Special to the American Press

There is potential for heavy rainfall and a few severe storms later this evening and overnight.

The primary risk with the storms will be large hail, although a few strong-to-damaging wind gusts will be possible mainly closer to the coast, according to the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office

This activity is expected to exit the area by early Wednesday morning with the passage of a strong cold front.

Much colder air will return to the area Wednesday, with the potential risk of extreme cold due to dangerous wind chills Wednesday night and Thursday night, the agency said.

Subfreezing air temperatures are also expected, with a duration between one and eight hours. These longer durations are expected to occur across portions of central and western Louisiana over to the Lakes Region of southeast Texas.