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Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Line of rain, storms expected Wednesday morning

3 years 10 months 4 weeks ago Tuesday, April 28 2020 Apr 28, 2020 April 28, 2020 6:09 AM April 28, 2020 in Weather
Source: WBRZ Weather

A bit of humidity will return prior to a stormy Wednesday morning. After briefly cooler and drier conditions a significant warm up is pegged for the weekend.

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: A frontal system will approach the area late Tuesday, helping to increase cloud cover through the day. In response to some sun remaining available, high temperatures will top out in the low 80s.

12pm Update:

With muggy lows in the upper 60s, a line of rain and thunderstorms will move in late, closer to dawn Wednesday. The leading edge of the activity could come with some damaging wind gusts or hail. Since the best chance for strong storms will be while many are asleep, turn on a NOAA Weather Radio or activate warnings on the WBRZ Weather App so you can be aware.   

Up Next: The Storm Prediction Center carries a 2/5 “slight” risk for severe weather as a line of rain and thunderstorms moves through the area Wednesday morning. One or two strong storms could produce damaging wind gusts or hail. Conditions will improve by the afternoon, as sunny skies and drier air return for the remainder of the week. More aggressive warming is expected over the weekend and highs could break into the 90s for the first time this season by Saturday or Sunday. 

The Mississippi River: At Baton Rouge, major flood stage continues with a level of 42.5’ as of Tuesday morning. The river is expected to fall very slowly through the next two weeks. The high water is primarily an issue for river traffic and river islands, although some inundation will continue for a few spots north and south of Baton Rouge that are not protected by levees. Unprotected low-lying areas will be flooded and agricultural operations will be impacted on the west side of the river. The grounds of the older part of Louisiana State University's campus become soggy. This includes the area around the Veterinary Medicine building, the Veterinary Medicine Annex, the stadium and ball fields. The city of Baton Rouge and the main LSU campus are protected by levees at this level. The level is also high in New Orleans and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

THE EXPLANATION:

As a surface high pressure system moves toward the Carolinas on Tuesday, winds will take on a southeasterly direction and inject more moisture into the low levels of the atmosphere. This will be felt in the form of a little more stickiness outside and some clouds will be able to develop. Meanwhile, a surface low pressure system will take shape in the Midwest. This low will track northeastward into the Great Lakes Region. The low will drag a cold front through the region on Wednesday morning to produce rain and thunderstorms. An expansive pre-frontal squall line will be move into southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi in the hours before dawn. Taking a much farther trek to the north than previous storm systems, the wind fields will be less favorable for tornadoes. However, enough moisture and instability is expected to be available for a line of activity to produce some damaging wind gusts and hail through daybreak. As a result, the Storm Prediction Center has introduced a 2/5 "slight" risk for severe weather into the Baton Rouge area.

Once the “cold” front clears the local area to the east, drier conditions will return for the remainder of the week, but thermometers will stay close to average. A broad upper level ridge will build over the south, central U.S. by the weekend leading to compressional warming and some of the highest temperatures so far this season. High temperatures will tempt 90 next Saturday and Sunday, with minimal rain chances.

--Josh

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

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