Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

Short Term:  We have some partly to mostly cloudy skies greeting us this morning.  It is also warmer and more humid because of the cloud cover.  Temperatures are in the lower to mid 70s. 

You can expect another very hot and humid afternoon, but we will have a little relief for some of you.  This will be in the form of thunderstorms, but not all of you will see one.  Only a few storms are expected just like yesterday.  The chance of rain is only 20%.  The area of high pressure is located to the northeast of us.  This will cause the winds to come out of the southeast, and this will usher in enough moisture to give us those storms.  Otherwise, it will be partly cloudy with high temperatures in the mid 90s. 

Any storms will dissipate this evening, and then we will be left with a few clouds.  It will be a steamy night with low temperatures in the lower to mid 70s. 

Ozone Action Day:  The DEQ has issued an Ozone Action Day for the Baton Rouge area today.  This means if you have respiratory problems you should try to remain inside.  Also, you should try to refuel your car, and cut your grass after 6:00 PM.  Try to conserve energy too at home and work.  For more information, go to the DEQ website here.

Weekend Forecast:  The southerly winds will remain over the weekend, and that will help to give us some rain on Saturday.  We are only expecting isolated thunderstorms since the rain chances are only at 20-30%.  It will remain hot with highs in the lower to mid 90s. 

On Sunday, some drier air will move into Louisiana.  This will limit the amount of rain expected, so the skies will be mostly sunny.  High temperatures will be in the mid 90s. 

Next Week Outlook:  The above normal high temperatures will continue into the new week.  High pressure will be off to the east of us, and that will send in the Gulf Moisture.  This will cause us to have partly cloudy skies with a few thunderstorms on Monday.  Temperatures will be in the mid 90s. 

Then rain chances will go up as a wave of low pressure moves through the SW Gulf of Mexico.  This will provide some wet weather for us each afternoon starting on Tuesday and lasting until Friday. 

Tropical Update:  Tropical Storm Bertha refuses to weaken!  The storm is located 825 miles South of Cape Race Newfoundland, and is moving to the NE at 17 mph.  Winds are still at 60 mph, and the pressure is at 997 mb.  Bertha will remain at sea, and will become extra-tropical this weekend.

I am still watching the broad area of low pressure in the eastern Caribbean.  The shower activity remains disorganized, but upper-level winds will become more favorable for development today.  A tropical depression could form during the next few days as the system moves into the western Caribbean.

I am so watching an area of low pressure off the southern Georgia coast.  It is in an area favorable for development, and could become a tropical depression especially if the low remains offshore.  This system is drifting NNE. 

Elsewhere. . .the tropics remain quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through the weekend.

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