Please see the below weather update and attached slides from the National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans / Baton Rouge.
Today - Wednesday
- Frigid mornings with wind chills in the 20s.
- Afternoon temps rising to 40-50 degrees.
- Evening freeze durations for tonight and Wednesday night are 6-7 hourseach night.
- EBR will be under a Cold Weather Advisory at midnight tonight through 9:00 AM Wednesday morning.
Thursday
- Frigid morning with wind chills in the 20s.
- Increasing evening showers.
- Afternoon temps rising to 45-52 degrees.
Friday
- Temperatures stay above freezing with a high chance of rain.
- 1 ½” – 3” of rain is forecasted between 7:00 AM Thursday and 7:00 AM Saturday.
- Afternoon temps rising to 53-60 degrees.
Saturday
- Drying out with morning temperatures near freezing along and north of I-10/12.
- Afternoon temps rising to 45-51 degrees.
Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi partners -
Here is an update concerning the cold weather threat today through Thursday, and the heavy rain threat Thursday night through Friday.
Changes from previous update:
· A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect along and north of the I-10/12 corridor and a Freeze Watch is in effect across the southshore and River Parishes for Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.
· Additional Cold Weather Advisories and Freeze products are likely on Thursday morning.
· Confidence is increasing Thursday night through Friday for the threat of locally heavy rainfall in excess of 3" in some areas of southeast LA and southern MS that could lead to flash flooding, especially in poor drainage and urban areas. Confidence is low in exactly where the heaviest rain totals will be at this time.
Overview:
WHAT: Widespread freeze and hard freeze conditions and then heavy rainfall
WHEN: Each night Tuesday night through Wednesday night for the freeze/hard freeze conditions. Thursday night through Friday for the heavy rain threat.
WHERE: All of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi with the greatest threat across areas along/north of the I-10/12 corridor.
CONFIDENCE:
· We have high confidence in the occurrence of widespread freezing conditions across most of the area, with hard freeze conditions (25 degrees or lower) for many areas along/north of the interstate 10/12 corridor.
· Confidence is medium that temperatures will warm and stay above freezing prior to the arrival of rain on Thursday. A brief period of freezing rain cannot be yet ruled out for Southwest MS on Thursday night, but it is less likely that this precipitation would be capable of accumulating on elevated surfaces in these areas.
· Confidence is increasing that locally heavy rainfall will occur somewhere across southeast Louisiana or southern MS on Thursday night through Friday. Exact totals and locations of heaviest totals are uncertain at this time.
Impacts:
· Temperatures will range from the low to mid 20s across southwestern Mississippi to the low to mid 30s across coastal southeastern Louisiana. Temperatures are forecast to be below freezing for up to 14 hours for northern areas and 1-6 hours for southern areas each night.
· Wind chills of 19 to 26 degrees are forecast Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
· For areas where temperatures drop into the low to mid 20s for an extended period (generally, more than 6 hours), conditions could result in damage to unprotected pipes. Elsewhere, impacts will mainly be to sensitive vegetation.
· In all areas, those without reliable access to warm shelter may suffer from hypothermia.
The graphics below highlight the low temperature forecasts, the probability of temperatures 25 degrees or lower Wednesday-Thursday mornings, and an overview of the heavy rain threat.
