Because of severe cold weather, Chief Judge Susan Theall has ordered the Lafayette Parish Courthouse to be closed Tuesday, according to Clerk of Court Louis Perrett.
Perret said prospective jurors should call the juror information line for a recorded message about whether it will be closed Wednesday, as well.
A arctic blast is expected to bring bring below-freezing temperatures and single-digit feels-like temperatures to Lafayette and Acadiana. Lafayette has about a 30% chance of seeing freezing rain overnight Monday in to Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.
Areas near the Atchafalaya Basin and other elevated roadways and bridges are more likely to see a few slick spots, according to the NWS. Electrical outages are not expected as of Monday afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing Monday night and aren't expected to rise above freezing for about 15 hours, according to the NWS. Precautions should be taken to protect pipes, pets, plants and anyone susceptible to extreme cold, like children and the elderly.
The temperature isn't expected to warm much between Tuesday and Wednesday with Lafayette expected to remain below freezing for about 17 hours, according to the NWS.
On top of the freezing temperatures, the NWS is warning people about the dangerous affects of the wind chill, which is how the temperature feels to the skin.
The wind chill for Tuesday is expected to be 9 degrees in Lafayette and is expected to be 12 degrees on Wednesday in Lafayette.
“Any of these (prolonged outdoor) exposures can be very dangerous, especially without the right type of layers or clothing or protection,” , Cameron Kowalski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said on Facebook Live on Friday afternoon.
