The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in State of Louisiana

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - Louisiana is known for its sweltering summers, but at times, winter can be brutal here, too.

While most of the state braces for a potential ice storm this weekend, we look back on the coldest temperature ever recorded in the Bayou State. While we aren't known for extremely cold winters down south, there are times when snow shows up in the forecast, and we get nearly a foot, as in 2025.

And while temperatures dropped into the single digits in 2025 when the blizzard blanketed much of Louisiana, those temps were nowhere near the coldest ever recorded in Louisiana.

What Was The Coldest Temperature Ever in Louisiiana

According to the records, the coldest temperature ever recorded in "Sportsman's Paradise"  was in 1899. The coldest temperature in Louisiana was recorded in Minden, a small town in North Louisiana.

Minden, nestled in Webster Parish, has a strong Native American influence and a population of about 13,000. The small town also has a connection to Country Music star Trace Adkins and to astronaut Allan Bean, who was part of Apollo 12.

So, how cold did it get in Minden in 1899? The temperature in the small town on February 13, 1899, was -16 degrees Farenhieght. Yes, you read that correctly, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Louisiana was -16 degrees.

On that same day, it was reported to be -3 degrees in Shreveport and just 2 degrees in Baton Rouge.

To put things into perspective, during the blizzard of 2025, the temperature in Lake Charles was just 3 degrees, and in Baton Rouge it was 7 degrees. So while it was very cold for many of us to be outdoors in the snow, it was nowhere near the record of -16 degrees from 1899.

When Does Frostbite Set In

According to Healthline, frostbite, which can permanently damage your skin, can set in when temperatures drop to or below 5 degrees Farenheight. So imagine it being -16 degrees in Minden and how dangerous this must have been for people without proper heating in 1899.

When your body begins to freeze, you shiver naturally, and that's the body's attempt to warm you up, but it can also be a sign that you may be in trouble if exposed to extremely cold temperatures.

Also, remember that if you ever feel llike hypothermia is setting in while you're out in the cold, it is advised that you seek a warmer place or shelter and drink something warm to raise your body temperature.

Speaking of cold temperatures and snow in 2025, check out some of the photos that listeners submitted of the snowfall in January 2025. What a winter wonderland it was in Acadiana.