Old Jefferson, LA Weather

Key Messages

Updated at 624 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

- Elevated fire danger will remain in place through the weekend. The current and worsening drought conditions and dry fuels combined with low humidity will lead to potential for rapid fire growth. Winds will strengthen a bit over the weekend leading to increasing concern. Residents should obey all burn bans in place and exercise extreme caution with any open flames outdoors even in areas that do not currently have burn bans in place.

- Strengthening winds across the coastal waters will lead to hazardous conditions for small craft through the weekend across all open Gulf waters of southeast Louisiana and Mississippi, as well the sounds and lakes east of the Mississippi River.

Short Term

(Now through Monday night) Issued at 1216 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

Deep layer mid and upper level ridging will continue to dominate the forecast area through the weekend and into early next week. A persistent east-northeast flow regime in the low levels will also help to keep a very dry airmass in place across the area through Monday night. The end result will be a continuation of the conditions we have seen the past several days with clear skies, low humidity, and a larger than normal diurnal range of temperatures. Winds will pick up slightly to around 10 mph over the weekend and into early next week as the pressure gradient increases due to the development of a broad low over Florida, but otherwise no significant changes in the ongoing pattern are expected. Highs will warm into the upper 70s and lower 80s each day and lows will dip into the low to mid 50s inland the upper 50s and lower south of the tidal lakes and along the immediate coast of Louisiana.

Long Term

(Tuesday through Thursday night) Issued at 1216 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

Overall, a dry pattern will remain in place for the middle of next week even as the mid to upper level ridge axis shifts a bit to the east in response to a passing southern stream shortwave trough sliding well to the north of the forecast area. Although there will be some moisture return that occurs in Texas and far western Louisiana from an increasing deep layer southerly flow regime, this will not translate over to our region. We will remain embedded within a deep easterly flow regime with drier air still advecting into the area from the southeastern CONUS. Temperatures will also continue to exhibit a large diurnal range on the order of 25 to 30 degrees. Highs will warm into the upper 70s and lower 80s and lows will still cool into the low to mid 50s over inland areas and the upper 50s and lower 60s south of the lakes and along the coast.

Aviation

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 624 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

Under the influence of high pressure, vfr conditions will prevail through the period with winds generally 10-15 knots or lower.