by Malcolm Butler
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning Thursday that will run all the way through Sunday afternoon.
NWS (Shreveport) meteorologist Ryan Knapp said that the different weather models are beginning to become clearer as we near the weekend.
“We are getting to the warning phase of this,” said Knapp. “The watch has been upgraded to a warning. We are starting to see the models really hone in on ice accumulations across North Louisiana.”
Although today’s temperatures will be well above freezing, starting early Saturday morning they will dip below freezing where they will remain until at least Monday afternoon. Even then the forecast isn’t calling for temperatures to get much above 32 degrees.
“(Friday) will be predominantly rain throughout the day,” said Knapp. “As we work into early Saturday morning — around the daybreak hours — is when we will start to see the cold air mass really start to settle in. We have areas along the I-20 corridor at or just below freezing by right around sunrise (Saturday).
“So all the moisture that is starting to build in … that’s when we will start to see it change over to wintry mix and we will start to see the onset of the freezing rain potential and even the sleet potential.”
The current Winter Storm Warning will go through Sunday afternoon with the moisture (precipitation) moving out of the area by middle of the day.
“There could be some lingering snow showers into the later afternoon or early evening on Sunday,” said Knapp. “We are calling for somewhere between one and two inches of accumulation across the I-20 corridor, including possibly some snow along with the ice.”
Although there is a chance that temperatures could get just above freezing on Monday afternoon, they will dip well below freezing again that night, thus refreezing and causing travel concerns early Tuesday. However, Tuesday is calling for temperatures to get up into the mid to high 40s.
“We may have a few hours Monday where it gets just above freezing,” said Knapp. “Overnight temperatures will still be well below freezing much of next week. So that could create some flash freezing on the roads which is something people will need to keep in mind once we start to thaw out.”
