Heavy Snow — Southern Tangipahoa, Louisiana

2017-12-08 · Southern Tangipahoa, Louisiana

Event narrative

The cooperative observer at Pontchatoula reported 3.5 inches of snow. Two inches of snow was reported at Hammond.

Wider weather episode

Low Pressure over the Gulf of Mexico drove moisture over a very cold airmass to aid in the development of a band of heavy snow across portions of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Numerous reports of 2 to 5 inches of snow was reported. Isolated areas of up to 8 inches of snow occurred over portions of southwest Mississippi, and up to 7 inches in small portion of southeast Louisiana near the Mississippi state line. In the areas from just west and southwest of the metro New Orleans area to the Mississippi Coast, generally snow amounts were around an inch to trace. Temperatures were generally around freezing in the areas experiencing snow. However, snow rates were intense enough to result in accumulations. Snow melt and residual water on elevated roadways and bridges froze Friday evening, December 8th, with many roadways becoming slick and some highways closed until mid morning on Saturday, December 9th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 730354. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.