There will be no threat of bridges being closed by ice at this weekend's Patty in the Parc celebration. The cold winter winds that put a damper on Mardi Gras will be a distant memory as Saturday afternoon will see temperatures climb to a warm and comfortable 75 degrees. The temperature at 5pm Saturday  when gates open at Parc International should be near 70 degrees with a mix of clouds and sun.

There will be a threat of showers late in the day on Saturday but right now the most reliable forecast models are showing better rain chances for the wee small hours of Sunday morning as opposed to Saturday night. Activities at Patty in the Parc will run from 5pm until 10pm.

A ridge of high pressure that has brought Acadiana the past two days of brilliant sunshine is slowly moving off to the east. The circulation around this system will create a southerly flow bringing warm Gulf of Mexico moisture over the area. An old frontal boundary situated in the Gulf will begin to move northward as a warm front during the day Saturday. It is expected by late Saturday night and early Sunday morning to interact with an approaching Pacific cold front.

The combination of high dew points and upper level wind patterns could be the catalyst for some heavy thunderstorms in the area by Sunday morning. At this time the severe weather outlook is unclear but many of the reliable forecast models do indicate the possibility of strong thunderstorms approaching severe limits.

Rain chances will remain in the forecast for much of Acadiana through Sunday into early Monday. By Tuesday skies should become mostly sunny and temperatures will be at or near average for this time of year.

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