Good-Looking Weekend!

By Jay Grymes & Steve Caparotta

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yet again, Mother Nature throws us a curve ball! The winds failed to come around from the southwest last night as expected -- with near-calm conditions for most of the night and clear skies, temperatures dropped as much as 5° to 6° lower than we had anticipated. As a result, instead of a light freeze for just a few of the northernmost WAFB viewers, the 'freeze line' reached as far south as the coastal parishes in some cases!

We started this morning under mainly-clear skies, but the clouds started to return well before lunchtime, reducing the day's sunshine and slowing the afternoon warm-up. Still, much of the viewing area made it into the mid to upper 60°s for the afternoon. 

A weak cold front is headed our way and will move from northwest-to-southeast across the viewing area this evening. The latest runs of some of our key computer guidance are still struggling with the potential for a few showers as the front moved through. We think that a few WAFB neighborhoods will get a light passing shower but little or no accumulations.

Skies should be clearing later tonight giving way to a sunny sunrise for Saturday with the cold front well to our south. Given the recent trends in morning lows, we'll call for one more morning down in the 30°s for the Red Stick. The air behind tonight's front will be a cool Canadian air mass, but not “Arctic” cold like we’ve endured recently. Sunny skies through the day on Saturday should promote some warming to counter the Canadian chill, but highs will struggle to get into the 60°s during the afternoon for many of us.

For those planning on attending the Krewe of Jupiter and Juno Parade on Saturday evening, skies will remain clear but dress for the 50°s. In fact, it will be down around 50° by 9PM.

Sunday looks just fine for the Mystic Krewe of Mutts in downtown BR. After a sunrise temperature close to 40°, the day warms nicely with afternoon highs still expected to reach the 70°s under fair skies.

And here’s some good news: the upcoming work week forecast calls for more 70°s across the region. Monday stays mainly-dry and we’ll go with a 20% to 30% rain chance for Tuesday as the next front moves through. Better chances for rain return during the latter half of Thursday into Friday.

Enjoy the weekend weather!