By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although it doesn’t particularly last long, residents of south Louisiana occasionally feel the brunt of frosty air dipping down from the arctic north this time of year.

For every night that temperatures drop below freezing, there is a different method used to keep warm with some more popular than others. Based on final results of last week’s L’Observateur online poll, the favored method among River Parishes residents involved snuggling close with another warm body.

Visitors to www.lobservateur.com last week were asked to give their favorite way to keep warm on cold nights. More than 40 percent of those who voted said they prefer to snuggle with a loved one or family pet, which was more than double the results of the next closest option.

Taking a distant second in the poll was lighting a fire, which was selected by 20 percent of those who voted. Fire was followed closely behind by use of lots of blankets, which managed 18 percent.

Another 14 percent said they prefer to indulge in a warming drink, whether it be coffee, hot chocolate or some sort of alcoholic concoction.

A complete breakdown of the results follows below:

• 41 percent of respondents chose “Snuggle with a loved one or pet.”

• 20 percent of respondents chose “Light a fire.”

• 18 percent of respondents chose “Use lots of blankets.”

• 14 percent of respondents chose “Drink warming drinks.”

• 7 percent of respondents chose “Take a warm shower or bath.”