San Jose, Costa Rica - The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Hurricane Committee has retired Fiona and Ian from the rotating lists of Atlantic tropical cyclone names because of the death and destruction they caused in Central America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada.

Farrah will be used to replace Fiona in the lists of names, whilst Idris will replace Ian when this list next appears in 2028.

WMO began naming storms in 1953 to help raise public awarness of a storm, and communicate potentially life-threatening risks. In the Atlantic Basin, names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly that its name is retired. In total, 96 names have now been retired from the list. Ida was the last.

Ian drew more attention in the Lower 48. It was a large and powerful hurricane that struck western Cuba and then made landfall in southwestern Florida as a category 4 in late September. Ian caused a devastating storm surge in southwestern Florida. The storm is responsible for over 150 direct and indirect deaths and $112 billion in damages in the United States alone. Ian is the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and the third costliest in the United States.

Fiona struck communities in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos. It then moved northward over the western Atlantic and struck Canada as a strong post-tropical cyclone in Mid-September. There was significant damage and loss of life all along its path. The storm brought devastating inland flooding to Puerto Rico where it made landfall as a category 1 hurricane. The storm produced over $3 billion (U.S. dollars) in damage across the Caribbean and Canada and was responsible for 29 direct and indirect deaths. Fiona is the costliest extreme weather event on record in Atlantic Canada.

13 "I" names and 10 "F" names have now been retired. These letters have produced the two most retired names.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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In the spring, you will usually find the Mississippi River running at higher levels than usual. Sometimes, it even tips flood stage. WBRZ Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus, explains why in the associated video. You can always find the latest river levels on wbrz.com/weather, right HERE.

For more Inside The Weather, CLICK HERE. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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For south Louisiana, we have had our fair taste of spring already this winter. Since the start of the year, we have seen 53 days with temperatures above average, and of those days 8 days with record-breaking heat. Average daytime highs for this time of year is 71°.

Climatological spring started on March 1^st, but astronomical spring will start on March 20^th. In the weather world, we look at the start and end of seasons based on the Gregorian calendar, and the astronomical start is based on earth’s position in relation to the sun.

The climatological start of the seasons all start at midnight on the first of the month. Spring starts on March 1^st, summer starts on June 1^st, fall starts on September 1^st, and winter begins December 1^st.

Astronomical seasons start and end based on the positioning of the earth and moon in orbit around the sun. Regardless of what the weather is doing outside, the spring equinox marks the start of the spring season.

The spring equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator towards the northern hemisphere making day and night equal length. The date and time of the spring equinox varies from year to year, but this year it falls on March 20^th at 4:24 pm.

Each day we will gain about 90 more seconds of daylight heading into the start of summer.

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Some link changes in weather with body aches and pains. Researchers have found certain changes to be the greatest culprits. WBRZ Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus, explains in the associated video.

For more Inside The Weather, CLICK HERE. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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Two days of record-breaking heat across the Capital Area. We could go for a four-day stretch into the weekend.

Today we have already broken the record of 85° set in 2022. There is still plenty of time to see temperatures continue to climb into the upper-80s this afternoon.

Yesterday the number to beat was 85°, a record set in 2022. Temperatures topped out at 87°, but not only was the afternoon all-time high temperature broken. We also started the day with the warmest low temperature at 70°.

Into the weekend the same pattern is set to repeat. There is a chance to see some patchy fog at the start of the day but as the fog lifts we will be left with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will gradually heat back into the mid-80s. The record number to beat is 84° for both Saturday and Sunday.

The above-average temperatures will be sticking around the forecast through the weekend. A weak frontal boundary will move through Monday dropping temperatures down into the upper-70s and low-80s by the end of the week.

Click here to see the 7-day forecast.

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With Lent right around the corner, seafood especially crawfish is on many people’s minds. Here in south Louisiana crawfish are harvested from early February until about July, and the weather is a big player in the success of the harvest.

Crawfish season is dependent on several variables but two of the main influences are rain and temperatures.

So far for 2023, we have recorded 13.61” of rain at KBTR, this is nearly 4.25” above average for this time of year.

Temperatures have a large influence on the quality of the harvest. When temperatures drop below 60°, crawfish become less active and even begin to burrow into the mud for a dormant state. If warm Spring temperatures move in too quickly, it can shorten the season as well.

Since the start of 2023, we have only recorded freezing temperatures four times. Temperatures can dip to freezing for a day and not have major impacts. We watch for long freeze periods that could drop water temperatures and harm vegetation.

Too cold of temperatures can have a negative impact on the harvest but the same is for if temperatures warm too quickly. This week the 80s are sticking around in the forecast.

These warmer temperatures will do some good for the harvest but it’s when temperatures start reaching the 90s for several consecutive days that the season may see some impacts.

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting above average temperatures likely for the next three months. This means the overall trend will likely be warmer than the climatological average.

Average high temperature for March is 73°, and by the time we reach May average high temperatures climb into the mid-80s.

For now, crawfish season is kicking off with warm and mostly dry weather. For the latest information on crawfish prices click HERE.

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You may have heard about a "bomb cyclone" or a storm undergoing "bombogenesis." What exactly do these weather terms mean? WBRZ Chief Meteorologist Dr. Josh Eachus, explains in the associated video.

For more Inside The Weather, CLICK HERE. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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TANGIPAHOA - The National Weather Service determined that an EF-2 tornado touched down in Tangipahoa Parish Wednesday night.

The full report Thursday said wind speeds peaked around 115 miles per hour, and the tornado traveled just under three and a half miles. 

Residents near Tangipahoa shared photos and video shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday showing the tornado not far from I-55. It reportedly touched down along the interstate between the Fluker and Tangipahoa Parish exits before moving into the western portion of Tangipahoa. 

The National Weather Service reported the tornado ripped up trees, flipped over mobile homes and damaged a gas station in the area of Martin Luther King Road. 

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office reported that a family was able to escape one of the overturned mobile homes without serious injury. No major injuries have been reported. 

Entergy reported that more than 300 homes were without electricity after the storm. According to Entergy spokesman David Freese, nine poles were downed, 20 spans of wire were damaged, and five transformers needed to be replaced.

Entergy said that they estimate power will be restored around 6 p.m. Thursday evening.

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BATON ROUGE - Sometimes, a little bit of news happens during the news. Just as Michael Shingleton and Sylvia Weatherspoon were signing off for the 6:30 pm News, WBRZ’s Towercam happened to be pointing to the perfect spot to catch a shooting star. A shooting star, is a familiar term for a meteor.

((note: associated video has been slowed down from it's original version))

Meteors are made up of rocks and/or metal and burn up immediately upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. The whole process unfolds in less than five seconds, at about 100,000 to 400,000 feet above the surface.

Most meteors are pieces of other, larger bodies that have been broken or blasted off. Some come from comets, others from asteroids, and some even come from the Moon and other planets.

Meteors tend to be relatively small and any smaller than a football field will disintegrate before reaching Earth, according to NASA. Rarely, a piece of debris will make it down to the ground at which point it is known as a meteorite. Before entering Earth’s atmosphere, the object is called a meteoroid.

If you ever catch a newsworthy shot of the sky, we want your pictures (horizontal and focused please)! Snap and send it to @WBRZweather on Twitter or email weather@wbrz.com so we can share it on the air!

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Groundhog day is here and this year everyone is eager to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not. If Phil sees his shadow then we should expect more winter, and if no shadow then we are set for an early spring.

This sounds great but unfortunately, Phil is not the world’s best forecaster. The groundhog shadow theory has about a 35-40% accuracy, and we know down here in south Louisiana that we can see winter, spring, and summer all in one week.

In Punxsutawney, PA temperatures this week will be below freezing but plenty of sunshine in the forecast. Phil will have a good shot of seeing his shadow which would leave us with six more weeks of winter.

Down in New Iberia, the Cajun Groundhog, Pierre C. Shadeaux will also give his forecast. The Nutria commonly known as Boudreaux will put a nice Cajun spin on Groundhog Day. Instead of Pierre predicting more winter or an early spring, the Nutria predicts if we will see a longer spring and shorter summer.

Pierre C. Shadeaux all started a couple years ago when a local from New Iberia noticed all the rave about Punxsutawney Phil and decided it was time to add a little Cajun flair.

The forecast for south Louisiana on Groundhog day will leave Pierre as just a wet nutria. Widespread showers and storms are expected as a cold front moves through the area. For more on your forecast click HERE.

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The local National Weather Service issues two types of freeze alerts. The key difference between the two involves one "p" and slightly different temperatures. Watch the video associated with this page to find out!

For more Inside The Weather, CLICK HERE. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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Have you ever wondered how so many cities, including right here in Baton Rouge, can maintain an ice rink with outside temperatures way above freezing? Watch the video associated with this page to find out!

For more Inside The Weather, CLICK HERE. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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As 2022 comes to a close, let’s look back at the roller coaster of weather we all lived through. 

We started January 1, 2022 with a record breaking high. Including January 1st, there were 20 days that broke record high temperatures. There were 9 days that broke the record for highest minimum temperature, or the warmest morning low. 

There were 5 days this year that broke a record for cold, 4 days broke the record for the lowest temperature. Just 1 day broke the record for the coldest maximum temperature, or the coldest afternoon high. 

When it comes to rain, 2022 trended below normal. East Baton Rouge Parish spent 45 weeks under drought conditions. (You can find out more about your specific Parish here.) Despite that, there were 2 days in the year that broke records for highest amount of rainfall. 

Keep scrolling for the specifics on heat, cold, and rain records and honorable mentions in 2022. (All records are from KBTR, the Baton Rouge Metro Airport.)

HEAT

The hottest days of the year were not all record breakers. Baton Rouge managed to avoid triple digit temperatures, but we hit 99° three days in a row on June 23rd, 24th, & 25th. The 23rd now holds a record, but the 24th and 25th have hotter records from 2009 and 2012 respectively. 

Baton Rouge typically has about 90 days with temperatures in the 90s. This year there were 106 days with temperatures maxing out from 90-99° and 27 of those days were in June. That makes June 2022 the hottest June on record, tied with 2011 & 1990. The average temperature for the month was 83.9°. Overall, there were 6 high temperature record breaks in the month of June. 

July was the hottest month of 2022 with an average temperature of 84.0°. That ranks as the 8th hottest July for Baton Rouge. None of the days had record high temperatures, but it was hot. High temperatures for the month hit the 90s 28 out of 31 times. Those other three days were just shy of the 90° mark at 88°or 89°. The low temperatures were the record breakers. For the entire month of July, temperatures never dropped below 71°. The warmest night of the year was on July 20th with a low of 80°, breaking the record for warmest minimum temperature. July 19th and 21st also had record high minimum temperatures. 

There were also two record breaks in May that helped to make May 2022 the 5th hottest May on record with an average temperature of 78.1°. May typically has an average temperature of 74.9°.

COLD

The coldest month of the year was January, as it is most years. Baton Rouge reached freezing 22 times. The coldest temperatures of the year happened on January 23rd with a morning low of 19°. December 23rd was the second coldest with a morning low of 20°. 

There were only 4 cold records broken in 2022 and none of them were in December. The most record breaking cold snap was in October with record lows three nights in a row, the 18th, 19th, and 20th. November 19th we broke a record for the coldest afternoon high at 49°. 

RAIN

Coming off of 2021, the third wettest year on record, we expected this year to feel dry. It more than exceeded expectations. There were 180 days with not even a trace of recorded rain. That’s not surprising considering EBR was under drought conditions for 45 out of the 52 weeks. A massive dry out compared to 2021 where EBR was under drought conditions for only 4 weeks. (You can find out more about your specific Parish here.)

Both September and October had less than one inch of rain for the entire month with 0.86” and 0.38” respectively. Those months typically accumulate about 4” of rain. 

The rainiest month of the year was August with 10.29” of rain. That is nearly double the August average of 5.92”, making August 2022 the 10th wettest on record. There were two rainy days that did break records, July 22nd and November 24th. November 24th was the wettest day of the year with over 4” of rain. 

As of December 28th the rainfall total for the year is 54.37”. After the rain on Friday we will likely be coming in right around the average of 59.18”. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Storm Station Meteorologists at weather@wbrz.com. 

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BATON ROUGE - The arrival of bitter cold air across the WBRZ viewing area brings more than just a Christmas chill -- it threatens to damage or kill certain plants if proper care isn't taken to protect them.

Much of southern Louisiana will dip below 20 degrees over the holiday weekend, and temperatures will stay below the freezing mark of 32 degrees for long stretches of time.

WATCH: LSU AgCenter expert discusses which crops need to be covered

Species of plants that are Zone 8 hardy should generally do well, even during this particularly cold stretch. Plants that are only suited for Zone 9 or 10 are considered tropical and are likely to suffer damage or die in sub-freezing temperatures.

Here's a list of plants that are commonly found in Zone 8.

The LSU AgCenter details four steps that homeowners can take in advance of a freeze: Water, Move Inside, Mulch and Cover.

Those with leftover Christmas lights can wrap young trees in them, providing a mild warmth that offers some protection.

WATCH: LSU AgCenter video demonstrates how to properly wrap trees

But actions don't end there. Once the freezing conditions have lifted, it's important to remove any coverings on plant beds, prune away any damage and make sure plants are properly watered.

Click HERE to watch WBRZ streaming live online

Click HERE for the WBRZ weather page.

Click HERE to see how to download the WBRZ weather app. 

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A rare and significant cold blast will move into Louisiana and Mississippi by the end of the week and last through Christmas.

A polar airmass is expected to surge towards the Gulf Coast later this week and will bring several hazards to the area. Both *HARD FREEZE* and *WIND CHILL* alerts can be expected as early as Thursday night and could last through Christmas Day. Sunday is the time to start taking measures to protect your family, friends, pets and property from the likelihood of extreme and prolonged freezing conditions for southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. Rain is expected Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning and the cold air will arrive during the workweek, so any free time this weekend could and should be used taking the necessary precautions.

Go INSIDE THE WEATHER to find out more about the dangers of this major cold blast.

--> How does wind chill affect us and our homes?

--> What is a hard freeze and what is the impact?

Arctic airmass surging south out of Canada and across the central United States will quickly move into the Lower Mississippi Valley Thursday and Thursday night. The cold front is expected to move into southwestern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana during the evening hours with temperatures dropping 20 to 30 degrees or more in only a few hours. Some light showers may occur ahead of the front, and if enough moisture remains a few snow flurries could fall Thursday overnight. Temperatures will continue to plummet through the overnight hours with almost the entire area below freezing before sunrise. Not only will the temperatures plunge, but very strong winds will follow the front and by sunrise Friday morning, there is a high chance that many areas will have wind chills (feels-like temperatures) in the lower teens and single digits. The wind chill has no impact on pipes, but for people and pets, the rapidly moving air speeds up the heat loss over our bodies and can quickly lead to hypothermia. As for pipes, plants, and property, temperatures will struggle to get above freezing, if they even do Friday, and there is a chance that many locations could be below freezing for 24 to possibly even more than 36 hours. And even if temperatures climb above freezing Friday, it will only be above 32 for a very short time. Not until Christmas Day will thermometers clear 32 degrees for more than a few hours. No significant precipitation is expected during the cold spell.

Get the latest forecast and real time temperature updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

(((Following Data courtesy of National Weather Service)))

Every event is different and should be treated as such, but for some modern reference, here are a few relatable cold outbreaks:
-February 2nd through 5th 1996
-January 8th through 11th 2010
-February 15th through 17th 2021.

This cold blast will likely be more potent than the 2021 event. However, IT WILL NOT be accompanied by significant wintry precipitation thereby eliminating the risk for ice induced power outages.

As for a reference to Christmas, surprisingly there are two relatable historic events:
-December 23rd through 26th 1983
-December 22nd through 25th 1989

These two were extreme events and at this time we are not expecting to test those records. The 1989 cold airmass still holds numerous records across a good portion of the United States including locally where single digits were recorded in many places. We would have to go back to 1899 to see temperatures recorded lower than 1989 in much of the area over a multi day stretch.

As we move toward the holiday season, follow your weather with The Storm Station. WBRZ Weather is here for you, on every platform. Catch the latest updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. You can also follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, the air conditioner was running because we live in the south. That’s how it goes, right?

Last holiday season, the Baton Rouge Area was on a heater. The high temperature reached 78 degrees on Christmas Eve. Then, the thermometer did not dip below 62 degrees for the rest of the year which culminated in an 84 degree record high on New Year’s Eve. Now you remember last winter, right? It was the one that did not have a first freeze until January 2—the third latest on record.

With December 2022 off to a sweaty start, cool weather lovers are surely saying, “No! Not again!” So, will this warmth welcome Papa Noel into the bayou?

When it comes to answering a question about weather over ten days away, any skill in forecasting exact temperatures, rain chances and other conditions is lost. However, identifiable broad patterns and an understanding of the foundations of meteorology can help in forecasting trends and probabilities relative to average.

One of the building blocks of meteorology is understanding that the atmosphere is a fluid, just like the oceans. In rotating fluids such as the ocean and the atmosphere on Earth, there are naturally occurring planetary currents called Rossby waves.

The waves were named after meteorologist, Carl Rossby. Born in Sweden, Rossby came to the United States after extensive and groundbreaking studies in geophysics, meteorology and oceanography. After time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rossby would become a citizen of the U.S. in 1939 and the Director of the U.S. Weather Bureau. One year later, he also became the chair of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Chicago. It was there he turned his attention to large-scale atmospheric motions and identified waves in the atmosphere.

Rossby waves play a significant role in shaping weather and climate. Resulting from the rotation and geography of Earth, Rossby waves transfer heat back and forth between the equator and the poles in an attempt to return atmosphere to balance. The relatively slow motion of these waves often results in fairly long, persistent weather patterns. Rossby waves are known as longwaves which cause ridges and troughs which dictate big weather patterns around the planet.

--> Though a topic for another time, there are also shortwaves. These are little “disturbances” within longwaves that have less to do with weather patterns, but can still cause changing weather.

Rossby waves form because of terrain changes and differing temperatures around the planet. In both cases, air flow is disrupted creating imbalances in temperature across the surface and into the atmosphere. Winds respond to the changes in speed and direction—a sign of Earth seeking to regain temperature balance.   

At any given time, about 4 or 5 (can be 3 to 7) Rossby waves space out about 3,700 to 5,000 miles in size around Earth. These longwaves move rather slowly from west to east and occasionally they can stall or even move backwards, which is known as retrograding. This large size and slow movement is why locations between the trough and ridge in the wave can experience long periods of cool, unsettled weather while areas under the ridge can remain warmer and drier.

So, you might be able to guess what part of the longwave has been over top of the Capital Area in early December. If you were thinking ridge, you are correct. An upper level ridge has caused persistent above average, and at times record setting, temperatures through the first week of the month. You might recall, November began with 11 days above average, followed by 12 days below average. The latest warm stretch began on December 2 and will last through December 14, a period of about 13 days. Should the subsequent cool spell last for a similar length of time, it could stick around for Christmas.

Forecast model guidance does show the ridge dominant in early December breaking away and being replaced by a trough toward the middle of the month. Temperatures are expected to dip below average following a strong cold front that will move across the United States between December 12 to 16. With a ridge developing near Alaska and another one weakening over the Gulf of Mexico, cooler air should continue to funnel into the Lower 48 during the second and third weeks of December.   

The means of several runs of models from both the American (GFS) and European (ECMWF) indicate a sharp drop in temperatures for the Baton Rouge Area around December 14. Both suggest temperatures below seasonal averages of highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 40s through the end of their forecast period on December 23. Keep in mind, the farther out in time those models go, the less reliable the information. However, agreement from both provides a better level of confidence in the trend.    

As we move toward the holiday season, follow your weather with The Storm Station. WBRZ Weather is here for you, on every platform. Catch the latest updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. You can also follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and Twitter for even more weather updates while you are on the go. Happy Holidays!

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Today the 2022 hurricane season comes to a close. There was not a single named storm that made landfall in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas. Storms in or approaching the Gulf of Mexico repeatedly met cold fronts that pushed all activity to southern Mexico and southwest Florida.

Though all the ingredients were there for another year of above average activity, this season finished with nearly all average statistics. There were 14 total named storms and 14 is the exact average. 8 of those named storms were hurricanes and on average we see 7. Two of them major hurricanes. Both Fiona and Ian reached category 4 strength.

Largely due to the damages from Fiona and Ian, 2022 ranks in the top 10 costliest hurricane seasons. It currently sits at number six with at least $53.5 billion in damages from all 14 storms. That is more costly than 2020 (Laura, Delta, Zeta) that ranks number seven with at least $51.1 billion in damages.

Overall, only 4 storms made landfall over the continental United States; Alex, Colin, Ian, and Nicole.

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