It’s been a month since Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, and south Louisiana is looking at possible freezing temperatures early next week.
Heading into the weekend, Acadiana will see warmer and more seasonable temps into the upper 70s on Saturday and the low 80s on Sunday.
Then the calls for a “strong cold front” to come through south Louisiana on Sunday night along with a risk for severe weather.
Some of these storms could be severe, carrying the possibility of damaging winds with stronger segments of the line. Conditions will quickly improve by Monday morning after the front passes.
A much colder and drier air mass will settle in for the start of next week, with high temperatures only expected to reach the low 50s on Monday, which is noticeably cooler than normal for this time of year.
Overnight Monday into Tuesday, temperatures will drop into the 30s across the area, with a possibility of light freezing temperatures in interior central Louisiana. A gradual warming trend will begin midweek.
“Colder temperatures are expected behind the front with the potential for a light freeze on Monday night into Tuesday morning for central Louisiana and interior southeast Texas,” the forecast states. “Temperatures will then gradually warm through the end of next week.”