It’s been an awesome Mardi Gras weather-wise with temperatures in the upper 40s to lower 50s under mostly sunny skies. We saw a freezing start this morning, hitting 31 degrees in Lafayette. Another freeze could be possible tonight, especially for areas along and north of I-10. A FREEZE WARNING remains in effect for these areas through tomorrow morning. 

A much needed warming trend comes into the forecast starting tomorrow as highs tomorrow afternoon are expected to be in the upper 50s. Moisture and clouds will return into the area by Thursday and Friday as winds turn back out of the south. We’ll steadily climb the temperature ladder with readings in the 60s on Thursday and in the mid-70s by Friday. A few showers will be possible Thursday and Friday, but mainly over the western parts of Acadiana and into southeastern Texas. 

Thereafter, the potential is there for a robust storm system to blow through on Saturday. A negatively-tilted upper-level trough will work across the central parts of the country, with a surface low pressure developing across the lower-plains, intensifying as it moves eastward. This will produce a steady transport of warm, moist air northward across the area and winds turning and getting stronger with height. As it stands now, this could lead to a severe weather episode across our area and into Arkansas and Missouri. An early look at the atmosphere in place signals that an all-mode severe weather event could be possible with damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. We will know more as the event draws closer, but at the very least, get ready for some thunderstorms by Saturday. 

~Meteorologist Trevor Sonnier