Cold Front Brings 40s to Southeast Louisiana This Weekend

A reinforcing cold front will move through southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi by early Saturday morning. The system pushes out drier air and shifts winds to a northerly direction as it arrives.

Temperatures will drop significantly by Sunday morning. Lows will reach the low to mid 40s across the northern half of the region. Coastal areas in southeast Louisiana are expected to hold steady in the low to mid 50s. This marks the coldest readings in the area for nearly two weeks.

Wind speeds on the Gulf of Mexico will run 10 to 15 knots tonight. Northeast winds are forecast to gust up to 20 knots over the weekend. On land, winds will strengthen as the front passes through early Saturday.

The influx of dry air will increase fire weather risks from Sunday through Tuesday. Conditions are expected to be most severe along and west of Interstate 55. Humidity levels will bottom out Sunday and Monday. Meteorologists indicate that conditions will remain below critical levels, and no Red Flag Warnings are currently in effect.

Residents under a burn ban should hold off on outdoor burning. Cloud cover will increase early next week. The chance of rain remains under 10 percent, with precipitation mostly limited to the coast. Additional fronts may approach next weekend, but their strength is not yet determined.