The Arctic Outbreak forecast for Southwest Louisiana this week is expected to hit late Thursday night and continue into the Christmas holiday weekend.

The National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office said a hard freeze will begin Thursday night and linger throughout the following days. Dangerous wind chills are expected late Thursday night into Friday morning and then again Friday night into Saturday morning.

The office said a polar high-pressure system headed to the region is expected to bring temperatures in the tens and low 20s. These prolonged hard freeze conditions will burst pipes and kill tender vegetation.

Dangerous cold and wind chills that will be life-threatening and could lead to hypothermia are also possible, the office said.