Another winter storm is hitting Louisiana producing a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Alexandria area to the Arkansas state line. The state health department says a 77-year-old Calcasieu Parish man slipped on the ice, fell in a pool, and drowned. Cleco is reporting 20-thousand customers without power.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins tells KSLA-TV that the city could be without water for 48 hours due to the second round of winter weather. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”

From the Alexandria area to points north, temperatures are at the freezing mark or below freezing. Roads are extremely slick in the northern half of the state. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says they’ve worked 350 crashes during the winter weather this week, so if you have to drive, drive slowly…
cut 5 (13) “…slolwy”
State Police is working to reopen I-10 West from Port Allen to Lafayette.

What about crawfish and this cold weather? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says cold temperatures do cause the mudbugs to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, but he’s hopeful we’ll still have a good crawfish season…
cut 13 (09) “….pattern”
Strain also believes the strawberry crop should do well, if producers were able to cover them.

Another winter storm is hitting Louisiana producing a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to most of the state north of Interstate 10. Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted there have been several deaths related to people slipping and falling on ice. The state health department says one of the fatalities involved a Calcasieu Parish man who slipped on the ice, fell in a pool, and drowned.

In northwest Lousiana, about 45 people were trapped in their vehicles for eight to ten hours last night as a result of multiple accidents on a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 20 in Bossier and Minden Parishes. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy…
cut 3 (11) “…five six mile back-up”
Hardy says there were no serious injuries and Bossier City firefighters helped get the trapped motorists home or to local hotels.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.
Cut 7 (08) “…small.”

It’s been cold in southeast Louisiana. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precautions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

And when will it warm up? State Climatologist Barry Keim says we need to wait a few days…
cut 12 (06) “…the weekend”

Snow, sleet and freezing rain is falling over most of Louisiana today. North of I-20 is getting more snow and much of Louisiana is seeing freezing rain, which is leading to treacherous roads. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is somewhat reminiscent of the last hurricane season, back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart…
cut 11 (11)”…for it”
The forecast calls for over a quarter of an inch of ice over north and central Louisana and freezing rain is also falling in southwest Louisiana north of I-10.

It was another cold morning in southeast Louisiana. So how is the strawberry crop doing? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers should be able to salvage the berries…
cut 15 (09) “…forward”

This historic deep freeze has state Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about large scale fish kills. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It’s Ash Wednesday one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today, but with the roads situation, it will be difficult for many to get their ashes.

More winter weather is hitting the state today. Snow is falling north of I-20, it’s sleet south of Louisiana is being impacted by freezing rain. Multiple accidents are being reported across the state, even in the New Orleans area. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll get above freezing in south Louisiana, but it will remain cold…
cut 12 (06) “….the weekend”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning the public about the potential for fish kills due to freezing temperatures. Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says fish in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk.
Cut 8 (09) “…kills.”
Banks says redfish, black drum, and white trout, and spotted seatrout are most at risk.

Last year’s Ash Wednesday was one of the last major religious holidays celebrated before the pandemic struck. Matt Doyle spoke with an expert about how COVID has impacted the religious community since then…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

It was a quiet Mardi Gras Day, because of the pandemic and the cold weather. It was 26-degrees in New Orleans, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s not the coldest Mardi Gras day ever. He says on February 14, 1899 the temperature hit 22 degrees in New Orleans on that Fat Tuesday.

A second winter storm is impacting Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (09) “…Thursday morning”
Radar indicates it’s snowing north of I-20, sleet is falling just south of I-20 and most of western Louisiana is experiencing freezing rain. Patchy light freezing drizzle is also occurring in southeast Louisiana which has caused multiple accidents in the New Orleans area.

It’s also Ash Wednesday as many Catholics and Lutherans will attempt to get their ashes at either church or drive-through services. The pandemic has resulted in fewer people attending church, but LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) says in some cases the virtual church services have resulted in more people participating in religious activities…
cut 5 (10) “…services”

The state department of wildlife and fisheries is concerned about fish kills throughout coastal Louisiana as a result of the freezing temperatures. Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says coastal species impacted by low water temperatures are redfish, black drum, and white trout, along with other popular species…
cut 9 (10) “…biomass”
If you spot a fish kill, alert the department of wildlife and fisheries.

What about crawfish and this cold weather? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says cold temperatures do cause the mudbugs to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, but he’s hopeful we’ll still have a good crawfish season…
cut 13 (09) “….pattern”

A second punch from Old Man winter is hitting the state today. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Entergy and Cleco had to do rolling black outs last night in south Louisaina to reduce demand on the grid. And the radar indicates freezing rain is falling in south Lousiana and portions of north Louisiana. Sleet and snow is falling along the I-20 corridor and parishes north of that interstate.

It’s cold in southeast Louisiana too this morning. Temperatures on the northshore are in the mid to upper 20s. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if farmers took proper precatutions, the cold temperatures should not jeopardize the strawberry crop….
cut 14 (10) “…bounce back”

It’s Ash Wednesday and many Catholics across Louisiana are reflecting on a year of worship under the New Normal. Ash Wednesday is one of the more prominent Catholic and Lutheran holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
Cut 4 (07)“…do that.”
Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain is once again falling across the northern half of the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is somewhat reminiscent of the last hurricane season, back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart…
cut 11 (11)”…for it”
Less than an inch of snow is epected to fall in Shreveport, Minden and Monroe, but the forecast calls for over a quarter of an inch of ice and periods of freezing rain will also fall in Cenla and light freezing rain is also possible in southwest Louisiana this morning.

It’s another cold morning in southeast Louisiana. So how is the strawberry crop doing? Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers should be able to salvage berries…
cut 15 (09) “…forward”

This historic deep freeze has state Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about large scale fish kills. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Today is Ash Wednesday one of the biggest days of the year for certain religions. Church attendance has suffered during the pandemic, but LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) expects physical attendance at houses of worship to bounce back…
cut 6 (08) “….can”

Many major throughways are still closed across Louisiana as the deep freeze continues. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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The winter storm is responsible for at least three deaths, two of the fatalities occurred in Lafayette Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Hope House in Shreveport which is a homeless shelter says a homeless man died last night as he was found in single-digit temperatures slumped over a brick wall.

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Roads and bridges across much of the state are still shut down as Louisiana settles in for a week-long deep freeze.

Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says in south Louisiana many interstates are still closed, like the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge and parts of I-10 and 12 in Baton Rouge…

Cut 3 (12)  “….open” 

Crews are out working in Baton Rouge to try and open those crucial routes.

Up in the Shreveport-Bossier and Monroe areas Mallet says the consistently cold temperatures produced a different set of problems.

Cut 4 (11) “..impassable” 

Mallet says for the most up-to-date information on the status of state roads vist 5-1-1-LA-Dot-Org, or…

Cut 5  (09)  “…get out.” 

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This history-making winter weather has been responsible for at least three deaths in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says both fatalities took place in Lafayette Parish.

Cut 6 (09) “…very tragic.”

The other death occurred in the city of Lafayette. Lafayette Police Sergeant Wayne Griffin says 74-year-old Mary Guillory died after leaving a residence at around 1 AM this morning…

Cut 7 (07) “…extreme weather condition”

Guillory may have suffered from dementia.

Governor John Bel Edwards is also concerned about more deaths related to carbon monoxide poisoning as people without power use generators to keep the heater on

Cut 8 (12) “…garage.”

The Hope House in Shreveport which is a homeless shelter says a homeless man died last night as he was found in single-digit temperatures slumped over a brick wall.

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The winter storm allowed for new record low temperatures to be set. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist C.S. Ross says the mercury in Shreveport dropped to one degree today. The previous record low was 20 degrees for February 16th.

Cut 9 (06) “…years ago.”

Ross says Monroe also set a record low temp this morning at 16 degrees this morning, the previous record was 25 degrees for the day and Lake Charles set a new low with 16 degrees.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like temps will get above freezing for the area and help melt any of the frozen precipitation.

By late this evening Ross says sleet and snow will sweep across north Louisiana bringing another round of dicey weather for the area.

Cut 10 (11) “…problems.” 

While the majority of power outages Monday and Tuesday were in the southern part of the state due to ice and sleet, Ross says this second round of winter weather could create outages in north Louisiana.

Cut 11 (10) “…developing.”

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Entergy has been directed by the Mid-Continent System Operator to initiate rolling power outages for some customers in southwest Louisiana.  Entergy Louisiana Vice President of Distribution Operations John Hawkins says the blackouts are due to this historic winter storm and freeze.  

Cut 12 (08) “ …for us.” 

MISO is in charge of the power grid for the region.  

It’s a drastic move but Hawkins says these record low temperatures have forced their hand.  

Cut 13 (10)“…grid”

The blackouts will last for an undetermined amount of time.  

Cut 14 (09) “…possible”

Entergy is asking customers to reduce power consumption by lowering thermostats to 68 degrees, open drapes when the sun is shining, don’t allow warm air to leave your home, and delay dish and laundry wash loads until further notice.