On the heels of a rare second blast of winter weather that descended on north Louisiana earlier in the week that left accumulations of 3-5 inches of snow and ice that is still on the ground, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued yet another winter storm warning that went into effect at 6:00pm on Tuesday and will run until noon on Thursday.

For the second time in less than a week and the third over the past 30 days another blast of extreme winter weather is pushing through north Louisiana bringing dangerously cold temperatures and causing extremely hazardous driving conditions. The latest storm is expected to bring accumulations ranging upwards to 2 inches of a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

While the sight of snow on the ground is beautiful, conditions can also be very dangerous and even deadly as the bitter cold temperature brings with it the risk of hypothermia.  |Additional impacts felt are treacherous road conditions making travel recommended only when absolutely necessary and possible power outages due to downed limbs, trees and powerlines

Already longtime records have been broken in every parish in north Louisiana. In Jackson Parish the termperature this past Tuesday morning was recorded at 9 degrees with the wind chill factor making it feel like zero. Shreveport suffered the worst as temperatures plummeted to 2 degrees and the wind chill factor was minus 11. 

Recommended actions:
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Check on the latest road conditions before starting out. This can be obtained by calling 511 or going online.
Stay indoors unless you just have to go outside. Prolonged exposure to these kind of temperatures can cause hypothermia.
Walk and drive carefully on icy sidewalks and roads. Many injuries and accidents are caused by slippery conditions.
Before driving, let someone know your destination, route, and expected time of arrival.
If you lose feeling and color in your nose, ears, hands, or feet, cover the exposed area, avoid rubbing your skin, and seek medical help immediately as you may have frostbite.
When shoveling snow, take breaks and lift lighter loads. Working too hard can lead to heart attacks.
Stay dry. Wet clothes make you lose body heat, increasing your risk of hypothermia.