Residents across Rapides Parish can expect several more days of summerlike temperatures before a noticeable cooldown brings more comfortable fall weather to Central Louisiana this weekend.
The forecast calls for afternoon highs in the lower 90s Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a gradual decline in temperatures beginning Friday. By Saturday night, overnight lows could fall into the upper 40s, marking one of the coolest periods of the forecast.
Wednesday and Thursday:
Wednesday will bring sunny skies across Rapides Parish, with afternoon temperatures climbing into the lower 90s. South winds will range from 5 to 10 mph.
Clear skies are expected Wednesday night, allowing temperatures to fall into the lower 60s. South winds will decrease to around 5 mph.
Thursday will bring another sunny and hot afternoon, with highs again reaching the lower 90s. Southeast winds will remain light at approximately 5 mph.
Mostly clear conditions are forecast Thursday night, with temperatures falling into the lower 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph during the evening will become light and variable overnight.
Friday:
A change in the weather pattern will become more noticeable Friday as afternoon temperatures fall into the upper 80s.
Mostly clear conditions are expected throughout the day and overnight, with temperatures dropping into the lower 50s Friday night.
The cooler overnight temperatures will mark the beginning of a more substantial shift toward fall-like conditions across the parish.
Saturday:
Saturday is expected to bring a significant drop in daytime temperatures, with afternoon highs reaching only the mid-70s.
Mostly clear skies will continue, providing favorable conditions for outdoor activities throughout Central Louisiana.
The coolest temperatures of the forecast period are expected Saturday night, when lows could fall into the upper 40s.
Residents planning to spend time outdoors during the late evening or early morning hours may want to have a light jacket available.
Compared with Wednesday and Thursday, Saturday’s daytime temperatures will be approximately 15 to 20 degrees cooler.
Sunday:
Sunday will bring sunny skies and a gradual return to warmer temperatures, with afternoon highs expected to reach the lower 80s.
Mostly clear conditions are forecast Sunday evening before skies become partly cloudy overnight.
Temperatures will fall into the upper 50s Sunday night, remaining cool but noticeably warmer than Saturday night.
Monday and Tuesday:
The new workweek will begin with partly sunny skies Monday and afternoon highs in the mid-80s.
Partly cloudy conditions are expected Monday night, with overnight temperatures settling into the lower 60s.
Tuesday will continue the warming trend, with partly cloudy skies and afternoon highs climbing into the upper 80s.
The biggest weather story for Rapides Parish will be the transition from lower-90-degree temperatures during the middle of the week to highs in the mid-70s by Saturday.
Overnight temperatures will also fall considerably, dropping from the lower 60s Wednesday and Thursday nights into the upper 40s Saturday night.
The forecast contains no significant rain chances, with generally sunny to partly cloudy conditions expected throughout the period.
The cooler weather will be relatively short-lived, however, as temperatures gradually climb back into the 80s Sunday through Tuesday.
For residents across Alexandria, Pineville, and surrounding Rapides Parish communities, the weekend should provide a welcome stretch of cooler fall weather before warmer afternoons return early next week.