Below-normal temperatures real possibility early next week

Southwest Louisiana is just days away from the beginning a potential arctic outbreak — the region’s second cold blast of the new year.

National Weather Service Lake Charles Lead Meteorologist Joe Rua said “probabilities are increasing” that arctic air will surge down into the central United States and toward the Gulf Coast early next week.

This air mass has the potential to bring the coldest temperatures of the winter season so far, likely from Jan. 20 to Jan. 23, Rua said. During this time there is an 84 percent chance for Southwest Louisiana to experience below-normal temperatures.

Rua said during this weather event, the so-called “polar vortex” will move down into Canada just north of the Great Lakes. Arctic air from Siberia and the North Pole will then drop down on the back side of the vortex through the Plains and toward the Gulf Coast.

“Although subfreezing temperatures and very cold wind chills will likely accompany this air mass, it is still too early for exact details on how low the temperatures will be or potentially how dangerous the winds chills will be,” Rua said.

It’s all too soon to know if any winter-type precipitation will happen.

“Looking at the probabilities, there is a low-end chance for snow and/or freezing rain sometime between Monday and Thursday,” Rua said. “We will watch these probabilities closely over the next several days to see if the risk is increasing or decreasing and if it does happen, the timing.”

SportsPlus

Crime

LC man accused of going on crime spree

McNeese Sports

Back to their roots

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Second Harvest news unsettling

Local News

Meet the candidates: Five throw hat in ring for mayor’s race

McNeese Sports

SLC games set for McNeese

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls look for four-peat

Local News

UPDATE: Drug charges against veterinarian cleared of rape dropped

Local News

Cassidy, Senate committee advances Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination to be health secretary

Business

Waffle House adds surcharge to eggs as massive bird flu outbreak leads to soaring prices

Local News

Federal judge blocks enforcement of La. police ‘buffer-zone’ law

Local News

Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance opens new offices

Local News

NY shields abortion pill prescribers after doctor indicted in La.

McNeese Sports

Cowboys win by a tick

Business

Wall Street swerves lower after Trump announces tariffs and then puts some on hold

Local News

A heart for kids: New Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO driven to help others

McNeese Sports

Hot-shooting Nicholls guns down Pokes

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls struggle early, fall to Nicholls

Informer

The Informer: Floods followed in wake of 1940 Gulf Coast storm

Business

Economic advisor: Collaboration, focus on workforce development key

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Professor back in classroom

life

String theory: Thompson rediscovers her art voice in fabrics

Local News

Qualifying ends, ballots set for March election

Crime

1/31: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Southwest District Livestock Show: Time again to hit the dirt