With temperatures hovering around the 40 degree mark around the Crescent City, plenty of locals are bundling up and cranking up the heat. After a long, balmy stretch of weather, it finally feels like December in New Orleans.
But, will the cold weather last?
LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says this cold snap will be fairly short-lived. He predicts that the current cold weather will extend into tomorrow, but will be a bit of a rollercoaster after the morning hours. “By later tomorrow, we’re really going to see the wind start shifting toward the east and southeast. Highs tomorrow are looking to be around 61 degrees, but you have to pay the piper first,” Keim says. He notes that morning lows tomorrow will be 38 degrees on the southshore and will probably hover near the freezing mark on the northshore.
Tomorrow, Keim expects the winds to drop off so temperatures feel a bit more comfortable. Wednesday’s temperatures will have highs of 68 and lows of 50 degrees, so there will be a notable bounce back from the cold of today and tomorrow. For those worried about the possibility of pipes freezing and bursting, Keim doesn’t think temperatures will drop low enough to wrap pipes, but emphasizes that people and pets will need to stay indoors. “We’re looking at temperatures near the freeze mark and there might be a light freeze on the northshore. But, it’s not going to stay below freezing long enough for anyone to worry about. This is a pets, plants, and people event, but not a pipes event from this point forward. I think we’re in pretty good shape for the New Orleans metropolitan area,” added Keim.