The forecast for relief at the pump remains grim and predictions for spring even more depressing. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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As we say “goodbye” to 2021, State Climatologist Barry Keim looks back on a topsy-turvy year for Louisiana weather. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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Gas forecasters predict prices at the pump will get worse before they get better. GasBuddy head petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says prices in 2022 could linger around the $4 mark should we move past the Omicron variant and the economy continue to hold.
Cut 3 (10) “…this spring.”
DeHaan says right now we are starting to see the price of oil move up again because the Omicron variant is less severe than initially anticipated and there’s optimism that oil demand may begin to pick back up globally…
Cut 4 (10) “…head higher”
For the season DeHaan says we’re paying the most we have at the pump in some seven years due to supply being unable to keep up with demand. But for the spring if you have travel plans, he says buckle up and be ready to pay even more, an additional twenty-five to seventy-five cents a gallon and by Memorial Day we could see prices flirt at $4 a gallon.
Cut 5 (06) “…strong economy.”
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $2.99.
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As we say “goodbye” to 2021, State Climatologist Barry Keim looks back on a topsy-turvy year for Louisiana weather. Keim says – without a doubt – the top weather story of the past year was Hurricane Ida…:
Cut 6 (14) “…of 1856.”
Keim says Tropical Storm Claudette was also noteworthy, a rare case of a storm developing over land in extreme southeast Louisiana. Hitting Number Two on Keim’s list, was the outbreak of Arctic air in February…:
Cut 7 (13) “…Lake Charles sixteen.”
In Shreveport, the temperature went down to a record-low 1 degree during that cold snap.
Another of the year’s top weather events was the tornado outbreak of early April last year. Keim says the state has rarely seen so many twisters within a 48 hour period…:
Cut 8 (11) “…and northern Louisiana.”
Other events of note: spring & summer rain storms that dumped almost a year’s worth of rain in a matter of days; leaving most of the southern part of the state excessively wet. Keim says the Holiday Heat Wave will also be one for the Louisiana Weather record books.
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The CDC revises isolation guidelines for those who test positive COVID from 10 days to five days, that’s if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask for at least five more days. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says when the CDC looked at the data the virus appears to be most contagious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop.
Cut 9 (07) “…symptoms develop.”
Lopez says the new guidelines are for everyone, regardless of vaccination status. He says the keyword is that you are asymptomatic, and you wear a mask for the remaining five days when in public. The five days begins the day you receive your positive results.
Cut 10 (08) “…additional days.”
Last week the CDC COVID quarantine guidelines for healthcare workers were also adjusted. Their quarantine period is longer than the general public because of their interaction with those who are more vulnerable.
Cut 11 (10) “…discontinuing the isolation.”
For a testing location, you can visit the Louisiana Department of Health’s website.
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COVID positive tests and injuries resulted in a dismal performance on offense last night as the Saints fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-3. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it was not a surprise to see the Saints struggle on offense with rookie quarterback Ian Book and only two starting offensive linemen on the field
Cut 12 (09) “…with the Dolphins”
Book was sacked eight times, intercepted twice and New Orleans went 0-for-12 on third down. Detillier says Book was overwhelmed by the pressure he received from a Miami defense the feasted on a makeshift offensive line…
Cut 13 (10) “..last night “
Detillier says the score could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the defense. But he says without a stable offensive line you don’t have a chance at winning…
Cut 14 (13) “…you ain’t winning.”