Arctic blast heads for Louisiana: How to prep homes, pets

May 06, 2023

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Protect your tender and tropical plants when there's a freeze in the forecast. (File photo by Grant Therkildsen, The Advocate)

A strong Arctic blast is on the way to southeast Louisiana and is expected to bring freezing conditions to New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette for Christmas.

The "potent Arctic airmass" from Canada and Alaska is on track to arrive Thursday night, forecasters with the National Weather Service in Slidell said. The frigid weather is expected to stick around through Christmas Day, which is Sunday.

There's a "near 0%" chance of snow on Christmas in southeast Louisiana, forecasters say.

Now is the time to focus on the four Ps: People, pets, pipes and plants. Here are tips from experts about what you should do before and during a freeze.

A second line statue is covered in ice along Decatur Street in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com |The Times-Picayune)

Check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

Stay inside in a warm area during extreme cold. If you have to go outside, wear layers, a hat and gloves.

From the National Fire Protection Association and the American Red Cross:

Cold weather is expected in southeast Louisiana over the next few days with the possibility of snow Monday in some places. (File photo by Chris Granger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Keep your pets inside when the temperature drops, advises the ASPCA. If that's not possible, make sure they have a warm place to take shelter that protects them from the wind.

Also, check your car for cats because outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hood to stay warm. Bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

In this file photo from Jan. 7, 2014, Allen Fruge' of Al's Plumbing Co. responds to a frozen valve at a daycare center in Madisonville. (Photo by Ted Jackson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Here are some tips from the LSU AgCenter:

Related: Run the water to water to protect the pipes. But why does that work?

Note for Jefferson Parish residents: The Jefferson Parish Water Department recommends that customers do not run their faucets, unless the residence is raised off the ground. It places a strain on the entire system and increases the chance for a boil water advisory, officials said. Homes that are on a concrete slab have added protection from the concrete and soil and do not require running taps for an extended period of time.

Icicles are seen on a pipe and surrounding vegetation as heavy traffic makes its way along Airline Highway in St. Rose on Thursday, January 18, 2017. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Here are tips from Entergy for conserving energy during cold weather:

A stand of banana trees slowly melt away after a hard freeze killed most the sensitive vegetation around New Orleans.

Bring tender potted plants inside or in a protected area.

For tender or tropical plants that are in the ground and need protection, cover them with blankets or put incandescent Christmas lights on them. Also, have waterproof covering, like plastic sheeting, available if there's rain in the forecast.

Citrus trees: If you have fruit on your citrus trees, remove all the fruit if the temperature will be below 25 degrees for four hours or more. All citrus fruit will be damaged under these conditions.

Cover smaller citrus trees as needed to protect them, and protect the trunks of larger trees, if practical. These plants generally do not see significant damage if temperatures stay in the mid to upper 20s and only stay below freezing for a few hours.

To protect a single smaller tree, construct a simple frame over the tree and encase the tree with one or two layers of translucent plastic. Before covering, the tree could be generously draped and wrapped with small, outdoor incandescent Christmas lights to provide additional warmth and increase the level of protection. Incandescent Christmas lights will not damage the tree even if they come into contact with it. Vent the cover or uncover the tree after the freezes are over.

While citrus trees are relatively carefree, there are some common problems.

For trees too large to cover, bank the lower trunk with two to three feet of soil. Or wrap the trunk with bubble wrap, foam rubber or old blankets to help prevent cold damage to the trunk. The coverings may be applied during freezes and removed during mild weather. Although tree tops may still be lost during freezes, a tree can recover if its trunk and root system are intact. Banking or wraps should be removed in the spring.

Try to water plants early in the day if it is going to get cold at night. Moist soil will hold heat stored during the sunny day longer than dry soil during the cold night.

Ice forms on Decatur Street in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com |The Times-Picayune)

Road conditions can be hazardous during freezing weather. Here are some tips from the Louisiana State Police:

Ice forms on a car in Covington, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com |The Times-Picayune)

Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

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