It will be breezy and chilly tonight as cold Canadian air begins filtering into the region behind a strong cold front. Lows tonight will fall into the 30s with winds staying strong out of the northwest. This will make it feel colder...with wind chills in the 20s. Friday will be sunny with highs in the low to mid 50s. The coldest night will be Friday night, as high pressure settles over the area. Calm winds, combined with very dry air will allow temperatures to fall into the 20s and 30s. The coldest temperatures will be along and north of I-10.
Warmer weather returns Saturday afternoon through early next week. Skies will be mostly sunny Saturday afternoon and partly cloudy on Sunday. Temperatures will be around 60 Saturday and well into the 60s to around 70 on Sunday. Clouds will begin increasing from the west on Sunday as the next storm system approaches.
Rain is back in the forecast as early as Christmas Eve. Rain will begin breaking out by afternoon as low pressure develops in the Gulf and tracks northeast into LA/MS and eventually Alabama. Depending on the track of the low pressure, severe weather will be a distinct possibility once again. Locally heavy rainfall is expected through Christmas Day as a warm front lifts northward toward the coast. This warm front and low pressure may serve as a focus for severe thunderstorms Christmas night into Wednesday morning. It is still too early to pinpoint the threat, but rain and LOTS of it is almost certain.
Rain moves out Wednesday morning, and another cold front promises to bring the coldest air of the season by the end of next week. Temperatures could fall well into the 20s by next Friday morning across parts of the area, with highs barely reaching the 50s if the current trends in the computer forecast models continue. We'll keep you posted.
Chief Meteorologist Derek Beasley
