WEATHER WATCH: Stormy weekend in forecast

A stormy weekend is in Southwest Louisiana’s forecast with up to 3 inches of rainfall possible.

The National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office said there is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms most of Friday.

Storm Warning Coordinator Doug Cramer said a cold front is moving into the area on Friday and is expected to stall near the coast by Saturday morning. The front will remain in the area through Sunday.

“Meanwhile, a series of upper-level disturbances will interact with the front producing multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms,” Cramer said.

Anyone participating in outdoor activities over the weekend should remain weather-aware, he said.

A few of the more “robust thunderstorms” could produce severe weather hazards — such as hail the size of half-dollars, damaging wind gusts up to 65 mph and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning — into Friday night.

There is a slight risk for excessive rain for areas along and north of a line from Lumberton, Texas, to Fort Johnson. This area has the greatest chances for receiving localized flood impacts, Cramer said.