Southwest Louisiana residents should consider taking cold weather preparedness steps now as forecasters signal increasing confidence of prolonged hard freeze conditions with lows in the single digits. The hazardous temperatures (lows will be in the low 20s tonight) are expected to last through the Christmas holiday weekend.

A hard freeze watch has been issued for Thursday night through Saturday morning, said National Weather Service Lake Charles Senior Meteorologist Joe Rua.

“This may be upgraded to a warning later today and hard freeze conditions will also be possible on Christmas morning,” Rua said. A wind chill advisory has also been issued for Thursday night into Friday morning.

Rua said dangerous wind chills can lead to hypothermia and/ or frostbite if not properly dressed for the life-threatening conditions. “Residents should have cold weather plans in place and prepare to protect people, pets, pipes, and plants before Thursday night,” he said.