Weather Service Fine Tunes Mardi Gras Weekend Forecast

(KMDL-FM) Forecasters with the National Weather Service have issued an update to their forecast for this weekend's massive Mardi Gras events planned across the state. The good news is that once the weekend storm system passes, Louisiana is expected to experience pleasant weather conditions all the way through Mardi Gras and into Ash Wednesday.

READ MORE: Acadiana Mardi Gras Parade Schedule - 2026

In fact, if the current forecast for Mardi Gras day holds, and it should, there could be record crowds along the parade routes in cities that hold celebrations on that day. Our advice for Fat Tuesday revelers is to begin hydrating yourself right now. The forecast for Tuesday suggests temperatures in the low 70s and mostly sunny skies. So, don't forget your sunscreen.

What Time Will the Rain Start on Saturday in Louisiana?

To sum up the outlook for Saturday, it is not a question of "if" it will rain. It is more a question of "when" the rain will begin, and for many event organizers, when it might end. Let's just say if you have an event planned for Saturday in South Louisiana, you might want to consider your "rain plan" as a better alternative.

The issue with nailing down a solid forecast for Saturday is all about timing. Some of the more reliable weather models are in slight disagreement over when the rain will arrive in South Louisiana. That might not sound like a big deal, but a variance of six hours in the forecast could mean a Mardi Gras event that's rain-free and a Mardi Gras event that is cancelled.

The current National Weather Service forecast for southwestern Louisiana suggests the threat of rain across the region will ramp up in the afternoon. The current probabilities suggest a 50% chance of rain after Noon. But those rain chances will be increasing as the afternoon hours wear on.  So, an event scheduled to begin at Noon has a better chance of being "rain-free" than an event that begins at 3 pm might.

What Mardi Gras Events Could Be Affected by the Weather This Weekend?

By the time the sun goes down on Saturday night, forecasters think the entire region will have experienced or be experiencing rain and possibly thunderstorms. The current thinking suggests that after 9 pm is when the heaviest of the showers and storms will move across the region.

As of now, the Storm Prediction Center is not forecasting severe weather for the I-10 corridor. But I have a feeling there could be at least a marginal risk of strong storms across portions of the state. The Weather Prediction Center is suggesting there could be storms with "excessive rainfall" in the state on Saturday, but most of that activity is expected to remain well north of I-10.

Get Specific, Detailed Forecasts For Your Mardi Gras Events This Weekend

The National Weather Service has created these forecast links that are geographically specific for some of the major events planned this weekend. Here are the links to those events. They have them broken down hour-by-hour, so that should help you plan your time on and off the parade routes.

Mardi Gras Events for Friday, February 13, 2026:

Oak Park Elementary Mardi Gras Parade -  12:30 PM at Oak Park Elementary on 18th Street in Lake Charles,  Click for Event Forecast

Merchants’ Parade -  7:00 PM Downtown Lake Charles Click for Event Forecast

Classic Cars and Cheerleaders Parade - Alexandria, LA - Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Allons - Lafayette, LA, 6:30 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Adonis - Morgan City.  7 pm Click for Event Forecast

Chicken Toss - Beaumont, TX - 5:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Golf Cart/ATV, Jeepers Parade - Beaumont, TX - 7:30 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Exxon Mobil Krewe of Krewes Parade - Beaumont, TX 8:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette - Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA - 12:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Cajun Mardi Gras Festival - Eunice, LA - 6:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Mardi Gras Events for Saturday, February 14, 2026 (Valentine's Day)

DeRidder Mardi Gras - 9 a.m. at the Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds. Click for Event Forecast

Children's Mardi Gras Stroll -  9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Lake Charles.  Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Barkus Parade -  1:00 PM Lake Charles . Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Omega Parade -  2:00 PM Lake Charles.  Click for Event Forecast

World Famous Gumbo Cook-off: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lake Charles Event Center Amphitheatre.  Click for Event Forecast

Mardi Gras Lighted Boat Parade - after the Gumbo Cook-Off, Lake Charles, Click for Event Forecast

Children's Parade - Alexandria, LA - Click for Event Forecast

Children's Parade - Lafayette, LA - starts at 12:30 pm.  Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Bonaparte Parade - 6:30 pm in Lafayette Click for Event Forecast

Baldwin Mardi Gras Parade. Baldwin.  1 pm Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Dionysius Parade, Berwick, 2 pm Click for Event Forecast

Youngsville Mardi Gras Parade -  11 am. Click for Event Forecast

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras - Landon Pitre Memorial Park  7:00 AM -6:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Eunice Lil' Mardi Gras - The Mardi Gras run begins at 9 am.  1:15 pm for the chicken chase. Children's Parade 3 pm. Click for Event Forecast

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras - Cankton, LA - 7:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Elton Courir de Mardi Gras - Elton, LA - 8:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Jennings Parade and Run - Jennings, LA - 8:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Children's Courir De Mardi Gras (Run) - Church Point, LA - 10:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Cajun Mardi Gras Festival - Eunice, LA - 10:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Rayne Mardi Gras Parade & Gumbo - Rayne, LA - 2:00 PM - Click for event Forecast

Mardi Gras Events for Sunday, February 15, 2026

Mardi Gras Children's Day Parade -  3:30 PM Lake Charles  Click for Event Forecast

Krewes Parade - Alexandria, LA - Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Galatea Parade. Morgan City. 2 pm Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Nike, Morgan City  2:30 pm Click for Event Forecast

Krewe of Hannibal will follow Krewe of Nike Parade; 2:45 pm Click for Event Forecast

Grand Marais Mardi Gras Parade from 1 pm to 4 PM. Jeanerette, LA - Click for Event Forecast

Cajun Mardi Gras Festival - Eunice, LA - 10:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette - Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA - 5:00 PM - Click for Event Forecast

Courir De Mardi Gras (Run) - Church Point, LA - 10:00 AM - Click for Event Forecast

When Will the Rain Stop in Louisiana This Weekend?

The current forecast thinking from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles suggests that most of the falling rain should be out of Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana by Noon on Sunday.  That should bode well for events planned on the 15th.

But do remember, in addition to Mardi Gras fun this weekend, Saturday is also Valentine's Day, so there might be some raindrops on those roses or the chocolate heart boxes.