Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  We begin this Friday off with mostly clear skies, and somewhat comfortable conditions.  It is not too muggy this morning.  Temperatures are around 70. 

This afternoon will be a mostly sunny and hot one!  A large area of high pressure will be sitting over us for the next few days.  This will prevent any organized areas of rain to stay away, but a stray pop-up shower can't be totally ruled out from the daytime heating.  However, only about 10% of the area could see one.  The heat is here to stay with high temperatures this afternoon getting into the lower 90s.  It will be a little more humid today compared to yesterday, so the Heat Index will be around 95 degrees at times. 

There is also an Ozone Action Day today as the Air Quality Index will be Code Orange, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.  Those of you who have respiratory problems should remain in the A/C today.  Also, try to wait until after 6:00 PM to fill your car with gas, and cut your grass.  If you can, car pool today, or walk to places that you might normally drive to that are close.  This will help with the amount of emissions in the air. 

Tonight, we will have mostly clear skies, and it will be a very nice night.  It will be warm and a little muggy with low temperatures in the upper 60s. 

Weekend Forecast:  That area of high pressure will remain over us all weekend.  That will lead to mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies both Saturday and Sunday.  It will gradually become more humid each day, so it is safe to say it will be hazy, hot and humid!  Temperatures will be in the lower 90s with lows around 70.  There will be a slight chance for a pop-up afternoon shower, but only for about 10-20% of the viewing area. 

If you headed to Rock the Box this weekend, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.  It is going to be hot so be sure to wear light weight clothing as well. 

Next Week Outlook:  That area of high pressure will be sitting over the Deep South for much of next week!  That means the heat and humidity will be here for some time.  Each day will be partly cloudy with highs in the lower 90s and lows in the lower 70s.  As always when it gets this hot, there will be a daily chance for a pop-up afternoon storm or two, but the threat will remain low since there will be a lot of dry air aloft which prevents many storms from developing. 

Watching the Tropics:  While hurricane season doesn't begin until Sunday, June 1, 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 during next week, and then moving into the eastern Gulf of Mexico by next weekend.  Tropical Depression Alma, which formed yesterday, is now inland over Nicaragua, and is a totally different system.  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 next weekend, 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:  33.4 feet.  Flood Stage is at 35 feet.  The river has fallen below flood stage.  
• Red River Landing:  50.6 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.