Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  Well the rains have ended for the time being, and we are left with mostly cloudy skies to start this Thursday.  There are also some areas of fog, especially in areas where it rained yesterday.  It is quite muggy too with temperatures around 70. 

This afternoon is going to be a very warm and breezy one.  A warm front has lifted north of Baton Rouge, and will continue to quickly move north today.  This will put an end to the rain for us, but we will become quite breezy.  Strong southerly winds return to the area, and they will usher in the unseasonably warm and breezy weather.  Temperatures will climb into the lower to mid 80s with partly to mostly cloudy skies. 

Tonight, we will have mostly cloudy skies, and the winds will still be kicking.  It will be warm and muggy with lows in the upper 60s. 

Strong Storms Friday:  Tomorrow,  the warm and humid air mass will be in place over much of the Deep South.  A strong cold front will be sweeping across Texas today, and will be moving toward Louisiana on Friday.  This front will tap into the warm and moist air, and this will help to develop scattered thunderstorms.  Those storms will go severe Today across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.  They will evolve into a squall line, and this line will make it into Baton Rouge by Friday night.  These storms could become severe here with damaging winds being the main threat. 

The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of Louisiana, and much of Mississippi in a Slight Risk for severe weather on Friday.  Click on the image to the left to see what they are thinking.  Be sure to keep it tuned to News 2, and Cable Channel 18 on Friday night as those storms move through for the latest weather updates, if needed. 

Weekend Forecast:  Once the cold front moves through Friday night, then we will put an end to the storms.  High pressure will build across the Southeast on Saturday, and this will make for a very nice weekend!  It will become a little cooler too with highs on Saturday in the lower to mid 70s, but the low temperatures will be in the lower 50s - how nice is that?!?  On Sunday we warm back to 80 degrees, but the lows will still be in the 50s. 

Mississippi River Levels:  We are still keeping a close eye on the Mississippi River here in south Louisiana.  It continues to slowly rise, and all areas are now ABOVE Flood Stage.  Flood Warnings are out for all areas along the river as well.  However, we are protected from the levees.  Here are the latest stages, and crest levels:

At Baton Rouge:  36.2 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:  53.5 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 56.0 feet on the morning of April 9th.  All river islands and camps will be under water! 

At Donaldsonville:  26.2 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

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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.