Crippling Southern Ice Storm, Hard Freeze Coming Next Week

I'm sure many of you have been watching TWC and all their graphics detailing the potential snow & ice storm coming for this weekend.  The main questions concern where will the boundary set up, where it's all snow, or will the ice buildup from freezing rain create massive power outages?  I'm pretty confident forecasting the coldest air of this winter for next Monday & Tuesday as there will finally be a nearby snow cover.  Here are some graphics from FOX 8.

Anyone thinking about traveling northward Saturday & Sunday needs to delay plans as there will be a massive ice storm on a line from Alexandria to Jackson, MS.  Hannah Gard showed us this morning that a Gulf low will form, but it will move too close to our coast, keeping our precip. a cold rain.  IF this low were to form farther to our south, it could bring the frozen precip. line closer to us.  That doesn't appear likely.  My guess is the line for sleet/freezing rain will get as close as Baton Rouge, to Covington, to Bogalusa.  Bottom line, there will be significant power outages in the freezing rain areas to our north late Saturday into Monday.  Again, this is 4-5 days out with great UNCERTAINTY and the potential is still there that the freeze line could sink closer.  One thing is for sure: coming Sunday through Tuesday is freezing temperatures with upper 20s possible on the South Shore Sunday night into Tuesday morning.  I'm leaving all plants outside until Saturday, when I'll bring the tropical plants into my He-Shed. Satellite views show the Gulf return moisture surging northward over Texas.

You can see the dew points in the 40s & 50s that will be here by later tomorrow.

With the surface high moving to the East coast, warmer air will ride back northward on the backside bring very mild air over us.  But don't get used to it as more Arctic air is over eastern Canada.

After another chilly start, we warmed into the lower 60s.  Tomorrow could approach 70.

To summarize, it appears that the rain, sleet & snow line will stay well to our north, but that could change.  Nicandra just showed the latest Euro model.

It keeps South LA/MS all rain.  Sorry, you snow geeks, but remember, stuff can change.  IF the low forms farther to the south in the Gulf and draws in colder air, who knows?  Keep the faith.  Finally,

This week's podcast features FOX 8 morning meteorologist Zack Fradella.  To see & hear Zack, you'll have to subscribe to my podcast at bobbreck.com.  The cost is only $2/month.  John Snell is next week's guest.  Let's pay attention to the ever-changing forecast this weekend.  Stay tuned!