Some very nice weather remains in store for Acadiana's Friday, but changes are in store for Saturday with increasing clouds, winds and eventually the threat of storms into Saturday evening.
In the near term, expect another seasonably cool night under fair to partly cloudy skies and light easterly winds.
Temperatures by daybreak will be in the low-mid 50s...some 5 degrees above the normal of the upper 40s.
Friday will be another fair to partly cloudy day, with in and out high clouds accompanied by sun allowing temperatures to warm again into the mid-70s (normal this time of year is 69).
A strong winter storm system rolling through the Plains into the Midwest Saturday will allow for increasing southerly winds and atmospheric moisture across the area Saturday translating to mostly cloudy and warm conditions.
And if there are a few breaks in the clouds Saturday, we'll see temperatures nearing the 80 degree mark during the afternoon.
That strong storm system well to our north will whip a cold front through Acadiana Saturday night with showers and storms likely ahead of it.
Rain chances during the afternoon Saturday will rise into the 30-40% range but should briefly increase to 80% Saturday evening/early Saturday night as a line of showers and storm pushes through the area.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has most of Acadiana hatched in for the slight risk (15% - level 2 out of 5) of severe storms that may contain damaging winds & a few isolated tornadoes.
Wind dynamics aloft will be rather robust and veering (turning clockwise) with height...and with the upper jet nearing 100 mph over Acadiana there could be some storms that could contain some intense, gusty winds, and perhaps an isolated weak tornado or two.
However, lack of instability could limit the severity of storms as the front will be moving through Acadiana after our maximum daytime heating Saturday, but if dew points manage to get into the lower 70s by Saturday evening, there certainly could be a couple of strong to severe storms.
With that being said, the greatest risk of severe weather will likely be in the northern-most portions of Acadiana, and we could see a trimming back of the "slight risk" area back to the north in future SPC outlooks...nonetheless, the risk of severe weather Saturday evening will not be zero.
Clearing, breezy and cooler conditions should advance into Acadiana Sunday with highs in the mid-upper 60s, cooling into the lower 40s Sunday night.
A secondary ridge of chillier conditions will build in Monday cooling the area into the mid-upper 50s for highs Monday afternoon with lows dropping into the chilly mid-30s for Tuesday morning.
Mostly sunny conditions, with eventually milder temperatures is expected through mid-next week with clouds increasing Thursday ahead of our next weather-maker that should bring rain and perhaps some thunderstorms chances to the area Thursday night into Friday.
If it all works out well, Acadiana could be treated to another fair and cool weekend next weekend.
See theKATC 10 Day Forecast for the latest.
