Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  The advertised cold front has moved through the Baton Rouge area, and we are starting to feel the effects of it this morning.  We have partly cloudy skies, and there is some fog over areas that picked up a thunderstorm last night.  There is a slight "cool" feel to the air as well.  This due to the dew points falling into the 60s, and they will fall all day as drier air moves in.  Temperatures are in the upper 60s which is great on this first day of July! 

You can expect a beautiful afternoon with mostly sunny skies, and less humid conditions.  A large ridge of high pressure will be building in across the Southeast U.S.  This is producing sinking air, which gives us the sunny skies.  It is also bringing in the northerly winds, and these usher in the drier air.  However, it will be hot with high temperatures in the lower 90s. 

Tonight, the dew points will remain low, and we will have mostly clear skies.  This will lead to another "cool" night with lows in the upper 60s. 

Week Ahead:  Enjoy the pleasant weather today because it will not last long.  That ridge of high pressure will be moving to the east, and that will gradually bring back the southerly winds over us starting on Wednesday.  This will start the increase of moisture over Louisiana, and you will notice that as the clouds will return.  There is also a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm, but only at 20%.  High temperatures will be in the lower 90s. 

On Thursday, the moisture will continue to stream in from the Gulf of Mexico, and there will be an increased chance for showers and thunderstorms at 40%.  Otherwise, look for partly cloudy skies with highs in the lower 90s still. 

4th of July Forecast:  Deep tropical moisture will move in from the south on Friday, and that will lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms.  Fortunately, these storms will develop during the afternoon, and will have dissipated by the time the Fireworks on the Mississippi go off at 9:00 PM.  Unfortunately, this may bring your afternoon BBQs indoors.  It will remain hot with highs around 90. 

Tropical Update:  I am watching a tropical wave associated with an area of low pressure that just came off the African Coast.  This wave and low is in an area favorable for development, so I will keep an eye on it over the next few days. 

Recently, the eastern Pacific has become pretty active with 2 named storms, and typically about a week after that happens, the Atlantic becomes active.  So it is possible that the wave off of Africa could become our next system.  If it does, it will get the name Bertha.

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

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