Acadiana Could Experience a Wintry Mix This Morning

Another round of rain and wintry weather is expected to move into and across Louisiana during the day today. Forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles say that freezing temperatures across much of South Louisiana could interact with falling precipitation later this morning. Forecasters speculate that the majority of the precipitation that we will see before 9 am will fall in the form of sleet.

While little or no accumulation of sleet is expected we do anticipate measurable amounts of rain over the next 24 to 36 hours as this system moves through. As of now, the official forecast from the Weather Service keeps chances of frozen precipitation minimal for areas south of Louisiana Highway 28. That's the roadway that bisects the state running from Leesville to Alexandria to Jonesville.

While most of Acadiana won't see any winter weather from this system we could see thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center is not calling for a widespread outbreak of severe weather although some of the storms later today into tonight could get heavy. The best threat for severe storms will come much later today in the extreme southeastern part of the state.

The heaviest of the storms should come to an end before midnight tonight. Behind the weather system, we can expect cooler but not bitterly colder temperatures. The forecast high for Thursday will only reach the lower 40s. Friday morning temperatures will once again be below the freezing mark as well as low temperatures on Saturday morning.

Sunshine should return to the area on Friday with a few clouds forecast to move into the area on Saturday. Our next threat of rain after this system moves out will come late in the day on Sunday but more likely Sunday night or Monday. As of now, forecasters are not calling for a large threat of rain.

The good news is that following Saturday morning's below freezing temperature most of South Louisiana will remain above the 32-degree mark for the next several days. In fact, temperatures next week should be almost springlike as forecast highs will be in the middle 70s for much of next week.

That would mean a temperature swing of almost 60 degrees from this week to next week. It's no wonder we're all sniffling. Speaking of that, when you got the sniffles did your mom ever pull out the Vick's Vapo Rub?