Pat Shingleton for Feb. 10, 2009

• By PAT SHINGLETON
• WBRZ Chief Forecaster
• Published: Feb 10, 2009 - Page: 8B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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We showcase a few February weather items, as noted in a previous Weather News column. Many thought the reddish snow falling on central France on this date in 1869 was due to blood. Red rain, falling on Isle-sur-Serein, France, on Feb. 13, 1870, was triggered by atmospheric red dust in the Sahara Desert. Meanwhile, here in Louisiana, while resting her arm on her car on Feb. 10, 1998, in Colfax, lightning ran through a mailbox, into the fingers, down the arm and through the elbow of a mail carrier. Feb. 9, 1994, was the worst ice storm since 1951 for Mississippi. Six inches of ice fell, downing 8,000 power poles. More than 750,000 customers were without power for a month.

Fastcast: Spotty rain.

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, high near 76. Southeasterly winds 10 mph to 20 mph. Chance of rain: 30 percent. Tonight: a 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, low of 61. Southerly winds 15 mph to 20 mph.