Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans metro rescheduled or canceled amid severe weather threat
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Zulu rolls every year on Fat Tuesday. Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Jefferson Parish officials are canceling Mardi Gras Day parades because they are worried strong winds could flip floats, send tents flying and create other unsafe conditions.
Why it matters: It's the first time the holiday's parades have been canceled in recent memory, other than during the COVID pandemic.
The latest: The Krewe of Argus and the Krewe of Elks Jeffersonians truck parade won't roll on Tuesday, parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng said Monday.
- Her administration is working with the krewes to find another day for them to reschedule, she said.
- All the Lundi Gras parades in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans are rolling as scheduled.
Zoom in: Zulu and Rex will roll earlier than usual and on modified routes in Orleans Parish, the New Orleans City Council confirmed Monday afternoon.
- Zulu will start at 6:30am, with Rex following at 9am. They will roll without bands or dance troupes, a city statement says.
- Rex will end at St. Charles Avenue and Calliope Street, NOPD said Tuesday morning.
- Zulu will end on Poydras Street and riders will get off at the Caesars Superdome.
- The Elks Orleans truck parade that typically follows will roll Sunday instead, the organization says.
Threat level: Strong winds are going to be the main problem Tuesday, according to Robert Frye, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Slidell.
- They are expected to strengthen throughout the day, reaching 40 mph by noon and gusts up to 60 mph in the afternoon.
- Those winds could make floats unstable, forecasters caution in a high wind warning. They could also blow down trees and power lines, causing outages.
- The winds aren't associated with the thunderstorms, which are likely to hit New Orleans between 3pm and 7pm, Frye says. The storms bring the risk of tornadoes and hail.
- The rain is expected to end in New Orleans around 8pm.
Yes, but: The forecast could change so follow the National Weather Service for updates (X and Facebook).
State of play: It's the second weather-related kerfuffle this carnival season.
- Parades were canceled Feb. 23 due to rain. Jefferson Parish moved its Family Gras festivities to the Pontchartrain Convention Center, while the parades in both parishes rolled later in the week.
- Barkus, which was scheduled that day, now plans to parade through the Quarter on Sunday.
Zoom out: New Orleanians are used to whiplash weather conditions, and revelers are already gaming out changes to their outfits.
- The bulk of Mardi Gras festivities are in the morning and early afternoon, when wind will be the biggest problem.
- Experienced costumers are encouraging others to use zip ties and plenty of bobby pins to secure wigs and headdresses.
- Others in a local costume group are saying they are paring back their costumes and planning to enjoy the festivities while the weather holds out.
If you go: Tents and tarps won't be allowed on the parade route Tuesday, NOPD says.
- Authorities are asking revelers to leave their chairs and umbrellas at home too.
The bottom line: Mardi Gras weather will be less than ideal. Stay safe on the streets, y'all.
Go deeper: Full parade schedule
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest forecast and parade schedules.