Lake Charles, Louisiana – A sharper round of winter cold is expected to settle across southwest Louisiana Tuesday night, with temperatures dropping below freezing for several hours before sunrise Wednesday.
Overnight lows by Wednesday morning are expected to fall to 29–32 degrees in the Lake Charles area, with colder readings farther inland. Communities along and north of Highway 190, including DeRidder, Leesville, Oakdale, and Alexandria, could remain below freezing for four to seven hours. Areas south of Highway 190 toward the I-10 corridor, including Lake Charles, Jennings, and Lafayette, are more likely to see one to three hours below 32 degrees. According to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, breezy north winds will add to the chill, pushing wind chill values into the upper 20s to lower 30s by daybreak.
Tuesday night into Wednesday morning appears to be the coldest stretch of the week. Forecast lows include near 27 degrees in DeRidder, 28 in Leesville, around 29 in Oakdale, and near 32 degrees in Lake Charles. Coastal locations such as Cameron and Pecan Island are expected to stay slightly warmer, holding in the mid to upper 30s.
While widespread travel issues are not expected, cold-sensitive infrastructure could be impacted. Officials urge residents to protect exposed pipes, bring pets indoors, and cover tender plants, especially in inland parishes. According to the National Weather Service, breezy conditions Tuesday night may limit frost development, but the longer duration of freezing temperatures increases the risk of plant damage.
Temperatures will rebound quickly after sunrise Wednesday, but another cold morning is expected before gradual warming later in the week.
