Snowflakes, flying pigs spotted over New Orleans (Updated)

Which do you think is more likely: heavy snow in New Orleans or pigs sprouting wings and flying?

Normally, I'd go with the flying pigs. However, Mother Nature has pulled another crazy stunt: it's snowing today in Louisiana, with accumulations in some areas. That's right, New Orleans has received more snowfall than we have this season.

Here are a couple photos from the Associated Press that you won't see very often:

People stop to take a picture as the snow continues to fall in Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square gets blanketed by snow falling in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. Wintry weather in the Southeast was predicted to creep northeastward, dumping widespread rain and snow across the East. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Next week

Yesterday, the computers models were suggesting that we could see a big ice storm next week.

I was hoping today's models would flip-flop and call for sunshine and warm weather (we can always dream), but they're still projecting a major winter storm. The latest data suggests that Cape Girardeau has a better chance of snow instead of ice, but almost any kind of precipitation is possible.

It's still too early to panic, though.

Update Thursday @ 3:45 PM

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service is your basic "Rain changing to sleet changing to snow changing to rain changing to snow changing to freezing rain changing to snow changing to rain" deal.

Those dire warnings from yesterday of a major ice storm don't look as likely now. But next week is still likely to bring a mess. As always: Don't panic yet.