Snowfall chances ‘slim’ but flooding real possibility

Published 4:55 pm Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Despite below-average temperatures and heavy rainfall, the odds of frozen precipitation in Southwest Louisiana are “slim,” said Doug Cramer, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service Lake Charles Office.  

“We’re not really seeing much of a signal for that,” he said. “We’re not really expecting any below-freezing or near-freezing temperatures while we’re having precipitation.”

In Lake Charles, temperatures during rainfall Thursday afternoon into Friday should reach a low of 41 degrees and a high of 44 degrees.

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While Southwest Louisiana should not be concerned about ice, regional flooding caused by excessive rainfall is a potentiality. The storm system is expected to bring Thursday morning rain to Southeast Texas. It will move into Southwest Louisiana midday on Thursday.

There is a marginal risk of excessive rain. Cramer said the area can expect two to three inches of precipitation. 

“The amounts have gone up a little bit, and the fact that its wintertime and there’s not a whole lot of vegetation soaking up the rainfall … I think there’s going to be a pretty good risk of some flooding.”

A “tight” low-pressure system poses a potential risk for a foot and half of coastal flooding Thursday night into Friday.

Arctic air from Canada will continue to bring cold weather to the area through mid-January, Cramer said.

“It’ll be nice to stay kind of cool there for a while.”