After climbing into the mid 60s for highs today, seriously cold air blows into Southeast Louisiana.
"A blast of Arctic air arrives late tonight into early Tuesday with a strong cold front," WWL-TV Meteorologist Alexandra Cranford explained. "The front will bring a 60% chance for light rain and perhaps a little bit of wintry precipitation as well."
She says North Louisiana and parts of Mississippi could see some snow. What about here in Southeast Louisiana?
"The most likely area to see some of that wintry precipitation is north of Lake Pontchartrain, although a few snowflakes look at least possible briefly on the Southshore too."
What's the timing on the front and possible snow?
"Right now the time frame is early Tuesday morning between about 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. This will be a pretty quick event, because the incoming air mass will be quite dry as well as cold, and that will shut down any precipitation before lunchtime Tuesday."
Cranford is not concerned about icy conditions or any travel hazards.
"Little to no accumulation is expected, because the ground will be relatively warm and will likely melt anything that falls on it. Very small accumulations of just a dusting may be possible far north in the north fringes of Washington and Tangipahoa parishes."
We don't warm up much for Tuesday or Wednesday.
"Temperatures stay in the 40s Tuesday with windy conditions for afternoon. Then we'll get our coldest night of the year so far - it looks like a hard freeze on the Northshore and a light freeze for the city of New Orleans Tuesday night into Wednesday morning."
She says Northshore and River Parishes residents will want to make sure pipes are protected.
TODAY:Partly cloudy and mild. Highs around 66. Wind SW 5-10 mph.
TONIGHT:Cloudy, turning much colder and windy with a 60% chance for light rain and perhaps some snow mainly north of the lake. Lows north of the lake around 35 and south around 37. Wind S/N 10-20 mph.
TUESDAY:A 60% chance for light rain, along with perhaps some snow especially north of the lake before 9 a.m. Then clearing skies, cold and windy. Highs around 45, feeling like 20s and 30s. Wind N 15-25 mph.
WEDNESDAY:Clouds and sun and chilly. Lows north of the lake around 27 with a hard freeze and south around 31 with a light freeze. Highs around 51.
THURSDAY:Clouds and sun and cool with a 20% chance for a few showers. Lows north of the lake around 33 with frost and south around 40. Highs around 59.
FRIDAY:Mostly cloudy and cool with a 30% chance for showers. Lows north of the lake around 47 and south around 51. Highs around 63.
SATURDAY:Cloudy and cool with a 40% chance for showers. Lows north of the lake around 50 and south around 55 Highs around 67.
SUNDAY:Cloudy and mild with a 40% chance for showers. Lows north of the lake around 55 and south around 59 Highs around 69.