Mardi Gras forecast: Chilly weather to greet revelers in New Orleans

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

February 8,2016; 10:12PM,EST

 

 

Chilly air will visit New Orleans this year for the annual Mardi Gras celebrations.
Revelers in New Orleans may want to wear a jacket or extra layer of clothing on Tuesday in addition to festive clothing, such as feather boas, beads and masquerade masks.

People heading to the streets for parades and celebrations can expect dry weather with temperatures rising into the middle 50s F on Tuesday afternoon, temperatures around 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal.
Revelers play brass band music as they begin the march of the Society of Saint Anne Mardi Gras parade, on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17,2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Although the sun will be shining and temperatures will reach into the 50s, brisk winds will put a chill in the air, occasionally gusting to 20 mph. This will cause AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to stay in the 40s throughout most of the day.
People celebrating into Tuesday night can expect the winds to slowly diminish as temperatures drop down near the 40-degree mark.
However, AccuWeather RealFeal® Temperatures may drop down into the 30s as early as 9 p.m. and remain in the 30s until Wednesday morning.
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People staying in New Orleans following Mardi Gras will experience another chilly day on Wednesday before temperatures rebound into the 70s for Thursday and Friday.
Dry weather will last through the second half of the week with the next chance for rain arriving late in the weekend.