Urgent! Severe Cold Weather Watches Issued For Shreveport

Today is the Winter Solstice for 2022. Simply put, that means it is the first day of Winter, and it looks to be coming in with a vengeance.

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In advance of the extremely low temperatures expected in the coming forty eight hours, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued statements regarding the temperatures that urge residents to prepare now.

Hard Freeze Watch Issued

The National Weather Service has put this watch in effect from 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 22 through 12:00 pm on Saturday, December 24. This means that conditions are favorable for hard freezing conditions for portions of south central and southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma and east and northeast Texas.

A windy surge of very cold Arctic air will be arriving late on Thursday afternoon with a slight chance of wintry precipitation for Southeast Oklahoma on over into southwest Arkansas, and maybe extreme northeast Texas and even some of north Louisiana as rain showers will be changing to snow showers. However, no accumulations or impacts are expected from any or any wintry precipitation that may fall with the ground temperatures just too warm. The primary concern at this time will be the duration of this very cold air mass from Thursday night`s single digits and then remaining below freezing all day on Friday with highs only in the twenties, and then lows again during Friday night will fall back down into the teens. We will be finally warming back above freezing by noon on Christmas eve. Make preparations for this Arctic air invasion before Thursday night.

Additionally, sub-freezing temperatures ranging from 4 to 12 degrees possible. We could also see wind chill values below 0 degrees from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

National Weather Service Shreveport

Wind Chill Watch Issued

This Wind Chill Watch is in effect from the National Weather Service from 6:00 pm Thursday, December 22 through 12:00 pm on Friday, December 23.

The Watch states that dangerously cold wind chills are likely as low as 10 to 15 below zero may be possible. The watch is for portions of south central and southwest Arkansas, north central and northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma and east and northeast Texas. The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

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