July 4th Weather Blog

. . .Heat Advisory Until 7:00 PM. . .
. . .More Record Heat This Afternoon. . .

Climate Info:  Baton Rouge shattered our record high yesterday as we climbed up to 102!  The last time Baton Rouge got to 102 was on August 14, 2007!  The old record was 99 set back in 1978.  We could break the record high today which is 100 set back in 1921.

Short Term:  All the storms from last night are gone, and we are starting this Holiday Weekend with partly cloudy skies.  It is very warm and humid with temperatures in the mid 70s. 

We will have another very hot afternoon across the Capital City area.  We will likely at least tie, if not break, the record high which is 100 set back in 1921.  It will be partly cloudy, and we will also have a few thunderstorms popping up.  These storms will develop from the heat along with a weak cold front that is drapped across the area.  This is the same front that set off the storms last night.  Some of the storms today could be strong to severe.  As we get hot this afternoon we will hit the convective temperature, or temperature at which storms will start developing.  That number is in the upper 90s, and with a forecast record high of 101 today, we will hit that.  The storms will start to pop up during the late afternoon, and evening hours. 

Any storms will dissipate overnight, and we will be left with partly cloudy skies.  It will be warm and muggy with lows in the mid 70s.

Ozone Action Day!:  Due to the hot and calm weather across the Baton Rouge area, The Department of Environmental Quality or DEQ, has issued an Ozone Action Day for today.  Air Quality will be code RED, or Unhealthy!!  If you have respiratory problems, then you should remain indoors. 

Also, during an Ozone Action Day, try to take one or more of the following voluntary actions into practice:

• Drive less or Carpool
• Refuel your car at night verses during the day
• Cut your grass later in the day verses the afternoon. 
• Conserve Energy in your home

4th of July Weekend:  It is going to be a very hot weekend in south Louisiana!!  Tomorrow will have partly cloudy skies with a few thunderstorms during the afternoon hours.  The weak front will still be lingering around the Deep South, and that will help to set off a few storms.  High temperatures will be around 100 once again, and the Heat Index will be around 105 to 110. 

If you are headed to the Fireworks on the Mississippi, you better plan on it being very hot!  Those that come out during the afternoon be sure to drink plenty of water, and wear cool clothes.  If you are going to the fireworks, you can expect partly cloudy skies with any storms dissipating.  Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to 90 degrees.  Needless to say, it will be hot!

On Sunday, The front will start to move to the east, but we will still have the chance of seeing some afternoon and evening storms with partly cloudy skies.  It will remain hot, but we will be just under 100 degrees, or in the upper 90s.  The Heat Index will still be around 105. 

Next Week Outlook:  The forecast models are showing that we will have a more unsettled weather.  That means more rain is in the forecast!  Yes, scattered showers and thunderstorms will return to the area.  The best chance of rain will likely be Tuesday through Thursday as another cold front moves toward south Louisiana. 

The rain and clouds will also be a benefit to us in another way as they will help to keep temperatures down!  High temperatures on Monday will be in the lower to mid 90s with partly cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms. 

However, I am looking for more clouds and rain on Tuesday through Thursday, and that will keep high temperatures only in the lower 90s.  Yes, that is still hot, but at least it is not around 100.  Lows will be in the lower to mid 70s.

Tropical Update:  There is a disturbance way in the north central Atlantic that is showing some signs of organization.  It is going to stay out to sea, and there is a less than 30% chance it could develop.  Click here for more information.

Elsewhere. . .the rest of the tropics are calm, and tropical cyclone formation is not expected through the weekend.

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Additional Weather Information:  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.