WBRZ - Baton Rouge

The forecast will remain warm and dry for the next seven days as South Louisiana's weather pattern will continue to be dominated by a large high pressure system centered just off the east coast.

This area of high pressure will serve to push temperatures into the low 90s as well as inibit cloud development that will minimize rain chances at or below 20%, although a passing afternoon shower can't be ruled out. A weak cold front continues to push towards our region, but is expected to weaken before reaching central Louisiana.

The weekend forecast call for temperatures to rise to the middle 90s with plenty of heat and humidity to push the heat index into the upper 90s. The next best chance for rain will likely be late next week as high pressure finally breaks down and allows abundant Gulf moisture to return.

Today: Mostly Sunny, Hot & Humid with the slight chance of a passing afternoon shower. High: 93

Tonight: Clear and Muggy. Low: 70

Weekend: Sunny and Hot with little chance for rain. High: 95 Low: 71

Tropical Outlook:

We are currently monitoring a very disorganized low pressure area in the southern Gulf of Mexico/Northern Caribbean that is producing widespread shower activity in this area, but it is important to note that this system is NOT an immediate threat to coastal Louisiana at this time. The center of circulation is very weak and it does not display any tropical characteristics at this time, but the conditions in this area are extremely favorable, and are conducive, for this storm to develop into a full blown named tropical system within the next 24-48 hours. Air Force Reserve Reconnaissance aircraft(Hurricane Hunters) from Keelser Air Force Base will begin investigating the system this afternoon and we will bring you the latest information on any developments that occur. Currently the numerical weather prediction model runs indicate that this system will continue on a northerly and move into the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday or Sunday....several model soloutions take this storm directly east or west with only one model suggesting a coastal landfall in Mississippi or Alabama. These model runs will continuously change on a run-to-run basis, and no firm solutions as to the movement of this storm is predictable at this time. Stay tuned to WBRZ for the lastest information.