A winter storm watch for Sunday now includes parts of the Baton Rouge area.
"Areas within the watch area could see ice accumulations leading to hazardous road conditions and localized power outages," said the National Weather Service in New Orleans Thursday.
"As it stands right now, impacts to the local area will be mainly confined to southwest Mississippi and the neighboring Florida Parishes (from New Roads to St. Francisville to Kentwood). That is where there is a higher confidence on at least a glazing of ice from freezing rain this weekend – mainly on Sunday. This means a potential for slick spots, especially on elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses," the NWS added. "Further south, into the Baton Rouge metro, confidence on icy impacts is much lower. Model guidance is still not in great agreement on how fast the freezing line drops southward into the area. If temperatures stay above freezing through out the day on Sunday, freezing rain will be less likely, as moisture will be exiting by the time the cold air gets here."
Outside of the watch area, a mainly cold rain is expected.
Bitter cold is expected for a few days, with hard freezes expected. Residents are urged to protect people, pets, pipes and plants.