Staff report

A late Wednesday weather review showed Port Arthur might see some rain Thursday afternoon, but chances of precipitation may diminish by the time the Lamar State College Port Arthur Mardi Gras Parade launches at 6 p.m.

Montra Lockwood, forecaster for the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said chances looked better for afternoon showers — 60 percent — but may drop to 30 percent by 6 o’clock Thursday.

“It’s coming in from the West, a series of disturbances we’ve been seeing this week,” Lockwood said. “Friday, same thing, but only about a 20 percent chance of rain by evening.”

Lockwood said widely scattered rain is likely throughout the Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas weekend, with chances of rain ranging from 40 percent Saturday to 60-70 percent Sunday. Low temperatures, perhaps in the 40s, may accompany Sunday rain later in the day.

Both the Golf Cart and ATV Parade and the Valero Krewe of Krewes parades will roll at 7 p.m. Friday, one after the other, setting out from Rosehill and the Seawall and continuing down Procter through the Festival gates.

On Saturday, the Krewes Royalty March will start at 2 p.m. inside the gates.

The Motorcycle Showcase Parade will roll from Rosehill/Seawall to Houston Avenue at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Total Krewe of Aurora Grant Parade at 6.

Sunday’s parades include the Umbrella Brigade Parade at 2 and the Munchkin Parade at 3, both inside the gates.

The Motor Parade launches at 4 from Rosehill/Seawall to Houston Avenue.