The heat remains intense Friday, but the bigger change is on the radar. A developing upper-level trough and southward-moving boundary will help spark more thunderstorms across south Louisiana and Mississippi, with storms hopefully becoming more numerous than we've seen in recent days.  

Today and Tonight: Friday will start hot and humid, with temperatures climbing into the mid 90s and heat index values reaching 105° to 113°. An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Storms should develop north of the area during the mid- to late afternoon once temperatures reach the mid-90s. Coverage will be higher than recent days, and some storms could become strong with damaging winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.

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The SPC notes strong downdrafts and sporadic damaging wind gusts are possible across the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast. Storms may linger into the evening/overnight period as some models have a complex of storms moving through after sunset.

Up Next: After Friday, only spotty storms will remain possible each afternoon, with heat headlines likely continuing into early next week. Most areas will stay hot and humid, although a storm could provide brief relief. 

Tropics: The Atlantic remains quiet overall, with no immediate tropical threat to the Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two weak areas in the Atlantic, but both have only a low chance of development over the next seven days. Several tropical waves are also moving westward across the Atlantic and Caribbean.  

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– Dave

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