So long to spring; winter slams Tri-City

Staff and wire reports
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in your flip-flops.
After Wednesday’s 80-degree weather, winter returned with a howl this morning. The temperature plunged into the 30s, and gusty winds raked the Tri-City area.
“It’s going to be a cold, cold night,” said meteorologist Donald Jones of the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.
A hard freeze is expected tonight as far south as the Louisiana coast. The low in Morgan City is forecast to be 27 degrees by Friday morning. With continuing high winds, the wind chill factor here could be as low as 17 degrees by sunrise.
“We’re not expecting any winter precipitation, but it will get quite cold,” Jones said.
The temperature in the Morgan City area is likely to be below freezing for at least a few hours. So you should bring cold-sensitive plants inside or cover them.
Pets should come inside, or at least have a reliable supply of drinkable water, shelter from the wind and cover. Exposed pipes should be wrapped to prevent them from freezing and bursting.
A wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Winds of 20 to 25 mph with 30 to 35 mph gusts are in the forecast. The National Weather Service said the wind may make driving difficult, especially for vehicles with a high profile. Winds over local waterways could be 5 mph higher than over land. Small boats may be prone to capsizing.
Elsewhere, snow was reported as far south as Deridder by 9 a.m., Jones said. Alexandria was expecting accumulations of 1/10th inch of freezing rain or half an inch of a mix of sleet and snow.
“It just depends on what form it takes,” Jones said.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for areas north of Interstate 20 until noon Thursday. The Shreveport-Bossier City area reported snow early Thursday morning.
while the Monroe area received a mixture of freezing rain and sleet.
Several public school districts decided to close for the day, but a number of others were open.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe, Grambling State University and all campuses of Louisiana Delta Community College were closed. Louisiana Tech was to have classes as scheduled.
State police said bridges and overpasses would be a problem during the morning hours.
As a precaution, state highway official closed Interstate 49 inside the city of Shreveport and to the Arkansas line, and Interstate 220 is closed around north Shreveport and Bossier City.
Central Louisiana was under a winter weather advisory until noon Thursday.
Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Wednesday night ahead of a strong arctic cold front that continued to move across the state Thursday. Temperatures in some places dropped 20 degrees as the front pushed south.
Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said state government offices would be closed Thursday in the following parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Rapides and West Carroll.