The latest trends on computer models indicate that this weekend’s weather system will be delayed into the latter part of Sunday or into Sunday night. The dynamics don’t appear to be as strong, but we will probably see a risk of severe weather come late Sunday. The good news is that we probably won’t be looking at a prolonged heavy rain event. I do expect some scattered showers by Saturday, but the main action should be with a squall line ahead of a strong cold front by late Sunday.  In the near term look for fair skies tonight, gradually yielding to increasing clouds, breezy southeast winds, and milder temperatures. If we see a few intervals of sunshine this weekend, we’ll get as warm as we can get this time of year, pushing the mid-upper 70s. Winter will make a return next week with temperatures dropping into the 40s for highs and perhaps the mid-20s for lows. It’s looking much drier now with the colder air so I don’t expect any kind of winter precipitation at this time. Interestingly enough, if the tail end of the long range models can be believed, then we me see even colder air and a shot of some sort of winter event before the month is done. Nonetheless, after this weekend expect below normal temperatures to finish out the month.Â
The following is from Roger Erickson from the National Weather Service pertaining to last week’s tornadic event:
* Last Thursday’s tornado was the first tornado in Iberia Parish since 1999.
* The last tornado in Iberia Parish hit Jeanerette on March 2 1999.
* Tornadoes in January have occurred before – a tornado struck New Iberia on January 2 1999.
* This was the 20th tornado documented by the National Weather Service in Iberia Parish since 1950.
* Last week’s two fatalities were the first ones attributed to a tornado in Iberia Parish.