Thanksgiving Forecast Suggests 'Cold Turkey' For Louisiana

(KMDL-FM) After the close of business today, many Louisiana residents will be on Thanksgiving break for the next week. If not the entire week, then many offices around the state will be closing for at least Thursday and Friday. So, what is the weather forecast for all this Thanksgiving travel, feasting, and shopping you've got coming up?

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The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles is already looking down that road for you. November is a transitional month for Louisiana weather. We are slowly transitioning from the oppressive heat of summer to the sometimes outlandish cold, but mostly not, conditions of winter here in the Gulf South.

We do have changes moving through the area this morning and during the day today. We've already experienced some overnight showers in Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge. Those showers are expected to continue off and on today, but will taper off this evening.

radar.weather.gov

The catalyst for those showers is a cold front approaching from the west. That front will bring heavier showers and storms to northern Louisiana today, but it does look as if southern Louisiana will only see showers.

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When Will It Get Cold In Louisiana?

There will be a slight cool down in temperatures behind the front this weekend, but it does look now as if the much colder weather will arrive closer to Thanksgiving Day. For that to happen, we will have to have another cold front come through. That front could bring rain and storms for the early part of next week, ahead of the Thursday holiday.

For those with travel plans for Thanksgiving, the worst of the weather will be in Louisiana late Monday through Tuesday evening. Rain chances along the I-10 corridor will be there highest on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Then conditions are forecast to improve.

How Cold Will It Be on Thanksgiving in Louisiana?

weather.gov/lch

Temperatures will be drastically cooler by Thanksgiving Day across South Louisiana. Forecast high temperatures on Thursday for Lafayette and Lake Charles will be in the mid-60s, which will be quite a dip when compared to today's near record high of 83.

The forecast for Thanksgiving Day is currently calling for sunny skies and an afternoon high temperature near 61. That temperature could be even cooler the further north you travel in the state.