Half-inch of snow, hard freeze expected

Published 9:44 am Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Staff report

Winter conditions in Greater Port Arthur were expected to go from bad to worse as Tuesday progresses, according to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.

But along the coast, forecasters say, any accumulation of snow was expected to top out at a half-inch.

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A winter weather advisory was in effect at 9 a.m. today for the western reaches of Jefferson County, and a hard freeze warning was in effect for the eastern portions of the county.

The NWS said an Arctic airmass would push hard freeze conditions on the area, especially Tuesday night. Port Arthur’s temperature was listed at 35 degrees at 9 a.m., but was expected to drop to freezing within two hours, while chances of rain and even snow increase to 80 percent by noon Tuesday.

Jared Rackley, an NWS forecaster in Lake Charles, said by 9:30 reports from the area suggested Greater Port Arthur would see more snow than rain. The greatest impact may be on bridges and elevated roadways.

“We have some reports of snow and sleet in the area,” he said, citing Kountze, northwest of Beaumont.

Port Arthur, Nederland and Port Neches-Groves schools were closed Tuesday, as were Lamar College Port Arthur and Lamar University.