Louisiana Winter Weather Update – Fine Tuning the Weekend Forecast

(KMDL-FM) When National Weather Service Forecasters first hinted that there could be an issue with frozen precipitation in Louisiana earlier this week, the prospects for that kind of weather affecting the I-10 corridor were not considered to be that great.

However, as forecasters examined the data from additional model runs, it appears that Louisiana and much of the Gulf South are likely to experience a significant winter weather event beginning Saturday and lasting through late Sunday.

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What Is The Updated Winter Weather Forecast For Louisiana This Weekend?

Forecasters with the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles have revised their earlier outlooks for ice accumulation in southern Louisiana and along the I-10 corridor upward from early forecasts. The current projections still suggest that the most ice accumulation will occur north of US 190. But the likelihood of I-10 being affected by ice has increased.

The National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles has posted this graphic to give you a visual idea of ice accumulation potential. As you can see, the numbers grow significantly larger north of US 190, but are still large enough for concern all the way to the coast.

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While the potential for ice accumulation appears to be increasing as forecasters go over the data gathered from each new model run, it's the impacts of any wintry precipitation that we need to be discussing right now.

How Will Louisiana Be Impacted By Freezing Rain and Ice This Weekend?

The current thinking by forecasters is still for "minor impacts" from this storm. Perhaps the biggest inconvenience might be the roadways. If there is frozen precipitation, bridges and overpasses will certainly be affected. And yes, that means travel across the Atchafalaya Basin could be curtailed.

Forecasters have also lowered the forecast high temperature for Sunday. Earlier this week, the thinking was that the mercury would rise well above freezing, which would help to ease any ice accumulation issues. But now forecasters say Sunday's high will be right around the freezing mark, so there might not be an opportunity for melting.

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The forecast timing says frozen precipitation will most likely fall in South Louisiana after midnight on Saturday and before Noon on Sunday. The chance of precipitation is listed at 90% for Saturday night, and the forecast low is projected to be 27 degrees, so that is when the area will be "under the gun" for freezing rain and ice.

Sunday night, it will be bitterly cold with low temperatures forecast to reach as low as 20 degrees in many locations along I-10. Sunny skies return to the area on Monday, but it will remain very cold through the weekend and into the beginning of the new work week.