A “very cold” air mass is expected to overspread the region overnight, bringing below-average temperatures through the weekend and into early next week.

Stacey Denson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office, said a high-pressure system moving is hovering over the Caribbean while a large upper-level trough is extending from Canada.

“This trough is the source of the winter weather and extreme cold across the central and eastern United States,” Denson said.

Denson said a frontal system brought a tenth of an inch of rain to the area Thursday morning, causing minor flooding at the Calcasieu River near White Oak Park.

She said temperatures were in the upper 60s ahead of the front, falling into the 40s and 50s behind it.

“A few showers will linger into early tomorrow, with dry weather expected thereafter through the end of the forecast period,” Denson said.

Denson said Friday’s temperatures won’t top the mid-40s, with lows in the evening between 29-34 degrees.

Mild and dry weather will continue through much of next week, she said.