The weather will be very active the next few days as a storm system sweeps across the south. While it will be mainly a rain event for most, pockets of freezing rain will start to be possible early Sunday, especially northwest of Baton Rouge.

A ***WINTER STORM WATCH*** will go into effect for East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Northern Livingston, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, and Northern Tangipahoa Parishes, as well as Amite and Wilkinson Counties on Sunday. This region highlights the "rain/freezing rain battleground" where there might be a changeover to freezing rain on Sunday. The watch area matches expectations for higher ice potential north and west of the I-10/12 corridor. Ice totals have trended lower, with only a light glaze expected where freezing rain occurs.

Additionally, an ***EXTREME COLD WATCH*** will go into effect late Sunday through early Tuesday for all of southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Very low feels-like temperatures, wind chills, are expected to plummet and range from near zero in southwest Mississippi to the low teens in southeast Louisiana. Extended exposure to these temperatures could cause frostbite, hypothermia, and ruptured water pipes.

If you must venture outdoors, it is vital to dress in layers—including hats, gloves, and face masks. To protect your home, wrap exposed pipes or allow faucets to drip slowly, and practice heating safety by keeping space heaters three feet from combustibles and never using generators indoors. Please remember to bring pets inside or ensure they have warm shelter and unfrozen water, and make time to check on elderly family members and neighbors during this freeze.

Winter Storm Potential: A broad winter storm will sweep across the southern U.S. this weekend, bringing a mix of snow, ice, and rain along its path. The Baton Rouge metro sits near the southern edge of the potential ice zone, meaning we’re close enough that impacts remain something to watch closely.

Rain and possibly a few embedded thunderstorms will spread across Louisiana and Mississippi throughout the day Saturday. Any early dry breaks will be short-lived, with rain becoming more widespread by the afternoon and evening. Temperatures are expected to stay above freezing during the day, so icing issues are not anticipated locally on Saturday.

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Periods of rain will linger Saturday night and into Sunday as colder air continues pushing south. Northwest winds will gradually force the freezing line closer to the Capital Area. If temperatures slip to 32° or below, any lingering rain would change over to freezing rain — a transition that could begin as early as Sunday morning. The highest chance of that freezing line arriving while rain is still falling will be along and north of a New Roads–to–McComb line. Along the I-10 and I-12 corridor, the threat is lower, and it drops off significantly farther south and east. Light icing would mainly create travel problems, but amounts exceeding a tenth of an inch could begin to weigh down trees and power lines. That higher-end risk remains focused north and west of Baton Rouge. Rain should come to an end by Sunday afternoon. Even so, temperatures are expected to fall below freezing Sunday night, meaning any leftover moisture could freeze — especially on bridges and elevated roadways. The good news is that stronger winds Sunday evening may help reduce how widespread those icy spots become.

A minor change from just 32° to 33° makes a major difference in impacts for an event like this, so monitor Storm Station forecasts as new information comes in each day. Be prepared to change or cancel travel plans this weekend.

Up Next: Precipitation will clear out by Sunday evening, but the cold will tighten its grip. North winds of 10-20 mph will send wind chills, or feels-like temperatures, plummeting into the single digits and teens by Monday morning. While some sun will come out for the afternoon, most locations will stay in the 30s through the day. By Tuesday morning, air temperatures will fall back into the upper teens, but fortunately, wind will not create a much lower feels-like temperature. With another afternoon of sun, thermometers will break into the 40s. Temperatures will remain chilly through midweek, though the heart of the cold will be on its way out by then.

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