Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  On this Monday morning we are starting the day off with very warm and muggy conditions.  The skies are becoming partly cloudy as a weak cold front marches toward Baton Rouge.  There are a few showers popping up in southern Mississippi, and we could see a few in town this morning.  Temperatures are in the upper 70s to lower 80s. 

The cold front will move through this afternoon, and that will set off scattered showers and thunderstorms.  Some of the storms could be strong with gusty winds and heavy rain.  Temperatures will be a little lower than they were over the weekend with highs in the lower 90s. 

The front will be along the coast tonight, and that will put an end to the rain in Baton Rouge.  However, coastal showers and thunderstorms will be possible.  It will become slightly "cooler" as northerly winds greet us.  Low temperatures will fall to near 70, and a few areas will see temperatures drop to the upper 60s. 

Week Ahead:  A large upper-level area of high pressure will build in on Tuesday.  This high will just be like the one we had this weekend.  That means we will have mostly sunny skies, and it will become very hot and dry!  I can't totally rule out a stray t'storm, but there will only be a 10% chance.  Temperatures on Tuesday will be in the mid 90s.  The hot and dry weather continues on Wednesday and Thursday too with highs in the mid to upper 90s.  The Heat Index on Tuesday through Thursday will be around 100 to 105. 

On Friday, it will remain hot, but there will be a chance of seeing isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon as that area of high pressure breaks down.  That means southerly winds will be present which will return the moisture.  The chance for rain will be 20-30%.  Temperatures will be in the lower to mid 90s. 

Tropical Update:  Bertha  is now a tropical storm as it moves by Bermuda this morning.  It is currently located about 90 miles SE of Bermuda.  Winds are at 65 mph, and there will be little change in strength over the next few days.  The storm is moving to the NNW at 8 mph, but a gradual turn to the north is expected today.  Then more NE on Tuesday.  This means Bertha will move just to the east of Bermuda today. 

There is also an area of low pressure located about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.  It is becoming better organized, and could become a tropical depression sometime today as it moves to the WNW at 10-15 mph.

Elsewhere. . .the tropics are calm, and tropical storm formation is not expected through Tuesday.

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