Arctic Front Delivers Brutally Cold Weekend

By Jay Grymes

State Climatologist

An Arctic front is moving through southeast Louisiana this morning.  Temperatures around the state are currently above freezing but will drop below 32° for many parishes before midnight tonight.  

The full effects of the Arctic air mass arrive statewide before sun-up on Saturday morning (31 Jan 2026):  bitterly-cold air will be augmented by northerly winds in the 10-20 mph range, pushing wind chills down into the single-digits for most northern parishes.

The Arctic air is too dry to produce any meaningful winter precipitation although a few flakes and light flurries can’t be ruled-out over north Louisiana.  Accumulations are not expected.

 Weekend parade-goers and krewes need to prepare for the extra-cold weekend air.

 Temperatures will struggle to get above freezing over much of northern Louisiana on Saturday with highs only reaching the mid to upper 30°s for most of the remaining parishes.  Fortunately, winds should subside somewhat into Saturday afternoon and evening.

The Arctic air remains in place into Sunday (1 Feb 2026) for another brutally-cold morning, and much of the state can expect another freeze for Monday morning (2 Feb 2026) before temperature begin to moderate next week.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center calls for the next meaningful rains to arrive on Tuesday into Wednesday (3-4 Feb 2026).

 The extended outlook keeps continues with a cooler-than-normal trend into Carnival weekend.

Thanks:

Local NWS offices serving Louisiana: SHV, JAN, LCH & LIX

NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) 

NWS Climate Prediction Center (WPC) 

PowerOutage.com

WeatherModels.com

GOHSEP & LSU