2:00 PM NWS Update on January 2024 Cold Weather Event
01/15/2024 02:43 PM
Changes from Previous Update:
- No changes in hazards and forecast confidence from this morning.
- Freeze warning added for SE LA and portions of coastal MS tonight into early Tuesday.
- Hard Freeze warning tonight expanded south along Atchafalaya Basin tonight into early Tuesday.
- Wind Chill Advisory expanded in area tonight/early Tuesday south across the Atchafalaya Basin to portions of the Southshore.
Summary of Winter Weather Impacts:
- Light showers will continue to spread across the area this afternoon/tonight:
- Temperatures will continue to drop this evening, dropping rapidly tonight. Light rain will begin to transition into freezing rain over the northwest and slowly work southeast through the night.
- Light accumulations are expected in the Winter Weather Advisory area, mainly on elevated surfaces including bridges, tree branches, poles, etc.
- All rain/winter weather will exit to the east early/mid morning Tuesday.
Summary of Cold Weather Impacts:
- Temperatures rapidly dropping this afternoon/evening into tonight. Breezy winds will accompany the quickly dropping temperatures leading to dangerous wind chills overnight into Tuesday.
- Wind chill readings across southwest MS are expected to fall into the single digits with teens all the way down to the I-10/12 corridor.
- Bitterly cold all day Tuesday, portions of southwest MS and adjacent LA parishes struggling to get above freezing.
- Coldest morning will be early Wednesday.
- Hard freeze conditions likely for most of the area with lows in the teens to mid 20s.
- Winds will remain breezy overnight Tuesday night with wind chills in the single digits to teens possible across the entire area Wednesday morning.
- One more night of below freezing temps for central/northern areas Wed night/Thursday morning.
- Moderation continues into Thursday and Friday.
The attached briefing highlights the threats associated with this system.