Short Term:  You better grab your umbrella as you head out the door today!  Scattered to numerous showers are greeting us this morning.  They are part of an area of low pressure that is moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and a cold front that is tied into it.  The rains will continue throughout the morning hours, and they could become heavy at times.  It will be a cool morning with temperatures in the lower 60s, and they will slowly rise into the mid 60s by lunchtime. 

The showers and a few thunderstorms will continue into the early afternoon before ending.  As the area of low pressure moves inland and to the east, we will see a decrease in the amount of rain.  Then we will have mostly cloudy skies.  It will be a mild day with highs around 70.

The skies will gradually clear tonight, and it will be much colder as northwest winds come in behind the cold front.  Low temperatures will fall down to the lower 50s with areas in southern Mississippi in the upper 40s.

Week Ahead:  An area of high pressure will build in on Wednesday, and that is going to make for a very pleasant day.  We will have mostly sunny skies, and it will actually be warmer with highs in the upper 70s.

Things start to go down hill on Thursday.  Another cold front will move toward us from the northwest.  Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop ahead of the front over us as a warm front moves up from the Gulf.  Some of the storms could become strong with gusty winds, heavy rain and plenty of lightning.  We will see some sunshine, but that will just help to make the atmosphere more unstable, or favorable for storms.  It will be a warmer and more humid day with highs in the lower 80s.

The showers and thunderstorms will continue on Friday as the cold front gets closer to Baton Rouge.  Some of the storms could become strong to severe, and this is something I will have to keep a close eye on once we get to Friday.  The ingredients are coming together to support severe weather.  It will be a warm day with highs around 80.  The cold front will move through by Friday night/Saturday morning, and that will put an end to the rain.  Lows will be in the upper 50s.

High pressure will build in on Saturday, and that will clear out the bad weather.  We will have mostly sunny skies, but it will not cool down much.  Highs will be in the upper 70s since the cold air is not going to make it to our area. 

The weather will be perfect for Halloween trick-or-treaters!  During the 6 PM to 8 PM hours, the weather will be mostly clear and mild with temperatures around 70.  It will also be nice for the LSU game too!  Overnight, we will have clear skies with lows in the upper 50s.

More pleasant weather is expected on Sunday with highs in the upper 70s under sunny skies. 

Climatology:  As of this morning, the official rainfall total for month of October at Baton Rouge Metro Airport is 10.35 inches.  This is currently the 2nd wettest October ever.  The record is 14.48 inches set back in 1984.  With the rains today, and again on Thursday and Friday it will be possible that we could break that record!! 

Tropical Update:  All areas are calm and quiet.  Therefore, tropical cyclone formation is not expected through Wednesday.