Wiley Butler, National Weather Service official cooperative observer for the City of Natchitoches, shared the following information about a cold front traveling in a southerly direction, which may possibly bring colder temperatures to the Natchitoches area toward the end of the week.
NWS – Little Rock, AR ….A developing jet streak, on the order of +120KT, will setup across the southern plains and into the southern half of Missouri over the next 24 hours, ahead of a shortwave trough that will move through Kansas and Missouri. This will coincide with the arrival of an artic front in northern Arkansas tomorrow evening. A 1040MB high will become centered over the central plains by Friday morning. This will bring the Natchitoches area the coldest temperatures so far this season.
The NWS in Shreveport advises this artic air will likely be the coldest air mass the Natchitoches area has seen since the winter of 2015. Therefore, with clearing skies, relatively light winds, and dew point temperatures falling into the teens, residents can expect temperatures on Thursday to drop like a rock after sunset. Friday night will be cold, but should be slightly warmer than Thursday night.
Now is the time to start preparing for this cold, by bringing in sensitive plants and winterizing pipes. Don’t forget about outdoor pets, as they will need protection from this cold as well.
ZONE FORECAST:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
LAZ017-018-071515- SABINE-NATCHITOCHES – INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MANY, ZWOLLE, PLEASANT HILL, AND NATCHITOCHES ; 325 PM CST TUE DEC 6 2016
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TONIGHT –
PATCHY DRIZZLE. CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTH
WINDS 5 MPH BECOMING EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WEDNESDAY-
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT
RAIN. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTH WINDS 5 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT-
CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN.
LOWS AROUND 40. NORTH WINDS 5 MPH INCREASING TO 10 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THURSDAY-
A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN IN THE MORNING.
MOSTLY CLOUDY. COOLER. HIGHS IN THE MID 40S. NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT-
MOSTLY CLEAR. COLDER. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. NORTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
FRIDAY-
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 40S.
FRIDAY NIGHT
CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
SATURDAY-
MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 50S.
SATURDAY NIGHT-
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN. LOWS IN THE MID 40S.
SUNDAY-
CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN. HIGHS IN THE MID 60S.
SUNDAY NIGHT-
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT
RAIN. LOWS IN THE MID 40S.