Cold Air Pushing Across Louisiana Today – When Will it Arrive?

For much of the past four months Louisiana, Texas, and the rest of the Gulf South have been sweltering under an unrelenting heat dome. Many cities in the region broke daily temperature records and monthly temperature records during this time. In fact, Louisiana and parts of Texas are still feeling the effects of the long hot summer as drought conditions across the region continue to worsen.

However, as we enter into the final two days of October across Louisiana there is a bit of a break heading our way. A strong cold front is already bringing showers and some thunderstorms to portions of northwestern Louisiana this morning. That part of the state will also begin to feel the cool down behind the front much sooner than the rest of the state.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport are suggesting that the city has already reached its high temperature for the day. At midnight the reading was 51 degrees with a forecast high of 48 degrees, so the temperatures along the I-20 corridor are already cooling off and will stay cool today.

The cooler air should push south across Louisiana as the day progresses. Residents of Alexandria and Central Louisiana can expect to feel temperatures dropping before lunchtime today. And while overnight low temperatures in the Shreveport area should settle into the upper 30s tonight. It shouldn't be that cold in Cenla. Temperatures will bottom out in the lower 40s by sunrise on Tuesday.

In Lafayette and Lake Charles, our changeover will happen after lunch. The forecast along I-10 is calling for a slight chance of showers this morning. However, fog might be a bigger issue for the morning. Rain chances for the area are listed at 30% for the morning and early afternoon.

By the time school buses are running and car lines are forming for after-school pickup temperatures across Lafayette and Lake Charles will be dropping through the 60s. The strong north wind will make it feel much cooler. So, encourage your kids to take a light jacket to school this morning. They'll want it for later today.

Overnight lows along I-10 will be in the middle 40s but the high temperature on Halloween Day will struggle to reach 60 degrees. So do plan on a very cool Trick-or-Treat experience for your youngsters this evening. Temperatures will moderate slowly as the week progresses but we don't anticipate high temperatures reaching the 80s again until next Sunday.