Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  We begin this Thursday with partly to mostly cloudy skies, and there are a few showers showing up on TrueView Doppler Radar.  These showers are coming from a weakening cold front that is sagging into south Louisiana as it dissipates.  The rain is light, but could persist through the early morning.  It is still warm, and will remain that way with temperatures in the lower 70s. 

This afternoon will be another hot one with partly cloudy skies.  There will be a small chance for a shower or thunderstorm as that cold front dissipates.  Most of you will remain dry.  High temperatures will be around 90.  It will gradually become more humid starting today as the winds come back out of the southeast. 

Tonight, we will have some clouds lingering around, otherwise it will be a warm and comfortable night with low temperatures in the upper 60s.

Weekend Outlook:  A large area of high pressure is going to set up right over the Deep South.  This will provide us with plenty of sunny skies, and hot temperatures.  Rain chances will be very low starting on Friday and lasting all weekend.  High temperatures will be in the lower 90s each day and lows will be around 70. 

Next Week Outlook:  That area of high pressure will remain in place as we go into next week.  This means we will have partly cloudy skies, hot and humid conditions Monday through Friday.  Daily high temperatures will be in the lower 90s, and lows will be in the lower 70s. 

Watching the Tropics:  While hurricane season doesn't begin until June 1st, we are watching for the potential for a tropical system to form in the western Caribbean.  A number of the computer forecast models are showing something developing off the Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend, and then moving into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.  This system could be a part of newly formed TD #1 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean as it moves over Mexico.  Fortunately, a large area of high pressure will be sitting over the Gulf, and that will prevent anything from coming toward Louisiana.  IF something does develop, it will likely move toward Florida by the end of next week, and stay away from us.  Nonetheless, I will keep an eye on it. 

Hurricane Preparedness Week:  The National Weather Service has named May 25-31 as Hurricane Preparedness week for southeast Louisiana.  Look for special weather blog topics highlighting specific aspects of hurricanes.  For more information, click here.

Mississippi River Levels:  The Mississippi River continues to fall slowly. Click here for the latest on the Flood Warnings.  Here are the latest stages as of this morning:

• Baton Rouge:  33.8 feet.  Flood Stage is at 35 feet.  The river has fallen below flood stage.  
• Red River Landing:  50.7 feet.  Flood Stage is at 48 feet.  A river flood warning remains in effect! 

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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.