Residents across Rapides Parish should prepare for several more days of cold temperatures and widespread frost, with overnight lows dipping well below freezing through the weekend before a gradual warmup early next week.

Wednesday will start cold with widespread frost during the morning hours, followed by sunny conditions throughout the day. Afternoon highs are expected to reach the lower 50s, with light winds becoming northwest around 5 mph later in the day. Frost will return Wednesday night as lows once again fall into the mid-20s under partly cloudy skies.

Cold mornings will continue Thursday, with widespread frost expected early. Skies will be mostly sunny, and highs will climb slightly into the mid-50s. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-30s, as south winds shift northwest after midnight.

Friday will bring cooler daytime temperatures, with mostly cloudy skies in the morning giving way to partial sunshine by afternoon. Highs will reach the mid-40s. Friday night will be significantly colder, with partly cloudy skies and lows dropping to around 20 degrees.

Saturday and Saturday night are expected to remain clear and cold, with daytime highs only reaching the mid-30s and overnight lows near 20. Clear skies will continue into Sunday, with highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid-20s.

A gradual warming trend is expected to begin Monday, with sunny skies and highs returning to the mid-50s. Partly cloudy conditions will persist Monday night into Tuesday, with overnight lows around 30 and daytime highs climbing into the upper 50s.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions to protect pets, plants, pipes, and vulnerable populations during the prolonged cold stretch.