A line of severe thunderstorms could bring high winds and heavy rain to much of southeast Louisiana Sunday night ahead of a cold snap that is expected to dramatically cut temperatures across the region.
Jay Grymes, a state climatologist with the LSU AgCenter, said there is some concern that the lasting effects from Sunday’s storms could worsen the impacts of the incoming freeze. Remaining puddles and ponding could ice over and power outages, if they occur, could leave some without heat.
“Given the relatively mild winter thus far, many Louisiana residents are ill-prepared for the prolonged run of cold days ahead,” Grymes said.
Heavy rain, high winds
A line of storms is expected to reach the Baton Rouge area sometime between 5 and 7 p.m. Sunday, bringing damaging winds with gusts of up to 60 mph that could down trees and power lines, leading to possible power outages, according to the National Weather Service. Runoff from heavy rains could lead to flooding in low lying and poor drainage areas…