ARCTIC BLAST- Weather conditions for the Red River Radio listening area are going to change drastically over the next few hours as a strong Arctic surge is on its way, bringing high winds and freezing temperatures that will cause the Mercury to plunge into the lower teens and possibly into single digits. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Hard Freeze and Wind Chill watch for the entire 4 state region and it’s expected to last through Friday morning and even into Saturday. Meteorologist Ron App held a Winter Weather briefing to outline what we can expect.
“We’ve got extremely cold temperatures across the four-state region starting Thursday afternoon into Friday morning,” App said. “We’re looking at temperatures below freezing so that’s the 32 degree Fahrenheit line for at least 36 hours from the I-20 corridor and south.”
Timing for the temperatures to start dropping will likely occur around the noon hour as the Cold Front is expected to reach Northwest Louisiana and push to the southeast but even colder conditions are expected for the early evening hours.
“Past seven o’clock the winds are going to start to move in, colder temperatures are going to start to move in and we’re really going to feel the chill because we’re going to be seeing sustained northerly winds between 25 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 35 and 40 miles per hour behind this front,” App explained. “ You factor in the colder air settling in at the surface, you mix that in with the wind, you get some pretty chilly temperatures and some very very cold feels-like temperatures across parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and even in to northern Texas.”
Sub-freezing temperatures ranging from 4 to 12 degrees are possible. In addition, wind chill values below 0 degrees will also be possible. These low temperatures are deadly AND can cause hypothermia. If you have livestock, you are advised to take precautions. And make sure your pets have adequate, warm shelter.
Any exposed vegetation should be covered. And make sure any exposed pipes and water faucets are properly insulated to avoid freezing and bursting. And if you’re not sure, know how to shut off the water main supply to your house should a pipe freeze and rupture.
Some other tips to consider – open kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets so warmer air can circulate and it’s recommended to drip interior faucets to a trickle.
