Locked into a summer weather pattern… it will be hot and humid with just spotty showers and thunderstorms through the weekend. Nighttime lows especially, will be very uncomfortable.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: On Thursday, the leftovers from a storm complex will continue to produce light showers north of I-12. Activity should be through by about 8am. Beyond that, only isolated showers and thunderstorms will pop in the daytime heating. While drier air aloft will mean fewer showers and storms, it also will allow any that can develop to easily produce strong, gusty wind. Thermometers will warm into the 90s by early afternoon with light, southwest winds maintaining oppressive humidity. Overnight will be partly cloudy with lows in the mid to upper 70s.

Up Next: Astronomical summer begins at 10:54am Friday. The summer solstice marks the time at which the north pole is most tilted toward the sun. This also creates the longest daylight of the year in the northern hemisphere with about 14:07, locally. Rain coverage should continue stay low through the end of the week, as warmer and drier air develops over the area. This weekend, high temperatures will be slightly above average with highs in the mid 90s and lows in the mid to upper 70s. Oppressive humidity will lead to afternoon feels-like temperatures spending several hours over 100 degrees.   

The Tropics: The Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are quiet. No tropical development is expected over the next 5 days.

The Mississippi River: At Baton Rouge, major flood stage continues with a level of 43.4’ as of Wednesday morning. Peaking at 44.1’ on March 19, the river set its 7th highest recorded crest at Baton Rouge. At 165 days, this year marks the longest period above flood stage at Baton Rouge. The level will slowly begin to fall, but is likely to stay above flood stage for several weeks to come. The high water will remain an issue for river traffic and river islands, although some inundation will continue for unprotected low-lying areas. The city of Baton Rouge and the main LSU campus are protected by levees up to 47 feet. Some soggy areas and seepage may be noted due to the long duration of high water placing pressure on the levees. As some of the Mississippi River diverts into the Atchafalaya River, gauges at Krotz Springs and Morgan City will stay high as well. This creates backwater flooding in parts of Assumption Parish in areas such as Bayou Chene, Stephensville and around Lake Palourde.

THE EXPLANATION:

Especially on Thursday, continued drying of the atmosphere will keep the numbers of showers and thunderstorms that develop low, but mid-level dry air ironically increases the threat for damaging wind gusts, so the few storms that can pop may be strong. The week will end with more typical daytime warming induced isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. A ridge should then expand out of the tropical Atlantic into the Gulf of Mexico Saturday, so a drier and warmer pattern is likely to return with only 10 to 20 percent rain coverage during peak heating hours. This will also allow high temperatures to reach the mid 90s in many areas with very uncomfortable nighttime low temperatures in the upper 70s.

--Josh

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