Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  We begin this Wednesday morning off with mostly cloudy skies, and there have also be some areas of fog.  Especially over areas that received some rain yesterday.  There are also a few areas of rain, but mainly along the coast.  The rain is coming from a cold front is stalled along the I-10 corridor.  It is mild and muggy with temperatures in the upper 60s. 

This afternoon, that cold front will gradually start drifting north.  This front will provide us with partly sunny skies, and some isolated showers and thunderstorms could pop-up as well.  However, only about 20-30% of the area will receive rain.  It will continue to be warm and humid with highs around 80. 

Tonight, the clouds will stick around, and so will be muggy conditions.  Lows will fall to the mid 60s.  Some fog could be possible as well. 

Rest of the Week:  On Thursday, that front will continue to move to the north, but now as a warm front as southerly winds return to the area.  These winds could become quite breezy too as they bring in some warmer air.  High temperatures will be in the lower 80s with the sun and cloud mix. 

On Friday, the warm front will be well north of Baton Rouge, but we will be watching a cold front moving in from the west.  A disturbance will also accompany this front, and that will help to set off scattered showers and thunderstorms.  The bulk of the storms will start during the late afternoon hours in Baton Rouge.  It is very likely that a squall line will form in Texas, and race toward Baton Rouge by Friday night/early Saturday morning.  Some of the storms could be strong to severe.  The main threat will be damaging winds. 

The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and eastern Texas in a Slight Risk for severe weather.   We will watch this system closely, but at this time we are just expecting the squall line.  The better dynamics in the atmosphere will be well north of Baton Rouge, and that is the area that could see significantly more severe weather. 

Weekend Outlook:  Once the cold front clears the area on Saturday morning, high pressure will build in, and that will make for some mostly sunny skies by the afternoon.  It will be cooler with highs in the mid 70s.  Saturday night will be much cooler than it has been with lows in the lower to mid 50s.  Sunday will be mostly sunny and warmer with highs in the upper 70s. 

Mississippi River Levels:  The Mississippi River continues to rise here in south Louisiana from the recent rains across the Mid-Mississippi River and Ohio River Valleys.  Here are the latest stages:

At Baton Rouge:  35.6 feet.  A River Flood Warning has been issued for this location.  The River is forecast to crest at 39 feet by Tuesday morning, April 9th.  Flood Stage is at 35 feet, however, we are protected by the levees that go to around 45 feet.  Click here for the latest on the Flood Warnings.

At Red River Landing:  52.8 feet.  Flood Stage is at 48 feet, and a River Flood Warning is in effect here as well.  The river is forecast to crest here at 55.5 feet on the morning of April 9th.  All river islands and camps will be under water! 

At Donaldsonville:  25.8 feet.  Flood stage is 27.0 feet.  The river will crest at 29.0 feet on the evening of April 9th.  A River Flood Warning is in effect for here as well.   

Of course if there are serious flooding concerns, then the Army Corp of Engineers will open the flood gates in Morganza, and along the Bonnet Carre Spillway in New Orleans to relieve the pressure on the levees.

The Following links can be used to get the latest River Levels across SE Louisiana:

• National Weather Service River Summary
• USGS River Levels

We will continue to closely watch the river as it rises over the next week!  Keep it tuned to News 2 for updates!

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