By Pat Culverhouse

There’s been a change in prediction for the approaching winter weather system following Wednesday afternoon’s briefing with the National Weather Service, according to Brian Williams, Director of the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Current weather data trend shows warmer temperatures are expected with later onset of precipitation shifting and impacting areas more to the north, Williams said in a message to Webster Parish officials.

Information delivered by the NWS during Wednesday’s briefing shows:

• Wintery precipitation moving in before midday Thursday and ending by early Friday afternoon.

 • Wintery mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expected with greatest impacts of freezing rain/sleet from Interstate 30 south to Interstate 20.

• Confidence is High that Webster Parish will get wintery precipitation and confidence is Medium regarding accumulations. Expect sleet/snow by 6 p.m. Thursday into 6 a.m. Friday.

• Latest data indicates slightly colder temperatures and, as a result, the onset of precipitation is likely to be a wintery mix in more areas. This has also slightly increased the highest impacts from winter mix to slightly south of I-20. The forecast remains highly variable and dependent on temperature trends.

• Latest trends suggest additional changes to details are likely before the onset of precipitation Thursday.

• Moderate Risk for winter weather for our area on Thursday and Friday.

• A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for Webster Parish. Thursday evening and Friday morning commuters will likely be affected. A slight change to the Winter Storm Warning and Advisory areas is expected Thursday.

• Between 3-5 p.m. Thursday, expect a mix of precipitation/ice with the freezing line around I-30. Between 7-9 p.m. Thursday a, mixed precipitation with rain is expected with a freezing line around the I-20 area.

• Friday from 5-7 a.m. mostly rain with less of a wintery mix with the freeze line around Sarepta. Friday 9-11a.m. expect rain with the freeze line around the Arkansas/Louisiana line. Friday 1-3 p.m. expect all precipitation to be out of the area.

• The freezing accumulations of 0.05 inches is the most likely scenario. Snow/sleet accumulations of 1-inch is the most likely scenario.

More information will be provided when available.