Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

. . .1st Day of Summer 2008. . .

Summer officially begins tonight at 6:59 PM, but I think it is safe to say that is has felt like summer for quite some time around here!  Typically, this day is know as the longest day of the year.  That is said because we have the longest amount of daylight today which averages just over 12 hours here in Baton Rouge.  At the North Pole, they have almost 24 hours of total daylight! 

Short Term:  We begin this TGIF with mostly clear skies, and much more humid conditions across the Baton Rouge area.  There is even a little fog too.  A few showers are also popping up along the Coast.  Temperatures are in the lower 70s. 

This afternoon will be another unseasonably hot one, but we will have some relief to that heat.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be developing around lunchtime and continuing into the evening.  These storms will be set off by an upper-level trough of low pressure that will move out of the Great Plains.  As it moves over us, we will be in the peak heating of the day.  Add that to a pretty unstable atmosphere with abundant moisture, and we get thunderstorms.  Some of the storms today will be strong to possibly severe.  The main threats will be hail and gusty winds along with heavy rain, and plenty of lightning.  High temperatures will be in the lower 90s. 

Tonight, the storms will dissipate by midnight, and we will be left with partly cloudy skies.  It will be muggy and warm with lows in the lower 70s. 

Weekend Forecast:  A fast moving upper-level disturbance will move through on Saturday, and this will once again spark off scattered showers and thunderstorms.  It will be a bit stronger too, and this means that the storms could actually last through the night into Sunday.  Some of the storms could again be strong to severe at times.  Rain chances will be around 60%.  High temperatures will still be in the lower 90s. 

On Sunday, the bulk of the upper-level trough of low pressure will finally move through the state.  As this happens, even more thunderstorms can be expected.  Rain chances will be around 60-70%.  A few strong to severe storms will be possible.  Heavy rain is also likely.  We could really use the rain in Baton Rouge!  The Metro Airport official reporting station has only received 0.20" for the month so far!  However, I know some places around town are well above that.  Temperatures will be slightly "cooler" because of the clouds and storms, so the high will only be in the upper 80s. 

Next Week Outlook:  A ridge of high pressure will settle in across the Southeast U.S.  This will significantly lower the rain chances Monday through Thursday as a more stable airmass will be over us.  The forecast will call for partly cloudy skies each day with only a stray pop-up afternoon storm possible.  It will remain pretty hot with highs in the lower to mid 90s, and lows in the lower to mid 70s. 

Tropical Update:  All areas of the Atlantic tropical basin are quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend. 

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