New Orleans isn't exactly a winter wonderland. It’s a city of swamp heat, 90% humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms that feel like standing under a warm faucet. But every once in a while, the atmosphere loses its mind. The humid air from the Gulf of Mexico meets a brutal arctic blast, and suddenly, people are making "snowmen" out of slush on St. Charles Avenue.
So, how many inches of snow did New Orleans get? If you’re looking for a single number, you’re gonna be disappointed because it depends entirely on which historic freak storm you’re talking about.
The Shocking 2025 Blizzard
Honestly, if you asked this question a few years ago, the answer was basically "hardly any." But January 21, 2025, changed everything. That was the day the Big Easy got hit with its first-ever Blizzard Warning. While the official National Weather Service (NWS) records at Louis Armstrong International Airport often report lower numbers because of its location, many spots in Orleans Parish clocked in at a staggering 10 inches of snow.
Yeah, you read that right. Ten inches.
In a city where a half-inch of ice can shut down the Causeway and freeze every bridge in the metro area, ten inches was absolute chaos. It wasn't just a dusting. It was heavy, wet snow that buried roofs, turned the French Quarter into a ghost town, and rivaled a record that had stood since the late 1800s. Nearby in Kenner, reports showed about 8 inches, while places like Metairie and Des Allemands also hit that double-digit mark.
👉 See also: Ethics in the News: What Most People Get Wrong
The Legendary 1895 Snowfall
Before the 2025 madness, the "Big One" was the Great Snow of 1895. It happened on Valentine's Day. Imagine that—Valentine’s Day in the subtropics and you’re shoveling a foot of snow.
History books and NWS archives generally agree that New Orleans received 8.2 inches of snow in 1895. However, some localized reports from that era claimed as much as 10 to 12 inches in certain parts of the city.
It’s kinda wild to think about. New Orleans in 1895 didn't have the infrastructure to handle that. Neither did the people. It remains the gold standard for "old school" weather stories in Louisiana. It was so deep that the snow supposedly didn't melt for a week in some shaded spots.
White Christmases and Modern Dustings
If we look at more recent history—the stuff you might actually remember—the numbers are a lot smaller.
✨ Don't miss: When is the Next Hurricane Coming 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
- Christmas Eve 2004: This was a "magical" one for many. New Orleans got about 0.7 to 1.0 inch of snow. It wasn't much, but because it happened on Christmas Eve, it felt like a movie. It was the first "White Christmas" for the city in half a century.
- December 11, 2008: This was actually a more significant accumulation than 2004. New Orleans officially recorded 1.0 inch, though some suburbs on the Northshore (like Slidell and Mandeville) saw closer to 3 or 4 inches. I remember seeing people trying to build snowmen that looked more like muddy piles of ice.
- December 2017: A quick burst brought about 2 inches to parts of the city. It was enough to cause the usual traffic meltdowns but didn't last long once the sun came out.
Why Does It Rarely Stick?
The problem with snow in New Orleans isn't just the temperature. It's the ground. Because the city is basically a bowl of water surrounded by more water, the ground stays relatively warm.
You've probably noticed it: it starts snowing, everyone gets excited, but the flakes melt the second they hit the pavement. To get those high numbers—like the 10 inches in 2025 or the 8.2 inches in 1895—you need a "perfect storm." You need the ground to freeze first, usually from a few days of a hard "arctic plunge," and then you need a moisture-heavy system to roll in from the West or the Gulf.
When those two things align? That's when you get the record-breaking totals.
The Official Record vs. Reality
If you go to the official climate data for New Orleans, you’ll often see "Trace" listed for most years. A "Trace" just means it snowed, but it wasn't enough to actually measure with a ruler—basically less than 0.1 inches.
🔗 Read more: What Really Happened With Trump Revoking Mayorkas Secret Service Protection
| Year | Event Date | Official Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1895 | Feb 14-15 | 8.2" |
| 1963 | Dec 31 | 2.7" |
| 2004 | Dec 24 | 0.8" |
| 2008 | Dec 11 | 1.0" |
| 2025 | Jan 21 | 10.0" |
Wait, why did I include 1963? Because for a long time, that 2.7-inch New Year's Eve snowfall was the "modern" record everyone cited until the 2000s came along and started breaking things.
Practical Insights for the Next "Big One"
Look, New Orleans isn't built for this. If you hear a forecast for even one inch of snow, here is the reality of what happens:
- The Bridges Close: The Crescent City Connection and the I-10 High Rise will likely shut down. Salt trucks are rare here, and we don't have a fleet of snowplows.
- Pipes Burst: This is the real danger. Most New Orleans homes have pipes that are exposed or poorly insulated because of the raised foundations. If it gets cold enough to snow, it's cold enough to wreck your plumbing.
- The Power Grid: Heavy, wet snow like we saw in 2025 puts immense strain on trees. Those limbs snap, take out power lines, and suddenly you're in a dark, freezing house.
The next time you’re checking the radar and wondering how many inches of snow New Orleans is going to get, just remember that in this city, even one inch is a major event.
Next Steps for You:
If you're worried about a freeze, make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is. It’s usually near the street in a small concrete box. Wrap your external pipes with foam sleeves or even old towels and duct tape if you’re in a pinch. It won't stop the snow from falling, but it’ll save you a few thousand dollars in plumbing repairs when it finally melts.