Mobile, Alabama – A sharp shot of winter air is set to grip the Alabama–Louisiana Gulf Coast overnight, bringing the coldest wind chills of the week and raising concerns for anyone spending time outdoors before sunrise Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service offices in Mobile and New Orleans, Cold Weather Advisories are in effect from midnight tonight through 8 a.m. Thursday for coastal and inland areas from Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama westward into St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana, with wind chill values dropping as low as 20 to 21 degrees.
Along the Alabama coast, cities including Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island will feel the cold most sharply during the early morning hours as brisk north winds combine with temperatures in the upper 20s. Conditions will be similar inland near Bay Minette and Spanish Fort, especially just before daybreak.
Farther west, southeastern Louisiana communities such as Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, and Madisonville are also under the advisory. Exposed areas north of Lake Pontchartrain could see the cold linger slightly longer into the morning commute.
Officials urge residents to limit prolonged outdoor exposure, dress in layers, and wear hats and gloves. Pets should be brought indoors, and outdoor animals need warm, dry shelter and unfrozen water. Extra care is advised when using space heaters, and neighbors are encouraged to check on older adults.
The advisory expires mid-morning Thursday, but additional cold mornings remain possible as the week continues. Residents should stay alert for updated statements from the National Weather Service.
