Don’t Be Shocked If You Smell Something Different in Acadiana This Weekend

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - The seasons are changing, and more and more people will be outdoors this weekend across South Louisiana.

As a strong cold front sweeps through the region, you may see more people outdoors cleaning in their yards or just enjoying the much cooler days and nights.

Personally, we have been putting off two outdoor projects because of the summer heat and humidity, but this will be the weekend we "get things done" around the house.

That said, you may get a whiff of something different in the air, and it won't be pollen.

Smells Across Acadiana

In recent months, we've seen many people in Lafayette Parish complain on social media about a stench in their area, and the city where it was coming from seems to have figured out what to do, as we have not seen many complaining about the stunk in the air in that part of the parish. However, that's not what you may smell in Acadiana this weekend.

In addition, I remember when I moved to Lafayette, when the city would test the sewer lines or plants, there'd be a bad smell across the city, but in recent years I haven't smelled that, and I am thankful. It was gross walking out of my apartment and smelling what seemed to be sewage in the air.

The smell you may experience across Acadiana this weekend is much more pleasant than sewage, garbage, or dead fish. With temperatures dropping into the 50s for the first time this season and a strong wind expected for much of the weekend, I assume many homeowners will have their windows open.

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As we said on the air this week, it's time to let fresh air into our homes and let out the stale air that's been building up all summer long.

With those windows open this weekend, that is where the smell may come from over the weekend. For the first time in several months, people will be cooking gumbo, and once the roux starts cooking, that smell will carry across South Louisiana.

I asked several colleagues in our building at the station if they plan to cook a gumbo for the first strong cold front, and many said yes. Others said if not gumbo, a chili will be on the stove.

So, if you are outdoors enjoying the cooler temperatures this weekend, take a good whiff and see if you can smell the gumbos being cooked Saturday night or early Sunday morning. There are some great football games for the Cajuns, Tigers, Saints, and Cowboys, and I know fans will enjoy some gumbo and football as this first cold front sweeps through.

Gumbo Pot

One more thing: if your sinuses are really clear, you may even smell the Bloody Marys being prepared this weekend, since they go well with gumbo.

Louisiana Cold Front

I hope you all enjoy the gumbo and much cooler weather. We deserve it.  Here's the extended forecast from Daniel Phillips at Acadiana News First.