Those preparing for the Louisiana Marathon will find another year with cooperative weather for the various runs taking place.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: Sunshine will make a gradual return into the afternoon hours. With that, high temperatures will climb into the upper 60s—with an isolated 70 degree reading possible. Clear skies and seasonable temperatures will be the call overnight. Expect a low in the mid 40s.

Up Next: The weekend will begin with partly sunny skies and a high in the low 60s. Another fast moving storm system will bring scattered showers across the region Saturday Night. A cold front will follow, quickly cooling and drying the area by dawn Sunday. The morning will start off near 40 degrees—ideal running temperatures—followed by a mostly sunny afternoon with highs in the low 50s. Quiet weather will carry through Tuesday.

THE SCIENCE: 

Forecast Discussion: The first in a series of shortwaves has pushed east of the local area. Clearing skies are expected through Friday Afternoon in between the two systems. The active sub-tropical jet stream will continue however, with the next wave lined up for Saturday. The GFS and ECMWF are in cold agreement with a fast moving cold front passing through on Saturday Evening with perhaps a few showers. All indications are that the wave will be well east of the area by Sunday Morning—shutting all rain showers down by the start of the Louisiana Marathon. Cold air advection will be underway as a broad high pressure system slips southward through the Great Plains. Northerly winds will guide Sunday lows into the upper 30s with highs barely climbing back into the mid 50s. Early next week, beneath clear skies, nighttime will flirt with freezing while daytime highs respond to sunshine making it into the mid 50s. Another shortwave on Monday won’t have any moisture to work with and is likely to pass by dry. Some return flow setting up by Wednesday may allow the return of showers with the next wave on Thursday. 

 --Josh

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