Arctic blast heads toward north Louisiana Thursday

A rush of frigid air behind a cold front marching across the country will bring several days of freezing weather to Lincoln Parish just in time for Christmas.

Though the front isn’t expected to bring any sleet or snow, officials are urging residents to get ready for the coldest multi-day temperatures the area has seen since the winter storm of 2021.

“It’s going to be a very cold stretch of temperatures,” meteorologist Ryan Knapp, with the National Weather Service Shreveport office, said during a Tuesday afternoon briefing.

The front will hit the Lincoln Parish area Thursday afternoon, dropping temperatures from a high of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit to as low as single digits as evening falls.

The NWS has already issued a hard freeze warning beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday through noon on Saturday. Temperatures Thursday night into early morning are forecast to between 7 and 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wind chill through Friday morning is expected to be around -6 degrees.

“The wind chill is going to be dangerous. The cold outside is going to be dangerous,” Kip Franklin, Lincoln Parish Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said. Temperatures in Lincoln Parish could hover at or below freezing for up to 48 hours. That clock begins ticking late Thursday afternoon and continues until around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to NWS predictions.

Though the front isn’t expected to bring any precipitation, winds forecast up to 40 mph could down trees, resulting in power outages.

If that happens, Franklin warned anyone using a portable generator to be careful. Portable generators should never be operated indoors or in partially enclosed areas like garages, he said.

Franklin also urged residents to winterize their vehicles, making sure they have antifreeze and jumper cables. Residents should also limit time outside, he said.

Outdoor pipes should be wrapped, and indoor faucets allowed to drip. The Ruston Fire Department urged caution as well.

“Heating is going to be working overtime which always creates a chance for a structure fire,” RFD Director of Emergency Medical Services David Wells said.

Residents should make sure their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working, he said. If anyone needs help installing detectors, call RFD at 255-4762.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office offered the following safety tips: Place space heaters 3-5 feet from combustible objects like blankets and curtains.

Plug all heating appliances directly into wall outlets, not power strips or extension cords.

Do not use stoves or ovens to heat homes.

Don’t overfill fireplaces/ wood-burning stoves.

Do not leave candles/ open flames (or space heaters) left unattended.

Keep holiday decorations 3-5 feet from heat sources and be mindful of not only the quality of their wires, but how many decorations are plugged into one power source.