Cold front brings mid-40s to north Louisiana by Sunday
A reinforcing cold front will move through the region overnight, dropping temperatures to their lowest point in two weeks by the weekend.
By John Ferrari ·
Southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi experienced a quiet Friday afternoon with only high clouds and no rain. High temperatures reached the mid-70s before a reinforcing cold front began to move in during the evening.
The front pushed through into early Saturday morning, shifting winds to a northerly direction and increasing their speed. Dry air followed immediately after the front passed. While the temperature drop was gradual, the coldest air arrived by Sunday morning.
Lows are expected to fall into the low to mid 40s across the northern half of the area. Coastal southeast Louisiana will remain milder, with lows in the low to mid 50s. This marks the coldest reading in the region in approximately two weeks.
Wind conditions on the Gulf will range from 10 to 15 knots tonight. Northeast winds are forecast to gust up to 20 knots over the weekend. The influx of dry air, combined with ongoing drought conditions, will elevate fire weather risks from Sunday through Tuesday.
The highest fire risk is located along and west of I-55. Winds are expected to weaken on Sunday and Monday as humidity reaches its lowest point. These conditions are expected to stay below critical levels, so no Red Flag Warnings are currently anticipated.
Residents under burn bans are advised to hold off on outdoor burning. Cloud cover will increase early next week, but rain chances remain under 10 percent, primarily along the coast. Additional fronts may arrive next weekend, though their strength is not yet determined.
