A very cold air mass will move into the area Sunday, dropping temperatures into the 20s Sunday and Monday nights and into the teens Tuesday night.

National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Donald Jones said wind chill will fall into the teens to single digits Tuesday and Wednesday.

“These conditions will be life-threatening to people exposed for extended periods and could result in significant damage to unprotected pipes, animals and agriculture crops,” Jones said.

Winter precipitation is expected across the region Tuesday with snow most likely — a 70-80 percent chance, according to current forecast models. Areas along Interstate 10 could also see periods of freezing rain.

Jones said 2-5 inches of snow would not be “out of the realm of possibility.”

Winter precipitation is expected to hit Southwest Louisiana from about midnight Monday to 3 p.m. Tuesday.

“This may be a situation where we start out with snow and then it turns into freezing rain,” Jones said. “There is a 20 percent chance of freezing rain across Cameron, Calcasieu, and Jeff Davis parishes.”

He said there is a 5-10 percent chance of ice accumulation in those parishes, as well.

“It is possible we will have below-freezing temperatures for up to 48 hours,” Jones said. “The area will remain below freezing Monday evening until Tuesday afternoon. Many areas may not rise above freezing from early Tuesday evening until Thursday afternoon.”

Wind gusts will lessen Wednesday night into Thursday.