New Orleans Snow Day

The City of New Orleans shattered all modern records for snow as the historic French Quarter and other neighborhoods were covered in white. The January 21, 2025, snowfall tied the record of 10 inches set 130 years earlier in 1895. The heavy snow shutdown all roads and transit, including the city’s famous street cars.

A rare Arctic blast of frigid air combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to create near-blizzard conditions. The snowfall lasted from daybreak until dark, when temperatures in New Orleans plummeted to 19 degrees. The snow forced nearly all businesses and schools to close and roads were impassable. The winter storm left families with no choice but to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a snowman, toss powdery snowballs and slide and ski down flood levees.

touring new orleans landmarks in the snow

heavy snow in new orleans

The snowfall grew more intense by midmorning and was forecast to continue for the rest of the day. I bundled up in my cold weather gear and grabbed my camera for a walking tour of the riverfront along the Mississippi, Jackson Square, the French Quarter and Canal Street. Every turn of a corner brought a sense of wonder as the familiar landmarks of New Orleans were covered in snow.

a photographic journey in a snowstorm

a brief winter wonderland

The Arctic freeze will keep the snow on the ground for a couple of days. Although sunshine will help speed up the snow melt, freezing weather at night will prolong the wintery scene. South Louisiana residents will long remember this rare opportunity to play in the snow. The great snowstorm of 2025 has resulted in countless images of New Orleans’ famous landmarks covered in a white blanket of snow.