The chilly weather Southwest Louisiana has been experiencing the past few days will be coming to a close as widespread rain is expected later in the week.

Nick Slaughter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office, said a low-pressure system will be moving through the area Wednesday night, bringing with it a high chance for severe weather and heavy rain. It is expected to stay through Friday.

Lake Charles has a nearly a 100 percent chance of receiving a quarter of an inch or greater of rainfall Thursday through Friday, Slaughter said.

Damaging wind gusts, lightning and pockets of heavy rain will be the primary impacts Thursday.

He said the expected straight-line winds could exceed 100 mph, which is powerful enough to knock over semi-trucks, trees and power lines.