Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

. . .Windy Advisory In Effect from 7 AM Today until 7 AM Wednesday. . .

Short Term:  We begin this Tuesday morning off with mostly cloudy skies, and it is becoming windy.  This is in response to a low-level jet stream setting up over our area.  Winds at about 2,000 ft. are 50-70 mph, but will be around 20-30 mph at the surface.  These winds are transporting in plenty of warm and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico.  This is making it a warm and muggy morning with temperatures in the lower 70s.

Severe Weather Today & Tonight:  A very strong cold front will be moving across Texas today.  This morning, numerous showers and thunderstorms have developed there, and some are severe.  This system will march across Texas today.  It is very likely that a squall-line for form over Texas, and race toward Baton Rouge by late tonight.  However, any storms that develop ahead of the line could easily become severe.  These pop-up storms could contain damaging winds, hail and even a few tornadoes.  The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of our viewing area in a Slight Risk for severe weather.  All of western Louisiana and eastern Texas is under a Moderate Risk - or the area where the best chance for severe weather will be.  Click on the image to the right to get all the important details. 

It will also become VERY WINDY today!  A Wind Advisory is in effect for the entire viewing area from 7 AM today until 7 AM Wednesday.  Winds will be sustained at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph!  This is due to that low-level jet stream moving over us at hte 850 mb level, or 2,000ft.  Be sure to bring in any trash cans, toys, etc. so they do not blow away!!  The reason for these strong winds is because of a tight pressure gradient.  What is that?  That happens when you have a strong area of low pressure near a strong area of high pressure.  Between the two, the winds increase as the pressure gradient tightens.  This is very similar to a garden hose with water going through it.  If you put your thumb over part of the end of the hose, the water comes out faster.  This is that tight pressure gradient. 

Tonight, the squall line will move through the Baton Rouge area just after midnight.  Numerous thunderstorms are expected, and these will likely be severe as well.  The main threat tonight will be straight-line damaging winds.  Once the squall-line moves through, the cold front, which is responsible for all the weather today, will move through as well.  This will drop the temperatures to the upper 50s overnight. 

Here are some useful and important links to keep you up-to-the-minute with severe weather watches and warnings:

• Storm Prediction Center
• Latest Weather Watches
• Latest Warnings
• National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge

*Please stay tuned to News 2 and Cable Channel 18 throughout the day for the latest weather updates, and severe weather information, if needed.  Have your NOAA Weather Radios plugged in, or with fresh batteries in them!   Remember the best way to get the latest weather watches and warnings is with a NOAA Weather Radio.  For more info on NOAA Weather Radios, click here.

Week Ahead:  The showers will end, and the clouds will gradually decrease on Wednesday.  It will still be breezy, but it will be cooler with highs in the upper 60s.  Lows Wednesday night will fall to the lower 40s. 

The winds will diminish by Thursday, and we will have plenty of sunshine.  It will be a bit warmer with highs in the upper 60s.  Lows will be in the upper 40s.  On Friday, more sunshine is expected, and it will be warmer with highs in the mid 70s. 

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Remember you can always get the latest forecast and radar information on Cox Cable channel 18 or Digital Cable channel 125, on www.2theadvocate.com/weather, or by calling the Weather 2 forecast line at (225) 336-2375.