Update: Forecast turns Colder Next Week

Models changed enough last night to require an update. Freezing rain still not expected here nor is it trending closer. What has changed are the temperatures behind the rain system. Morning lows Monday are expected to be in the mid-20s Northshore, near 30 Southshore with wind. Tuesdays lows could reach the upper teens in rural Northshore locations. But with calm conditions, the more developed Northshore will stop in the mid 20s. Mid- to upper-20s for the Southshore.

After a warmer Tuesday afternoon, a reinforcing shot of cold air will come in late Wednesday drastically altering the long-range.

Starting with tonight, showers in the Baton Rouge area moving in our direction should give us a few tenths of an inch. Then, patchy fog possible in the morning before a partly cloudy, warm day. Friday will be warm with a few more clouds.

The real fun starts Friday night when the cold front approaches from the NW. It gets through SOME of SE Louisiana, but probably won’t reach Slidell. This means temperatures for most of the day Saturday near Hammond and Franklinton could be in the 40s while Slidell, the Southshore, and Gulfport stays in the mid 60s,

Showers break out Saturday afternoon, but most of them will hold off until after midnight and into Sunday morning when the cold air finally marches through the whole area. The read arrow means that temperatures will be falling throughout the day on Sunday. Freezing rain could get as close as the Natchez area. Again, keep in mind that the 20 at Slidell airport on Monday may be a degree or two warmer than you if you live in a Northern rural area or 5 degrees cooler if you live in a developed area.

The rain will end a good six hours before the freeze here, so icy roads should not be a problem. Notice that a brief shower is possible next Wednesday with the reinforcing cold air.

Next Thursday - Saturday should feature lows in the 30s and highs in the mid-upper 50s with sunny weather: A cold start to an early Mardi Gras season.