Dry and mild this afternoon, but the first real cold shot of fall is on the way

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Dry air stays in charge this afternoon across southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi, with plenty of high clouds streaming in from the southwest. Those clouds may be the only thing keeping highs just shy of 80 degrees, so don’t be surprised if a few spots sneak up a couple of degrees. Lows hold in the 40s and 50s tonight, and the swing from morning to afternoon will still run about 30 degrees. With humidity low and drought conditions lingering, the fire danger stays elevated through Tuesday. If you’re under a burn ban, don’t burn anything outdoors. If you’re not, take extra precautions.

A cold front is on the way late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and it looks like a dry passage for most of us. A very narrow band of showers can’t be ruled out along the leading edge, but the odds are low. Clouds clear out quickly behind it. The coldest air lags the front by several hours, so Thursday’s high may come in the morning, with temperatures falling through the afternoon. Winds ramp up behind the front as well, and Small Craft Advisory conditions are likely on the coastal waters from Thursday night into Saturday.

Keep that in mind as we head into the weekend, because this will be the first real cold shot of the fall. Highs only reach the mid 60s Friday with a breezy north wind, and Saturday won’t be any warmer, though the wind eases. Lows could dip into the 30s across the northern half of the area both mornings. Patches of frost are possible in sheltered spots, especially in the Pearl and Pascagoula River basins, and Saturday morning carries the better chance. A freeze is a low probability, but the Fox 8 weather app is the place to check the latest numbers before you cover the plants. Beyond Sunday, a long stretch of warm and dry weather settles back in.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.