Mercury fails to top freezing mark, roads hazardous through the night

Afternoon temperatures over the Eunice area failed to get above freezing, extending into Friday night extremely hazardous driving conditions throughout Acadiana and the rest of South Louisiana.
State, parish and city law enforcement officers spent Friday responding to numerous traffic mishaps, a good many of them vehicles resting in ditches and medians as the result of sliding off ice-coated roads.
Many curves, bridges and overpasses were closed, with barricades up at many to keep courageous but foolhardy drivers from tempting fate on them.
Snow fell overnight in Eunice and a wintry mix continued Friday morning, bringing with it icicles on vehicles, icy roads and patches of white on rooftops.
Early morning visitors to Ruby’s Cafe had a hard time backing their vehicles out of the storefront parking spaces on Walnut Avenue. The sound of spinning tires on ice called out
the breakfast and coffee enthusiasts – who diligently helped motorists with a much needed push on the frozen, iced streets in downtown.
Law enforcement officials were busy responding to vehicles accidents that were widespread in the area as iced-over bridges and roadways were the cause of sliding vehicles and many a traffic crash.
School children in the Tri-Parish Area took the rare and elusive “snow day” while many parents stayed home from work as some highways in the area were closed. City Hall was to close at 10:30 a.m.
By mid-morning some of the patches of snow began to melt but sleet continued to fall from the overcast afternoon sky.
State police and local law enforcement officials reminded motorists to not travel if not necessary. Many reports of stalled vehicles and traffic accidents were reported all morning and continued to persist as the weather forecast on Friday called for ice and high temperatures in the mid 30s with an overnight low in the mid 20s.
After a weekend thaw, the area will again have frigid, but this time dry, weather by Tuesday, with lows dipping near 20 on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and highs struggling to get into the 40s.
To see more snow day photos, visit the slideshow page on eunicetoday.com.