Area braces for blast of cold
Published 10:45 pm Wednesday, January 19, 2022
- Donald Jones with the National Weather Service's Lake Charles office.
Frigid weather is expected to move into the region late Thursday night and into Friday morning. Currently there is only a low chance of freezing rain and/or sleet, Donald Jones, National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist, said, however conditions continue to evolve as the temperature will be well below freezing.
“Take full precaution with people, plants, pets and pipes,” he said.
As of Wednesday, there was only a “low-end chance” of seeing ice accumulation but NWS Lake Charles is prepared to issue a winter weather advisory as the system progresses.
Temperatures are expected to fall off beginning Thursday evening about 6 p.m.
“Very light rain” is expected to accompany the dropping temperatures with the possibility of freezing rain or sleet beginning at about 10 p.m. Acadia Parish and eastward are expected to take the brunt of freezing precipitation, he said.
By Friday morning, temperatures are expected to warm “well above freezing” in Southwest Louisiana increasing the likelihood that icy conditions will not persist. Conditions are expected to remain in the twenties across the weekend “but we are looking at a lot of sunshine,” Jones said.
Due to the weather the following vaccine sites will operate during regular hours on Thursday and both testing and vaccine sites will close on Friday.
Sites affected are Jennings American Legion Hospital, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and McNeese State University and the public health units in Sulphur, Lake Charles, Beauregard, Jeff Davis and Allen parishes.
