After a frosty start for Acadiana Friday, wall to wall sun and a southwest breeze will conspire to warm the area into the mid-60s for the afternoon.
After skies clear and winds diminish, temperatures overnight will drop into the low to mid 30s across the area with the possibility of frost for many areas north of I-10, becoming mostly likely across the northern Acadiana parishes, where readings will be right near the freezing mark.
Temperatures Friday afternoon will likely rebound into the low to mid 60s accompanied by breezy southwest winds near 10-20 mph.
This weekend will be milder with generally partly cloudy skies.
A very weak trough of low pressure will advance into the region Saturday and eventually wash out, but it could produce some clouds and an isolated shower or two in the area, but rain chances look to be 20% or less.
Temperatures Saturday morning will be milder, in the 40s so you'll be able to uncover the plants again Friday afternoon (and leave them that way for a while).
Highs Saturday afternoon will top out in the upper 60s depending on the extent of our partly cloudy skies, where more sun could equal readings right near 70.
Sunday looks to be a little milder and staying dry, but high clouds will increase throughout the day in response to a stalling weather system that will reach the area by Monday.
Temperatures Sunday afternoon should get into the lower 70s.
Showers and a few thunderstorms could develop as early as Sunday night and will continue into Monday with rain chances increasing to near 80% to start the week.
Temperatures Monday will reach the low-mid 70s and will likely stay near that level for much of the week.
But with the spring-like temperatures. there looks to be the chance of scattered spring showers again for Tuesday into Wednesday, with another good chance of showers and storms into Thursday.
Wednesday could also be quite a breezy day with gusty Gulf winds and moisture likely feeding more intense storms that will manifest well to our north into Thursday.
We are getting to that time of year where frontal boundaries begin to stall or "waffle" back and forth across the area, thus a wetter and milder than normal pattern is expected next week.
We should get a little cooler toward Friday into the following weekend provided Thursday's system is strong enough to push a front well offshore for a day or two...but rain chances may not decrease until after Friday.
And due to complete model disagreement beyond next Wednesday, take the latter part of the 10 Day Forecast with a grain of salt for now...as during this period the forecast will likely be changeable in the days ahead.
Climate Notes: If you're wondering whether tonight's shot of winter-like temperatures will be the last chance at a freeze as we move toward spring, the answer would generally be "no" based on climatology.
Typically Acadiana's last frost/freeze occurs between February 20th and March 5th...but trends in more recent years has shown earlier ends to our freezing temperatures...but weather still happens, so it's probably a good idea on holding off on planting your tomatoes etc outdoors until the latter part of the month.
