Yep, you guessed it! More rain coming in after a short break. Yesterday turned out to be pretty nice with temperatures hitting the mid 60s. But last night turned ugly with the rain and the wind and the cold. This morning we’ve see blustery conditions with temperatures holding in the 40s and wind chills in the 30s. We’ll see some sunshine this afternoon, but don’t bet on the temps to climb much today. That wind will continue to drive cold air southward.
Skies will remain clear tonight. Temperatures should be close to 30 degrees with a moderate breeze continuing. If the winds were to go calm we’d be even colder, but that’s not in the forecast this time. As Rob mentioned, this should be a light freeze so tender vegetation should be covered or brought in. Lucky for me, I don’t have to prepare. All of my tender vegetation was wiped out in January with the 20 degree weather. (All of it was weeds anyway, I’m just looking for my excuse for a re-do on my yard for 2010) Pipes won’t be a problem this time as freezing temperatures should only last a few hours. But winter weather will hold on for quite some time. Temperatures are to remain below normal through the Mardi Gras holiday.
Another “El Nino” system will be cranking up over the western Gulf of Mexico tomorrow, so after some brief sunshine later today and early tomorrow, clouds will be returning later in the day Wednesday. Rains will return by Thursday morning and should continue through early Friday. Temperatures will stay in the 40s both Thursday and Friday with lows in the 30s. It will be a cold rain for Acadiana, although there may be a few pellets of sleet mixed in early Friday morning. I’ve looked at the models and it looks like the snow line will remain well north of us. The Rain/Sleet mix line may drop into northern Allen, Evangeline, and St. Landry. As the low tracks east of us though, the cold air deepens over parts of Mississippi and the Florida parishes of Louisiana (Baton Rouge to the north shore). Accumulating snow could be in the cards for places like McComb, Hattiesburg, and Laurel, Mississippi. Sleet/Snow mix could be an issue for Kentwood, Franklinton, and Bogalusa, Louisiana. This storm system will intensify so more significant snows may be seen in Alabama and Georgia Friday and Saturday. Of course any changes in track for this Gulf low can make or break the forecast, therefore I’m being cautiously optimistic that travel concerns should be well east of us this time around.
Saturday and Sunday look pretty nice for Mardi Gras Parade viewing as long as you have warm attire. The Children’s Parade during the morning Saturday will be chilly. Night parades will be chilly too, but rain should stay away. Lundi Gras may see a few widely scattered showers, and Mardi Gras looks cloudy right now. Temperatures during the day should hit the mid 50s with lows in the mid 30s. Normally this time of year we should be about 10 degrees warmer on both highs and lows!
If you’re planning on heading to the Big Easy later today for the Saints Super Bowl Champion Parade, bundle up! Parade starts at 5pm and temps will be in the low 40s with north winds @ 15mph. Remember in the city those winds can be stronger when they funnel between tall buildings. Make sure you dress warmly, but if my prediction is correct, there will be so many people crowded to catch a glimpse of our Champs that just the combined body heat of everyone will make it warmer. Even so, folks won’t care about the cold. If we can scream and yell for some cheap beads year after year in the cold and the rain…then we can brave any kind of weather for this once I mean, first in a lifetime event! Gives new meaning to “Wait Til Next Year” huh?
StormTeam3 Meteorologist Dave Baker
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