Dry, breezy and cooler for the weekend

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Cooler, drier air is settling in behind the strong Arctic front, so this afternoon stays dry and breezy with highs only reaching the upper 60s to lower 70s. That’s a big drop from the 70s we saw ahead of the front. Humidity is also running low and the drought is still locked in. Fire weather concerns stay elevated through Sunday, mainly across the northern parishes and south Mississippi. If you’re under a burn ban, don’t burn anything outdoors. If you aren’t, take extra precautions, because the vegetation is drying out and dormant and fires can start and spread quickly.

Saturday morning is the one to watch. Lows should fall into the mid and upper 30s north of the I-10/12 corridor, with 40s for most of the Southshore. Frost is possible in the colder spots, and the drainage basins have the best shot at it. A few high clouds overnight could keep us just above freezing, so the forecast still has some uncertainty. Sunday morning looks a few degrees warmer with lighter winds, and the best chance for frost shifts to the northeastern corner of the area. Sunday afternoon warms up a bit and stays dry. Keep that in mind if you have tender plants to cover or pets that stay outside.

Boaters should plan on hazardous conditions off and on through the weekend and into next week. Winds ramp up late tonight, Small Craft Advisories are likely, and gale force gusts are possible later in the weekend. A coastal low could move through early next week. Computer models still disagree on its track. A path close to the coast could bring a much needed soaking, while a track farther south would keep most of the rain away from us. Confidence is low right now, and the picture should get clearer through the day. By Wednesday we turn dry and cool again. Keep checking the Fox 8 Weather app for the latest forecast updates.

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