textproduct: New Orleans/Baton Rouge

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1028 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

- Another significant Arctic outbreak is forecast this weekend. Temperatures and wind chills will be colder than last weekend, with impacts starting tonight through early Monday morning. No precipitation is expected, but the air mass will be very cold, with the primary threats being dangerously low temperatures and wind chills. Temperatures on Saturday in particular will struggle to reach freezing in much of the area.

- Gale force winds look to be on the horizon the entire weekend, starting tonight through Saturday.

- Temperatures will moderate starting Monday, but still remain below normal for much of next week. Wednesday will be close to normal with chances of rain. No concern for any frozen precipitation.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Saturday) Issued at 1028 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Biggest concern for the short term is the bitterly cold temperatures coming this weekend, with Saturday temperatures and wind chills being the colder of the two days. Due to the combination of a colder airmass along with very gusty winds, wind chills will rapidly drop off overnight tonight. Min wind chills could reach single digits especially north of the I-10/I-12 corridor. It will feel below freezing all day Saturday and for the ambient temperature, it will only reach above freezing for 1-6 hours on Saturday before plunging again on Sunday. For Sunday,winds will slack as the cold front moves further from land and wind chills will be relatively warmer in the upper teens to low 20s overnight and then highs in the 40s.

Here are some safety messages for the cold weather this weekend, particularly for anyone who will be spending any time outdoors. If you plan to go outside, make sure to wear several layers, with one insulating if possible. Wear a warm hat, scarf, and gloves. Avoid having any exposed skin. While frostbite won't happen instantly, at these temperatures and winds, it could happen around 2 hours to as little as 30 minutes. If you think you or someone has frostbite or hypothermia, go to a warm area indoors and seek medical attention. Don't try to rub your hands together.

For anyone using extra heating sources, make sure to use them in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions. Plug directly to a wall outlet and give it at least 3 feet of space. Test your CO and smoke detector ahead of using any heating sources. Don't use any outdoor heating devices indoors.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 1028 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Saturday will still remain quite cold although not the quite the single digits we could see on Saturday morning. Winds will decrease and that should help keep the wind chills more in check. Temperatures will remain generally below normal for the rest of the week with the exception of Wednesday which as of right now is forecast to be near normal. This is also the only day that there is any precipitation to be forecasted. Another (weaker) cold front will slide through the area which will have some decent (30-60% chance of rain) Wednesday into early Thursday. Temperatures will be well above freezing on Wednesday all day and night so no frozen precip concerns, although there may be a small window of having some thunderstorms. Temperatures will then be on the decrease again on Thursday.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1028 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

A few leftover IFR/MVFR ceilings is holding over the area, but terminals should eventually reach VFR conditions for the rest of the forecast period. The main impact during this cycle will be the strong and gusty northerly winds starting tonight through most of Saturday with gusts up to 30 to 35 knots especially for NEW.

MARINE

Issued at 1028 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Due to a strong cold front moving through the area and a tightening pressure gradient, winds will steadily increase on the tidal lakes, sounds, and coastal waters. This will start out as small craft advisory criteria tonight, especially for the western half of the coastal waters, before hitting gale conditions Saturday. These conditions subside Sunday with the rest of the forecast period being fairly benign outside of some low potential of small craft exercise caution/small craft advisory late Wednesday.

LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

LA...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Sunday for LAZ034>037-039-046>048-056>060-064>071-076>090.

Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight CST Saturday night for LAZ058>060-064>070-076>078-087>090.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for GMZ530-550- 552-570-572.

Gale Warning from 6 PM this evening to midnight CST Saturday night for GMZ530-532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572- 575-577.

MS...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 10 AM CST Sunday for MSZ068>071-077-083>088.

Wind Advisory from midnight tonight to midnight CST Saturday night for MSZ086>088.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for GMZ550-552- 570-572.

Gale Warning from 6 PM this evening to midnight CST Saturday night for GMZ532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572-575- 577.