Snow and Sleet Could Impact Louisiana Next Weekend

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - Winter has definitely arrived in South Louisiana, and it may not want to leave for a few days or weeks.

As much of the southern region of the country braces for a brutal winter storm this weekend, another winter weather event may be brewing for next weekend.

I know that a lot of people are excited for several events surrounding Mardi Gras, but you will want to minitor was is now in the extended forecast for the end of the month. KATC's Rob Perillo recently shared an extended forecast for January 30 and 31, and it shows winter precipitation in Acadiana.

Yes, another winter storm could impact our state, and this time the chance of snow and sleet seems higher in the Acadiana region. Let's remember that this is an extended forecast and thiings will more than likely change in the days ahead, but the weather conditions for next weekend will be worth monitoring.

How to Protect the House During Winter

So, if you have your pipes wrapped in Acadiana, you will want to keep them wrapped for a few more weeks, perhaps even until Spring. Remember to keep your pets, tender vegetation, and the elderly in mind as we continue to move through the "dog days" of winter in South Louisiana.

In addition to preparing outdoors, remember you can also protect your pipes by opening a few doors in your house. Plus, now is a great time to check that your smoke alarms are working properly. The heaters and fireplaces could be working overtime in the days ahead.

We will continue to monitor the weather forecast for next weekend, and I encourage you to download this station's mobile app for future updates. If there are any important changes to the forecast or closures in Acadiana, we will share the information with you on-air and on the mobile app.

Until then, stay warm, take care of each other, and of course, leave the gumbo pots out.

Here's a look at the extended forecast for Acadiana from Rob Perillo at KATC TV-3. You can see that there's a chance for another hard freeze and wintry precipitation in Acadiana by the end of next week.

Now take a look at one weather model that shows winter precipitation moving into our area by next weekend, January 30 & 31. Again, we note that these are days out, and forecast changes are likely, but this is worth monitoring once we get through this weekend in Acadiana.