Weather Blog

Dave Nussbaum
dnussbaum@wbrz.com

. . .Tropical Storm Edouard forms off the Louisiana Coast. . .
. . .Tropical Storm Warnings Issued for the Coastal Parishes. . .

Edouard:  Yesterday afternoon, Tropical Storm Edouard formed off the SE Louisiana coast.  This morning it is located about 185 miles SE of Lafayette, LA.  Winds are up to 50 mph, and some increase in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours.    The pressure is at 1002 mb.  Edouard is moving to the west at 9 mph. 

Hurricane Hunters will continue to investigate Edouard throughout the day.  The storm is forecast to get better organized, and strengthen as it moves toward the north Texas/west Louisiana coastline.  Landfall is forecast to be on Tuesday morning, and it is possible that Edouard will become a minimal hurricane before making landfall. 

Here in Baton Rouge, we will see some scattered showers and thunderstorms develop throughout the day from the outer rain bands of Edouard.  Some of the storms could show signs of rotation, and it is likely a tornado watch may be issued later today because of that.  Fortunately, the storm is offshore, so the threat will be minimal.  The Storm Prediction Center has placed the Coast of Louisiana in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather.  Some showers will continue overnight and into Tuesday before Edouard moves inland over Texas. 

Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect form the Mouth of the Mississippi River west through San Luis Pass, TX.  A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warned area within the next 24 hours. 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect from Intracoastal City, LA west to Port O'Connor, TX.  A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours within the watch area.

Click here for the latest statement from the National Weather Service office for New Orleans/Baton Rouge area.

Keep it tuned to News 2 and Cable Channel 18 throughout the next few days for updates on Edouard.  You can also check out our NEW Storm Tracker on our website.  Click here for the Storm Tracker.

Short Term:  We start off this Monday morning with mostly clear skies, and muggy conditions.  Temperatures are in mid 70s.  There are also a few coastal showers from Edouard. 

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon.  Some of the storm will be coming from the outer rain bands of Edouard.  The other factor will be a trough of low pressure that will move to the south today.  As it interacts with the hot temperatures, and deep tropical moisture more storms will develop.  Some of the storms could produce heavy rain, and gusty winds.  It will be breezy at times as well from Edouard.  Temperatures will climb into the lower 90s, but the Heat Index will be 100 to 105 at times. 

Tonight we will have partly cloudy skies and there will be a few showers around too.  It will be a little breezy at times as the tropical storm moves just south of the coast.  Low temperatures will fall into the mid 70s. 

Week Ahead:  Edouard will make landfall around the north Texas coast on Tuesday morning.  We will still have a few of the outer rain bands moving through Baton Rouge, and this will give us scattered showers and thunderstorms.  Temperatures will be in the lower 90s. 

On Wednesday through Friday, high pressure will be sitting over us, and that will provide our area with partly cloudy skies.  There will be a daily chance for an afternoon storm, but the chance will only be around 20-30%.  High temperatures will be back in the mid 90s. 

Tropical Outlook:  For more information on Tropical Storm Edouard, see above.  Otherwise, there is an area of low pressure moving across the open Atlantic, or 450 miles ENE of the Leeward Islands.  It is not forecast to develop into anything as it is going through some shearing as it moves to the west at 15-20 mph. 

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

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.