Full Notification

...Increasing Confidence in the Potential for a Significant Winter Weather Event Tonight into Monday... .An upper level disturbance will bring abundant moisture tonight and continuing into Monday. Meanwhile a very cold air mass will be in place at the surface. Therefore, any rain is expected to become freezing rain and sleet as early as after sunset today, then increase in intensity overnight into Monday morning. The precipitation will change over to snow and sleet for portions of the interior southeast Texas and west central Louisiana overnight and early Monday morning, with some snow mixing in for the remainder of the area mid to late Monday morning into Monday afternoon. The winter precipitation will gradually end during Monday afternoon. The expected winter precipitation amounts, especially ice accumulations, will have the potential to produce significant impacts. Bitterly cold arctic air will then move in as the precipitation ends. Dangerously cold wind chills will accompany this arctic air for Monday night into Tuesday morning.

* WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 3 inches for mainly west central Louisiana and ice accumulations of one tenth to four tenths of an inch for the entire area. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 5 above zero.

* WHERE...Portions of central, south central, southwest and west central Louisiana and southeast Texas.

* WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Monday. For the Wind Chill Advisory, from 6 PM Monday to noon CST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This has the potential to be an unusually high impact winter system for this area. Please heed the advice of local emergency management and government officials.

* AFFECTED AREAS: ST. LANDRY ... LAFAYETTE ... RAPIDES ... ORANGE ... AVOYELLES ... SOUTHERN JASPER ... UPPER ST. MARTIN ... WEST CAMERON ... SOUTHERN NEWTON ... EAST CAMERON ... CALCASIEU ... VERMILION ... BEAUREGARD ... JEFFERSON ... JEFFERSON DAVIS ... IBERIA ... ALLEN ... ACADIA ... EVANGELINE ... VERNON

Instructions:

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. In Louisiana, call 511 for road information. In Texas, visit www.drivetexas.org for road information.