Despite Current Warm Up, Winter Is Far From Over...

As we say goodbye to January and hello to February, let's do a quick recap.  After a record warm December, January 2022 was over 2 degrees below normal/average, which was expected.  2021 was the 2nd wettest year on record and the dry spell that ended the year continued through January 2022.  In fact, it ended as the 7th driest January at MSY.

That is about to change as the next 7 days could give us 3-5" of rain. thanks to David Bernard for several of my graphics.

The first batch of rain will come on Tuesday as an upper low over Texas moves into the Gulf south of us.  It is expected to weaken so the rain shield currently over Texas will not be as widespread across SE LA/MS.

The next Arctic front is just entering the northern tier of states and that will push down into the Plains setting up the stage for a major snow & ice storm.

We'll be in the warm air sector for the next 3 days before the bottom drops out late on Thursday.

In the short term, our clear skies will give way to increasing clouds overnight and that will keep temperatures from dropping below 50.  look at the increase in winds predicted by the models for Tuesday PM.  Finally...David showed us these graphics on FOX 8 at 5 PM.

The drought monitor has in needing some rain with the driest part of the state around Monroe.  A look at January highs have us near normal/average on the highs, but way colder on the lows.  That's how January 2022 ended 2.3 degrees colder than average.  The first 2 weeks in February look like that cold trend will continue.  Stay tuned!