251
FXUS64 KLIX 290003
AFDLIX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
603 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

...New MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 554 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

- Below normal temps expected through the remainder of the week.

- Another significant Arctic outbreak, stronger/colder than last
  weekend, with impacts expected late Friday 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.

- Small Craft Advisory to possibly Gale force winds look to be on
  the horizon the entire weekend, starting as early as Friday
  night.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Thursday)
Issued at 1138 AM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

A fairly innocuous weather pattern for mid-week. We are at the
base of an upper trough, but collecting some influence from a
shallow, upstream ridge that is bringing slightly warmer air from
the Pacific off of southern California. Mostly sunny
skies and light winds are on tap through Friday. While it looks
nice outside, temperatures will remain five to 10 degrees below
normal (for this time of year we generally expect highs in the low
60s and low in the lower 40s).

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Tuesday)
Issued at 1138 AM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

As the upper pattern progresses, beginning Friday we start to come
under the influence of an upper level ridge that brings
northwesterly to northerly flow over us. This eventually carries
arctic air over us and brings bitterly cold temperatures back to
us. As noted in the key messages, we can expect overnight lows in
the upper teens to low 20s and wind chills in the low teens with
even isolated single digits possible. The lowest temperatures can
be expected early Sunday morning. Fortunately, there is no
precipitation associated with this system. By the end of the
period we are still looking at lows in the upper 20s south to mid 30s
north, although daytime highs do make it up to around 60.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1138 AM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

VFR conditions will persist through the forecast. Light winds will
remain in place with the next impacts to terminals expected to be
on Friday. /CAB/

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 554 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Currently marine conditions are benign with northerly winds up to
10 kt and waves in the 1 to 2 foot range. System arriving Friday
will drive strong winds over the weekend quite possibly into the
range of Gale force and associated wave action in the 10 ft range.

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 8 AM CST Thursday for
     LAZ056>060-065.

GM...None.
MS...None.
GM...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...DS
LONG TERM....DS
AVIATION...CAB
MARINE...DS