The first in a series of Arctic Cold Fronts arrived during the 12th pushing tide levels down along the coast, however the subfreezing temperatures and winter weather did not arrive until the 14th. The event on the 14th began at many places as a light glaze of freezing rain, but quickly changed over to sleet or snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 25 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS LCH wrote it up.
The first in a series of Arctic Cold Fronts arrived during the 12th pushing tide levels down along the coast, however the subfreezing temperatures and winter weather did not arrive until the 14th. The event on the 14th began at many places as a light glaze of freezing rain, but quickly changed over to sleet or snow. Another round of winter weather occurred on the 17th, however this round was mainly freezing rain. The long duration event set many records in the area and rivaled the historic freezes of the region. The event was likely the longest and coldest since December 1989.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 12, 9:41 AM CST, 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
941 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021
.UPDATE...
Updated the pop grids to reflect current radar obs. Light
showers will continue through the morning. Overcast skies will
keep temperatures low for the duration of the day.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 38 32 41 28 / 60 40 20 20
LCH 40 37 45 34 / 50 40 20 30
LFT 40 39 46 35 / 60 50 40 20
BPT 41 38 46 35 / 50 40 20 30
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for GMZ450-452-
455-470-472-475.
Small Craft Exercise Caution until 9 PM CST this evening for
GMZ430-432-435.
&&
PUBLIC...87Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-131100- Vernon-Rapides-Avoyelles-Beauregard-Allen-Evangeline-St. Landry- Calcasieu-Jefferson Davis-Acadia-Lafayette-Upper St. Martin- Vermilion-Iberia-St. Mary-Lower St. Martin-West Cameron-East Cameron- Tyler-Hardin-Jefferson-Orange-Northern Jasper-Northern Newton- Southern Jasper-Southern Newton- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Patchy light rain will occur today and tonight. There is a chance that freezing rain may occur from interior Southeast Texas through Central Louisiana this morning and late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Regional temperatures will remain below normal through the end of next week. Multiple periods of wintry weather may be possible away from the coast, however all locations may experience freezing rain Monday. A severe freeze is expected Tuesday morning with low to mid 20s possible at the coast and teens possible well inland. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report ice amounts. GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-131100- Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA out 20 NM-Waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA from 20 to 60 NM- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory. A strong offshore flow will be in place today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. A moderate to strong offshore flow will remain in place through most of next week as Arctic high pressure moves across the country. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ430-432-435-131100- Sabine Lake-Calcasieu Lake-Vermilion Bay- 459 AM CST Fri Feb 12 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A strong offshore flow will be in place today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Small craft should exercise caution Friday morning. Additional hazards are possible through Monday. A moderate to strong offshore flow will remain in place through most of next week as Arctic high pressure moves across the country. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 winter storm, 15 ice storm, 2 astronomical low tide, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong north winds behind a cold front pushed tide levels below normal along the Cameron Parish coast. The tide fell below -1 foot MLLW for around 1 hour and hit a minimum of -1.06 MLLW.
Strong north winds behind a cold front pushed tide levels below normal along the Cameron Parish coast. The tide fell below -1 foot MLLW for around 1 hour and hit a minimum of -1.06 MLLW.
Temperatures dropped to freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Freezing rain began to occur, however sleet soon developed. Half and inch to one inch of sleet with minimal snow fell in the early morning hours. Temperatures were cold enough to allow sleet and snow to stick to roads and closed bridges through the parish.
Temperatures dropped to freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Freezing rain began to occur, however sleet soon developed. Half and inch to one inch of sleet with minimal snow fell in the early morning hours. Temperatures were cold enough to allow sleet and snow to stick to roads and closed bridges through the parish.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as freezing developed then quickly changed over to sleet. Half an inch to near 2 inches of sleet and some snow had fallen across Calcasieu Parish by the end of the event. Most bridges were closed during the event and most roads were icy. A 77 year old man slipped on ice and drowned in a swimming pool.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. 1 to 2 inches of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. 2 to 3 inches of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. 1 to 3 inches of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult. Two people died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper generator usage.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. 1 to 2 inches of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Half an inch to 1 inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. 1 to 2 inches of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around 1 inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around half an inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the late evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around half an inch to 1 inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the late evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around half an inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult. A 50 year old man died after he slipped on ice and fell, hitting his head on the ground. A 74 year old woman died from exposure. She was found in a neighbor's driveway.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the late evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around half an inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the late evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Around half an inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult. The I-10 Atchafalaya Bridge closed and remain closed for multiple days.
Temperatures fell below freezing during the late evening of the 14th as showers developed across the parish. Rain changed over to freezing rain then quickly over to sleet. Sleet changed over to light snow by the end of the event. Up to half an inch of sleet and snow accumulated. All roads were icy making travel difficult.
Rain changed over to sleet during the morning of the 15th. Around a quarter of an inch of accumulation occurred.
Light rain changed over to sleet during the morning of the 15th. Accumulations of a few tenths of an inch occurred in northern sections of the parish while the southern areas remained mostly rain.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Up to 1 tenth of an inch of ice had accumulated by noon across northern sections of Acadia Parish when temperatures rose above freezing as low pressure moved in from the Gulf of Mexico. Minimal to no accumulation occurred in far south sections of the parish.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Low pressure moved from the gulf into south Louisiana allowing the temperature to rise above freezing by mid day. Up to 1 tenth of an inch of ice had accumulated around the Hackberry area before temperatures rose above 32.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Low pressure moved from the gulf into south Louisiana allowing the temperature to rise above freezing by mid day. Less than a tenth of an inch of ice had accumulated around the Grand Lake and Sweet Lake areas before temperatures rose above 32.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Low pressure moved from the gulf into south Louisiana allowing the temperature to rise above freezing by mid day south of Interstate 10. A few hundredths of an inch of ice had accumulated around the downtown Lake Charles area, however higher accumulations occurred across Moss Bluff and Dequincy where temperatures did not get above freezing.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. 1 tenth to 3 tenths of an inch of ice had accumulated by the end of the event causing power outages and hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. 1 tenth to half an inch of ice had accumulated by the end of the event causing power outages and hazardous driving conditions.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Up to 1 tenth of an inch of ice had accumulated by noon when temperatures rose above freezing as low pressure moved in from the Gulf of Mexico.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. Up to 1 tenth of an inch of ice had accumulated by noon when temperatures rose above freezing as low pressure moved in from the Gulf of Mexico.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. One quarter to one half an inch of ice accumulated across the parish by the end of the event. Power outages and hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. One quarter to one half an inch of ice accumulated across the parish by the end of the event. Power outages and hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. One quarter to one half an inch of ice accumulated across the parish by the end of the event. Power outages and hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. One tenth to one half an inch of ice accumulated across the parish by the end of the event. Sporadic power outages and hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region before sunrise on the 17th. One tenth to one quarter inch of ice accumulated across the parish by the end of the event. Hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region around sunrise on the 17th. A glazing of ice occurred across northern sections of Lafayette Parish. Hazardous road conditions occurred as a result of the storm.
Freezing rain pushed into the region around sunrise on the 17th. A glazing of ice occurred across northern sections of Saint Martin Parish. This created more ice on the already closed I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Storm, Calcasieu | 2021-02-14 | 77 | Male | In Water | Indirect |
| Winter Storm, Avoyelles | 2021-02-17 | 68 | Male | Permanent Home | Indirect |
| Winter Storm, Avoyelles | 2021-02-17 | 44 | Female | Permanent Home | Indirect |
| Winter Storm, Lafayette | 2021-02-15 | 74 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
| Winter Storm, Lafayette | 2021-02-15 | 50 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, February 2021
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 943332, 943334, 943282, 943283, 943284, 943286, 943287, 943288, 943289, 943290, 943291, 943292, 943293, 943294, 943295, 943296, 943297, 943299, 943301, 943300, 943316, 943302, 943306, 943310, 943311, 943312, 943314, 943315, 943318, 943323, 943324, 943326, 943328, 943329, 943330.