State at 1 p.m.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks to get back in the win column on Saturday as the Tigers will be in Fayetteville to take on No. 20 Arkansas at 7:30 p.m.

McNeese men’s basketball is back in Lake Charles on Saturday after being on the road last week. The Cowboys host the University of New Orleans at 2:30 p.m.

The I-20 corridor in North Louisiana will be under a winter storm warning beginning at 6:00 this evening. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a combination of freezing rain, sleet and snow are expected.

Cut 11 (13) “…some significant problems.”

Governor Landry says once the wintry precipitation starts falling, stay off the roads.

Cut 15 (13) “…is extremely dangerous.”

The biggest concern is for significant icing and snow north of I-20. Central Louisiana expected to see some icing, while the ice might miss south Louisiana. The entire state will not be able to avoid the cold temperatures, especially Monday morning.

A national animal rights group is weighing on an attempt to legalize cockfighting in St. Landry Parish. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A former St. Mary Parish high school teacher has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted enticement of a minor. Court documents say Katherine Albarado used her personal email to send sexually explicit messages and video to a sixteen-year-old student. She was arrested in May of 2022. If convicted, she faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and could face a life sentence.

With the incoming ice storm, Governor Landry has declared a state of emergency, allowing additional resources in north and central Louisiana including a waiver to bring additional gas to areas seeing shortages. The governor is urging citizens to be prepared.

Cut 14 (14) “…without electricity.”

Central Louisiana could see a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch of ice. Higher ice accumulations are expected along the I-20 corridor, where snow could fall after the freezing rain. State Climatologist Jay Grymes…

Cut 12 (12) “…of the ice”

Grymes the other issue, extremely cold temperatures as temperatures will remain below freezing in north Louisiana from Saturday to Monday.

Legalizing cockfighting is an issue again in St Landry Parish, where the parish council passed a resolution asking the Attorney General to review whether the state’s cockfighting ban is constitutional. Liz Murrill says cockfighting remains illegal in Louisiana. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Animal Wellness Action, says those advocating for cockfighting are not doing their parish or the state any favors…

Cut 4 (09) “….State of Louisiana”

For the second year in a row, the DASH diet, developed in part by scientists at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been recognized as the best heart-healthy diet by the 2026 US News and World Report. Doctor Catherine Champagne is a dietitian at Pennington…

Cut 7 (12) “…higher in protein”

The cast of candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bill Cassidy is down by one. State Representative Julie Emerson has dropped out of the race following President Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Representative Julia Letlow. Emerson, who entered the race in October, said at that time she was waiting to see if Letlow would enter the race. Now that she has, in a social media post, Emerson said that the path to victory had diminished. She also said she supports the president’s decision to endorse Letlow.

The effort in St. Landry Parish to make cockfighting legal in the parish again has gotten reaction from Animal Wellness Action. President, Wayne Pacelle (puh-SELL-ee), says when Louisiana voted to outlaw it in 2007, only one representative and four senators were against the ban. He says the practice isn’t the only problem…

Cut 5 (10) “…illegal firearms.”

A resolution to urge State Representative Dustin Miller to introduce a bill to repeal or modify the ban failed in the parish council by a vote of 7-to-6.

The ice storm of 2026 moves into Louisiana tonight. State Climatologist Jay Grymes …

Cut 10 (14) “…Saturday into Sunday.”

The I-20 corridor will be under a winter storm warning from six p-m tonight. Ice and snow are expected in North and Central Louisiana, and the National Weather Service says a glazing of ice is possible along the I-10/I-12 corridor west of Hammond.

Accolades for The DASH Diet, which was developed in part by scientists at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. U.S. News and World Report has named it the second-best overall diet. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. One of the original researchers, Dr. Cathy Champagne says in addition to helping people lower blood pressure and other cardiovascular risks, the DASH Diet can also help with weight loss.

Cut 9 (05)  “…lot of weight.”