Severe weather expected later today has caused the closure of all Calcasieu and Beauregard parish schools.

Calcasieu Parish Schools will let out at 11:45 a.m.

“Transporting students safely via school bus becomes concerning when sustained winds reach a certain threshold,” according to a press release from the CPSB. “The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our primary focus, and we feel that dismissing early is in their best interest. Lunch will be served prior to dismissal, and students will be dismissed following normal transportation plans. School will resume as normal, tomorrow, January 9.”

Beauregard Parish School will dismiss at noon today.

“Due to the threat of multiple severe weather hazards this afternoon, all Beauregard Parish schools will dismiss at 12:00 noon today, January 8, 2024,” according to a Facebook post by the BPSB from Superintendent Larry Hollie.  “Please make the appropriate arrangements for students. Classes will resume tomorrow.”

Due to the threat of multiple severe weather hazards this afternoon, all Beauregard Parish schools will dismiss at noon today. Classes will resume tomorrow.

Meteorologist Donald Jones with the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office said he’s expecting strong winds to develop both ahead and behind a cold front that will move through the area Monday evening.

“If you’re enjoying the very nice weather out there this morning — it’s cool, it’s clear, it’s sunny and very January-like for this part of the area — I’ve got some bad news for you,” he said. “Unfortunately it’s not going to last too much longer. We’ve got a storm system that’s going to be moving to the area tomorrow and coming with it will be the threat for severe weather.”

Jones said a strong low pressure is expected to develop over Texas this afternoon with showers and storms becoming more widespread as it makes its way across Southwest Louisiana throughout the day Monday.

He said the expected timeframe for severe weather is about noon to midnight on Monday.

Flash flooding could become a problem with this system, Jones said, because of the recent rainfall the area has experienced over the last few days. Monday’s storm could bring 1-4 inches.

The area could also experience 30-40 mph wind with wind gusts up to 50 mph outside of the storms that have the potential of creating localized power outages.

There’s also a 15-20 percent chance the area will be inundated with large hail.