WeatherFanatics: New Orleans Endures One of the Coldest Mardi Gras Ever

By Kristen Rodman, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

March 4,2014; 3:01PM,EST

It will be a cold, wet day for Mardi Gras participants in New Orleans Tuesday.
The high temperature today will not climb out of the low 40s for the Big Easy, more than 20 degrees below the date's average temperature of 69 degrees. It will also be just a few degrees above the coldest high temperature on record for a Mardi Gras, which was 39 degrees on Feb. 14, 1899.
In past years when Fat Tuesday fell on March 4, the temperature was typically in the 60s or even high 70s. The previous coldest high for the celebrations on this date was 56 degrees in 1939.
After a cold front brought a few showers and colder weather to New Orleans on Monday, rain also looks to make a quick return just in time for Mardi Gras celebrations.
Rain is forecast to move into the area throughout Tuesday, starting off as some morning showers followed by a steadier rain in the afternoon.
This rain will continue into the evening before tapering off overnight, making for a wet day.

Not only will those in New Orleans have to endure the rainy weather, but also the chilly weather brought by the passage of Monday's cold front.
Folks who plan on spending much of the day outdoors should dress properly as being exposed to the cold and the rain for long periods of time could potentially cause hypothermia.
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The rain looks to clear the area on Wednesday for those heading home or staying to celebrate an extra day with temperatures rebounding to near 60.

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