RAMUH, La. (KPEL News) - South Louisiana is no stranger to extreme weather events. From long, hot droughts to massive hurricanes, we've seen a lot of what Mother Nature can throw our way.

But currently, the region is facing a side of Mother Nature we don't often see, and in fact haven't seen in decades: A brutally cold snowstorm.

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Across the southern part of the state, Louisiana is facing snow and ice, with up to several inches of snow being predicted through the middle of the week and freezing temperatures lingering into the latter part of it. As of Tuesday morning, Louisiana children are waking up to the rare snow day and a chance to go outside and build actual snowmen.


READ MORE: Louisiana Blanketed With Heavy Snow, See Photos Here


But while your winter wonderland may look picturesque, early-morning images from I-10 show an empty, snow-covered bridge that looks more creepy than Instagramable.

The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge

One of the longest and most trafficked bridges in the country, the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is a familiar sight to a lot of South Louisiana residents. If you're traveling to Baton Rouge from Lafayette (or vice versa), you spend a great deal of time on it.

Perhaps more than a great deal of time if one of the many accidents that happen on that bridge delays you.

But that's the thing about the Basin Bridge - it's always got cars on it. Day or night, there are a lot of folks traveling across it to get to where they need to go. In a snowstorm, however, conditions are too dangerous, and law enforcement will shut it down. The result? It looks kind of creepy when icy and empty.

Take this image from traffic cameras at Whiskey Bay, for example.

Credit: 511 Louisiana
Credit: 511 Louisiana
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What makes some of the images from the bridge so creepy is the lack of light. In the early morning hours, with no cars and no light, they looks like images from a ghost story or some abandoned wasteland from a futuristic movie.

The lack of people, especially on a bridge that is known for its traffic, makes the whole scene look, well, chilling.

A Blizzard in Louisiana

South Louisiana finds itself getting weather alerts it's not used to this morning, particularly a blizzard warning, which means that we'll be seeing even more ice and snow throughout the day.


READ MORE: Louisiana Blizzard Warning Issued as Historic Snowstorm Hits the State


That snow is piling up on the bridge, and since law enforcement has locked it down, it's looking extremely empty right now, so the snow is undisturbed. The normally dark road is bright white with powder, with no tire tracks to be seen.

attachment-Basin Bridge Ramah
Credit: 511 Louisiana
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If you want to see what the bridge looks like in real time, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has traffic cameras you can access from home, and you can watch as the snow continues to fall on this long, iconic part of South Louisiana's scenery.

But, under no circumstances should you go explore it. For one thing, you won't be able to get on, but for another, officials have repeatedly asked that people avoid getting on the roads in order to prevent accidents.

Credit: 511 Louisiana
Credit: 511 Louisiana
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Rather than going out to explore the roads, you might be better served building a snowman or drinking hot chocolate. Or... both. It's going to be a fun snow day, after all.

Here Are the Tips You Need to Fight Freezing Weather

Gallery Credit: Joe Cunningham

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