Today is going to be the final “warm” day for some time. High temperatures are going to range from the upper 40s to lower 60s, with lows in the mid 20s to lower to mid 50s.
Rain will also return to Southeast Texas, much of Louisiana, and South and Central Mississippi.
Ice tonight through early early tomorrow afternoon: Some freezing rain/drizzle, possibly with some sleet mixed in, is likely across North Louisiana, Central Mississippi (mainly north of I-20) and Central Alabama (mainly west of I-65 and along and north of I-20); Winter Weather Advisories have been issued in anticipation.
Only some patchy, light accumulations are expected (less than 0.10″. However, some impacts to travel are likely, as some accumulation will occur on roadways — especially on bridges and overpasses.
New Year’s Eve: Rain is still expected to continue for Louisiana tomorrow morning, and spread into South and Central Mississippi, and South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle during the morning hours/throughout the day; it still looks to clear out during the late afternoon/evening hours.
Temperatures will max out in the 30s and 40s (North and Central Mississippi and Alabama, and North Louisiana) during the day to mid 40s to mid 50s (North-Central Gulf Coast and South/Coastal Texas).
The much talked about arctic air-mass rolls in throughout the day and into the evening and nighttime hours, bringing bitterly cold air with it, marking the beginning of a prolonged brutally cold period.
Throughout the evening, temperatures will plummet. Many will experience wind chill values in the teens and 20s during New Year’s Eve festivities.
Lows will range from the teens to lower 20s (North and Central Mississippi and Alabama, and North Louisiana), and mid to upper 20s to lower to mid 30s (North-Central Gulf Coast and South/Coastal Texas).
New Year’s Day: Monday still appears as if it will be dry and cold.
Highs will struggle to get out of the upper 20s and lower 40s. Overnight into Tuesday morning, temperatures will drop into the teens, with 20s likely all the way down to the North-Central Gulf Coast.
A widespread hard freeze is still anticipated Monday night/Tuesday morning, with a freeze (possibly a hard freeze for some locations) for immediate coastal areas along the North-Central Gulf Coast. Necessary precautions to protect plants, pets, and pipes (etc…) will need to be taken.
In anticipation of these colder temperatures, hard freeze watches have been posted for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; they will likely be expanded over the next day or so, and will eventually be upgraded to warnings. Freeze watches and/or warnings will likely be posted for areas not placed under a hard freeze watch/warning at some time as well.
Frigid wind chills will also be likely through Monday and Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Cold, dry conditions continue through next week: There have been no changes in regard to next week. Below average temperatures and dry conditions look to prevail into next weekend, as multiple reinforcing shots of cold air are expected.
A hard freeze is expected again both Tuesday night and Wednesday morning (away from the coast), and possibly again Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Freezing or subfreezing conditions are likely for coastal areas of the North-Central Gulf Coast Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, and possibly again Wednesday night/Thursday morning (with the exception of South/Coastal Texas Wednesday night, where temperatures should remain above freezing).
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