Staying Cool New Orleans Style with Joey Lehrman

 By Joey Lehrman | Email the Author | Follow on Twitter

Sunday night's regional temperatures

It's unlikely (if not impossible) that you haven't noticed by now that an extreme cold front has spread across most of the United States, blanketing the country in record lows in most regions including New Orleans. The recent outbreak of Arctic air is pouring into southeastern Louisiana as well, with a hard-freeze warning for much of the north shore and Baton Rouge in effect on Monday night and early Tuesday morning. 

According to Mark Schleifstein's, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune recent post:

Record low temperatures are expected in Baton Rouge, Slidell, and at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport and Audubon Park early Tuesday. Forecasters have also issued a wind-chill advisory for southeastern Louisiana from midnight Sunday until noon Monday, with wind chills mostly in the teens.

Although the cold front isn't necessarily a health risk (like it is for our friends in the North where extreme bitter cold forced the governor of Minnesota to cancel school for the ENTIRE state on Monday), forecasters are still warning that the freezing temperatures over these two days could cause frost-bite and hypothermia. Therefore, all residents are encouraged to wear hats and gloves. 

'If you must go outside, remember that several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat,' said the weather service's freeze warning message. 'A hat is also important, as 20 percent of body heat loss is through the head.'

And since a hard freeze can kill crops and sensitive vegitation, residents are encouraged to take the necessary precautions to protect their property and pets. 

Stay tuned to www.weather.com and www.nola.com for up-to-date weather advisories. 

Joey Lehrman is a retired teacher with over 40 years of experience in the New Orleans public school system. Since retiring, he has transitioned to sharing his experience and perspective and all things New Orleans through a variety of blogs, news-sites, and social networks.

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