NEW ORLEANS — Our strong cold front arrives this morning with some showers. The afternoon will be cold, windy, but drier as rain pushes out. Expect temperatures in the 40s this afternoon with wind chills in the 30s.
Tonight we're watching for patchy areas of light freezing drizzle mainly north and west of the lake, but the threat looks pretty low. It appears a lot of the moisture will stay just south of the coast in the Gulf. However, some light rain and freezing rain remain possible by Friday morning. While we don't expect any big problems, you'll want to check the road Friday morning, especially if you live north or west of the lake. It doesn't take much freezing drizzle to cause slick spots on bridges/overpasses, but that should be fairly spotty. The New Orleans metro will stay above freezing, so we don't expect any problems in the city.
This weekend the big story will be the cold mornings. The northshore along River and Bayou parishes will need to watch for a hard freeze. This is a freeze where temperatures will drop into the mid 20s and could lead to a pipe bursting freeze. The New Orleans metro will see a light freeze, so no need to protect pipes in the city.
This forecast is still very fluid and could change depending on the track of the storm system and speed of cold air. If the storm system tracks too far south then the threat for ice will decrease. If the cold air doesn't arrive in time the threat for ice will decrease. Check back as the forecast will be refined over the coming days and could change.
Parish-By-Parish Impacts:
New Orleans Metro Area
(Orleans, Upper Jefferson, Upper St. Bernard, Upper Plaquemines)
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Mostly rain with some sleet mixing in.
- TRAVEL: Wet roads as temperatures stay above freezing Friday morning.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a light freeze is possible. Plan to protect people, pets and plants.
St. Tammany
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Patchy areas of freezing drizzle possible Thursday night.
- TRAVEL: Very patchy slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop Thursday night into Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32. Threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a hard freeze is possible. Plan to protect people, pets, plants and pipes.
Washington, Pearl River County
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Patchy areas of freezing drizzle possible Thursday night.
- TRAVEL: Very patchy slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop Thursday night into Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32. Threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a hard freeze is possible. Plan to protect people, pets, plants and pipes.
Tangipahoa
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Patchy areas of freezing drizzle possible Thursday night.
- TRAVEL: Very patchy slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop Thursday night into Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32. Threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a hard freeze is possible. Plan to protect people, pets, plants and pipes.
Lower Plaquemines & East St. Bernard
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday afternoon.
- PRECIPITATION: Mostly rain Thursday night through Friday with some sleet possible.
- TRAVEL: Roads will remain wet through the morning and afternoon as temperatures stay above 32 degrees.
- TEMPS: A light freeze is expected Saturday and Sunday mornings. Protect people, pets and plants.
Lower Jefferson
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday afternoon.
- PRECIPITATION: Mostly rain Thursday night through Friday with some sleet possible.
- TRAVEL: Roads will remain wet through the morning and afternoon as temperatures stay above 32 degrees.
- TEMPS: A light freeze is expected Saturday and Sunday mornings. Protect people, pets and plants.
Terrebonne, Lafourche
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday afternoon.
- PRECIPITATION: Areas of freezing rain and sleet possible by early Friday morning especially in upper Lafourche and upper Terrebonne. A glaze of icing possible if temperatures drop below 32 degrees.
- TRAVEL: Some slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop by Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32, but threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a freeze is likely. Plan to protect people, pets and plants.
St. Charles, St. James, St. John, Assumption
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Patchy areas of freezing drizzle possible Thursday night.
- TRAVEL: Very patchy slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop Thursday night into Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32. Threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a light freeze is likely. Plan to protect people, pets, and plants.
Hancock, Harrison counties
- TIMING: Thursday night through Friday morning.
- PRECIPITATION: Patchy areas of freezing drizzle possible Thursday night.
- TRAVEL: Very patchy slick spots on bridges/overpasses could develop Thursday night into Friday morning if temperatures drop below 32. Threat is limited.
- TEMPS: The coldest temperatures will be Saturday and Sunday mornings where a hard freeze is possible. Plan to protect people, pets, plants and pipes.
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