Dry, breezy afternoon ahead of a strong cold front

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - This afternoon, dry air and ongoing drought are the main weather story across southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi. A disturbance moving out of Texas could squeeze out a few sprinkles, but most of that moisture is likely to evaporate before it reaches the ground. Fire spread concerns stay elevated through the afternoon. If you’re in a parish or county under a burn ban, leave the burn pile alone. If there’s no official ban where you live, take extra precautions and keep that in mind before you light anything outdoors.

Changes are on the way. A strong but dry cold front is locked in for early Thursday, and it will bring much drier and colder air. The cooldown starts slowly Thursday, then becomes noticeable Friday. Morning lows will fall to the lower 40s to lower 50s, and highs will stay in the 60s for much of the area. Boaters should plan ahead, because strong northwest winds behind the front will create hazardous conditions on the coastal waters Thursday and likely through Friday night. Fire weather concerns also return late in the week as that dry air settles in.

The first freeze of the season is possible Saturday morning. High pressure will settle overhead with clear skies, light winds and very dry air, which is a good setup for the temperature to drop quickly overnight. Cold spots could dip into the mid 30s, and a few spots could reach the lower 30s. Frost is possible, so cover or bring in your sensitive plants. Sunday morning looks chilly too. Clouds should increase later Sunday, and the next decent chance for rain arrives Monday, though how much rain falls depends on how quickly the high pressure ridge breaks down. Keep checking the Fox 8 Weather app for the latest updates.

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