Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

. . .Wet Weather Returns This Week. . .

Short Term:  We are starting out this Monday morning with mostly clear skies, and muggy conditions.  Temperatures are in the lower 70s. There are some coastal showers, and this will be a trend we will see each morning this week.  Typically when there are showers along the coast in the morning, you can expect them inland during the afternoon. . .

This afternoon will be another hot one, but we will get some relief from isolated showers and thunderstorms for about 30% of the area.  The ridge of high pressure that has been sitting over us for the last 2 weeks has moved east, and this is allowing for some tropical moisture to return to the area.  That is what will fuel the storms along with daytime heating.  High temperatures will be in the lower 90s with the Heat Index around 95 to 100. 

Tonight, there will be some evening showers, then we will go partly cloudy.  The coastal areas could see some showers all night long.  Lows will be in the lower 70s. 

Week Ahead:  Each day we will see an increase in the amount of rain coverage.  On Tuesday, we will have partly sunny skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms.  About 30-40% of the area will see rain tomorrow.  Highs will be in the lower 90s. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, a few of the computer models indicate a tropical wave will move out of the western Caribbean and get to the northern Gulf Coast.  This will bring a surge of deep tropical moisture to the entire atmosphere from the surface to the upper-levels.  As a result, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms can be expected.  Rain will likely be heavy at times, and some of the storms could have gusty winds.  With all the rain and clouds around, the temperatures will only be in the upper 80s. 

By Friday and into the weekend, we will still have that tropical moisture over us, but the coverage of rain will be lower with partly cloudy skies.  Only about 30-40% of the area will see the rain, and the temperatures will climb back to the lower 90s. 

Tropical Update:  A tropical wave forecast to move to the northern Gulf of Mexico by mid-week, and it is not forecast to develop into anything.  Otherwise, the tropics remain quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through Tuesday.

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 below flood stage for the first time in weeks!  This will be the last update I will put on the weather blog until the river rises significantly again.  Here are the latest stages as of this morning:

• Baton Rouge:  30.9 feet.  Flood Stage is at 35 feet.    
• Red River Landing:  47.5 feet.  Flood Stage is at 48 feet.  

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you would like to have the Weather Blog in your e-mail Inbox every morning during the week, click here and sign up for FREE! 

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.