Weekend Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

This Weekend:  The heat was on again today, but we did have a little relief for some of you!  Isolated showers developed by the mid-afternoon, and we even had some heavy downpours.  This is a sign that things are changing.  Any rain will dissipate once the sun sets, and then it will remain warm and steamy.  Lows tonight will be in the mid 70s.

On Sunday, we will have partly cloudy skies, and sweltering heat once again.  However, a few showers and thunderstorms will be possible for about 20% of the area.  Meaning, most of you will remain dry, and the lucky ones will get the rain.  We could really use some rain around here...just look at the lawns!  Highs will be in the lower 90s, and the Heat Index will be around 95 to 100. 

The reason for the changing weather is that the ridge of high pressure that has been sitting over us for the last week is finally moving east, and weakening.  As this happens, tropical moisture is moving up the backside of the ridge, or over Texas today.  Over the next few days, that moisture will spread to the east, as that high slides east.  This will give us more moisture at the surface and all the way up to the upper-levels of the atmosphere.  When that happens, you are able to get thunderstorms. 

Week Ahead:  Monday and Tuesday will be very similar to this past weekend weather - partly cloudy with some showers and thunderstorms for about 20-30% of the viewing area.  Highs will be in the lower 90s. 

Starting on Wednesday, more of that tropical moisture will be in place, and a few disturbances will move by.  Some on land, and a few in the Gulf.  These disturbances, plus daytime heating will allow for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop Wednesday through Friday for about 50-60% of the viewing area.  Rain could be heavy at times too.  Daily temperatures will be around 90 for highs and lows in the lower 70s.  All of this means is that it will still be hot and humid, but just not as oppressive. 

Tropical Update:  There is an upper-level low moving just north of Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, or over the Bahama Islands.  This low will not develop into anything at the surface, but will generate a few thunderstorms as it moves to the west.  If it holds together, it will move over Florida early next week, and could help to give us some rain by the middle of next week.  Again, it is not expected to develop into anything. 

Elsewhere, the tropics are quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through Monday.

Mississippi River Levels:  The Mississippi River continues to fall slowly. All Flood Warnings along the Mississippi River around Baton Rouge have been cancelled.  The river is either at flood stage, or below.  Here are the latest stages as of today:

• Baton Rouge:  31.5 feet.  Flood Stage is at 35 feet.    
• Red River Landing:  48.1 feet.  Flood Stage is at 48 feet.  

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