A Freeze Warning is in effect for all of Acadiana as temperatures are expected to drop to 28-32 degrees by morning.
This will be a light, killing freeze, meaning crops and tender vegetation are at risk…it will NOT be a pipe-busting cold, as temperatures barely get below freezing for just a few hours leading up to daybreak…for Lafayette, that will be likely from 4 am through 7 am.
In the near term, the lingering clouds will also be a factor on how cold and for how long folks may be below the freezing mark. Clouds act as a blanket to slow “radiational” cooling, so the eastern-most areas of Acadiana will likely see the least of the cold overnight.
In most areas the clouds will slowly erode from west to east during the evening hours, with clear skies expected from midnight on for most areas.
Lows by morning will range within a few degrees of freezing, but plenty of sunshine Thursday will get our temperatures back into the low to mid-50s for the afternoon.
Temperatures Thursday night into Friday morning will be tricky as a quick-passing upper level disturbance may induce enough clouds to keep a repeat of the cold, but even with readings in the 34-39 degree range there could still be a frost Friday morning.
So in addition to covering the plants tonight, plan on doing the same for Thursday night.
Milder conditions will return Friday under mostly sunny skies, temperatures should reach the low-mid 60s for the afternoon.
This weekend looks very nice with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s Saturday and near 70 Sunday while overnight lows moderate into the 40s.
Acadiana’s next weather maker, or makers, should arrive mid-next week, Wednesday and perhaps Thursday, but it is unclear whether we’ll see just some showers, or more rain and embedded storms.
Right now it appears that we may see our highest rain chances Wednesday, but some decent rain chances could push into Thanksgiving, with a few lingering showers possible into Black Friday.
For now, the Thanksgiving weekend to follow looks fair and cool, but consult the latest KATC 10 Day Forecast here.
See the latest long range computer guidance here:
European Model Forecast Day 1
