Tagged News

• 2023 concludes as the hottest year on record in Baton Rouge

  January 1, 2024 8:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE – 2023 has finally come to a close, and it goes down as the hottest year on record dating back to 1893. The average temperature for the year was 72.5°, half a degree more than the previous record value from 1921. The extreme heat from the summer... more »

• A drought-stricken state: how the soils got so dry, and if there's any hope for relief

  November 28, 2023 6:33 PM

  For the last several months, it seems that we’ve had a hard time getting a lot of significant rain in the capital area. During January and February of 2023, almost the entire state was not classified under any drought category. That changed in March, when moderate drought expanded into... more »

• CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Dust devil spotted in the capital area on Friday afternoon Play Video

  November 6, 2023 8:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A WBRZ viewer spotted a dust devil on Friday afternoon while working near the L'Auberge Casino. The video clearly reveals the whirlwind picking up lots of dust. Dust devils commonly form on hot summer days, where air just above the ground heats to much greater temperatures... more »

• Sunday PM Forecast: A big cooldown looking likely late this week Play Video

  October 1, 2023 6:56 PM

  After a weekend with highs running about 10° above average (and even breaking a record on Saturday), temperatures will steadily decline over the upcoming week. That steady drop in temperatures will be followed by a more dramatic cooldown into next weekend as our first fall cold front arrives. Tonight... more »

• Monday PM Forecast: comfortable air slowly exiting this week Play Video

  September 11, 2023 4:32 PM

  After a weekend of low humidity and dry conditions, a slow return to stickiness is ahead. By the middle of the week, a few showers will become possible as well. Tonight & Tomorrow: Beneath mostly clear skies, it will remain comfortable and seasonable overnight. Low temperatures will bottom out... more »

• Woman who arrived home to see her yard in flames Monday asking others to be mindful of what can start fires Play Video

  August 21, 2023 3:00 PM

  ZACHARY - A woman returning home on Monday afternoon was greeted by firefighters trying to contain a blaze in her yard. Homeowner Tonja Myles said her whole yard was up in flames and burning just inches away from her home. "It was like being in a bad movie... more »

• Thursday PM Forecast: from standard warmth to summer sizzle Play Video

  June 22, 2023 5:58 PM

  Isolated showers and thunderstorms will be easier to find over the next two days than the rest of the Storm Station 7-Day Forecast. For the same reason, heat will return to well above average, and perhaps dangerous, levels. Tonight & Tomorrow: Expect a partly cloudy and quiet night. Any... more »

• Blue Bayou set to open in 1 week

  May 23, 2023 3:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Part of a popular Capital Area summer destination is set to open in one week. Blue Bayou, a water-oriented theme park, begins its 2023 season next Tuesday. The park opening date moves close to the traditional Memorial Day weekend for park operations following a delayed... more »

• Three south Louisiana men injured in North Carolina plane crash Play Video

  June 20, 2022 5:27 PM

  TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. - A group of men from Louisiana, including a businessman from Baton Rouge, were involved in a plane crash near Asheville, NC. Thursday. The men, who are alive and recovering in the hospital, have been identified as Jeffrey Trufant, Sean Harrison and Michael Franco. Franco... more »

• 59-year-old man slipped, fell and drowned at Catahoula Locks

  August 14, 2021 11:21 PM

  ST. MARTINVILLE - A man drowned after he slipped and fell into the Catahoula Locks. St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office said 59-year-old George Barras was walking along the bank around 2:23 p.m. Sunday when he slipped. Deputies said bystanders got Barras out of the water and attempted CPR... more »

• Trying to keep cool during another heat advisory weekend Play Video

  July 31, 2021 10:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A heat advisory in effect this weekend left some sweating at work and others standing in line at Liberty Lagoon water park in Baton Rouge. "I'm ready for winter. It's bad when you can't go outside because it's so hot you can't do anything," said Liberty... more »

• State wildlife agents police waterways during busy holiday weekend

  July 5, 2021 8:04 PM

  MAUREPAS - State wildlife agents hit the waterways this holiday weekend, keeping boaters in line and safe. "Life jackets on the children. Nobody's doing anything silly in the boat, jumping out of the while there are in motion," said Sgt. Terry Hicks with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and... more »

• Man dies after mortar shell malfunctions, explodes in tube

  July 5, 2021 4:24 PM

  SALAMONIE TOWNSHIP - A man died in a fireworks accident when a mortar shell malfunctioned and exploded in the tube. First responders arrived at the scene in Salamonie Township, Indiana around 12:20 a.m. on July 4 and said they found Steven Sims, 41, with critical injuries to his abdomen.... more »

• Man accused of storing 16 tons of fireworks at home, including devices that later blew up and injured 17

  July 4, 2021 5:48 PM

  LOS ANGELES (CNN) - A California man faces federal charges after allegedly transporting tons of explosives from out of state, including devices that later exploded in a police bomb disposal truck, injuring 17 people, authorities said. Arturo Ceja III was arrested Saturday by special agents from the Bureau of... more »

• Downtown business owners expect big crowds from weekend holiday events Play Video

  July 3, 2021 5:12 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Concerts, live music and Fourth of July firework shows are back in downtown Baton Rouge. After many cancellations last year due to the pandemic, business owners are now looking forward to a much-needed boost in sales. Fred Taylor owns Poor Boy Lloyd's, and he's banking... more »

• Young girl released from hospital after suffering shark bite

  June 28, 2021 3:57 PM

  OCEAN ISLE BEACH - A 7-year-old girl has been treated and released from the hospital after her leg was bitten by a shark off the coast of North Carolina. Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith said the girl was bitten around 11 a.m. Sunday. Smith told ABC News... more »

• New summer camp aims to educate through sports Play Video

  May 3, 2021 8:48 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - A new summer camp is coming to schools in West Feliciana Parish to help motivate students to get back to learning after being cooped during the pandemic. "With the pandemic, our kids have been through so much," West Feliciana School Superintendent, Hollis Milton said. The... more »

• More than halfway home on the heat

  July 30, 2020 7:36 PM

  Statistically and historically, the Baton Rouge area has reached an important milestone on the high summer heat to which we are so accustomed. The transition from July to August marks the halfway point between the two hottest months in an average year. Using average as a benchmark, the automated surface... more »

• USDA ensures children have access to free meals during summer

  June 11, 2020 10:28 AM

  Since the COVID-19 made its way into the U.S., resulting in the closures of schools and other aspects of daily life, the U.S.D.A. and its partners have been providing children with free meals. Now, as a way of making it as easy as possible for local program operators to... more »

• BREC offering virtual and on-site summer camp options for 2020

  May 21, 2020 1:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - If you're looking to keep your kids active during the summer but worried about COVID-19, BREC summer camps is offering a safe option you can consider. Kids will be able to play it safe for Summer 2020 with BREC's virtual summer camp! The various summer... more »

• Baton Rouge area facing hottest September on record Play Video

  September 16, 2019 1:15 PM

  With high temperatures eclipsing 90 degrees every day so far this month, and above average temperatures expected to continue, the Baton Rouge area will very likely set its hottest September on record. In addition to weeks of above average temperatures, Metro Airport has only recorded rain on one day in... more »

• First day of summer, HEAT ADVISORY in effect Play Video

  June 21, 2019 7:38 AM

  Didn't make it out of the 80s overnight ?? that is a new daily record for highest low temperature in #BatonRouge pic.twitter.com/HfYUI1SvFC — Josh Eachus (@DrJoshWX) June 21, 2019 Astronomical summer begins at 10:54am Friday. At this solstice, the earth’s maximum tilt toward... more »

• Summer job program aims to keep kids safe amid rash of violence Play Video

  May 2, 2019 11:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A recent spike in gun violence involving youth and young adults is a major reason the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program exists, says program administrator Nina Hunter with Employ BR. "We can get them off the street. Most of our kids in danger are some where... more »

• The strawberry harvest has arrived Play Video

  March 26, 2019 7:20 PM

  HOLDEN - Spring is here, and flowers aren't the only things blossoming this season. Farmers in the heart of strawberry country are hustling as the season is reaching its peak. The Poche family is known for their sweet strawberries, but a lot more history comes with there more than... more »

• Transitioning weather, but still hot Play Video

  August 15, 2018 7:11 AM

  After one more hot and mostly dry day, rain coverage will increase to end the week. Typical August weather appears to be in store for the upcoming weekend. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Wednesday, weather will begin to transition into a more typical afternoon shower and thunderstorm pattern.... more »

• Feeling the 100s, few spots to cool down Play Video

  June 27, 2018 6:51 AM

  With a relatively warm and dry atmosphere, showers and thunderstorms will remain limited to the isolated category. Even where a brief cool-down occurs, returning sun will steam things right back up quickly. On Tuesday, less than 20 percent of the forecast area picked up a shower. Metro Airport was one... more »

• One more day with higher rain chances, especially north Play Video

  June 21, 2018 6:58 AM

  An upper level disturbance will bring one more day with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. As we move into astronomical summer, temperatures will seemingly increase on cue. Wednesday’s forecast panned out well with 40 percent of the forecast area receiving rain, primarily north of I-10. THE FORECAST:... more »

• Pattern changes beginning to unfold Play Video

  June 20, 2018 6:51 AM

  The tropical air mass remains in place and so too will elevated rain chances. Expect the activity to scale back for your first weekend of astronomical summer. After a shoddy forecast on Monday, Tuesday brought a nice rebound with about 60 percent of the forecast area receiving rain, as expected.... more »

• Rain chances to slowly decline Play Video

  June 18, 2018 7:19 AM

  Rain coverage should slowly dwindle through the upcoming week, especially as deeper tropical moisture pulls away to the west. That area of moisture was originally expected to create a very wet Father’s Day but by Friday, the WBRZ Weather began to note a westward push in the higher rain chances... more »

• Woman who looked at solar eclipse now has moon-shaped blind spot in her eye

  December 9, 2017 10:23 PM

  STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.- A woman who stared into this summer's solar eclipse now has a crescent-shaped shadow on her retina. 26-year-old Nia Payne was hoping to view the solar eclipse in August. She knew not to look at the sun during the eclipse unless she used protective glasses.... more »

• Baton Rouge: wet summer kept 95ers in check Play Video

  September 25, 2017 12:22 PM

  It has always been hot and humid along the Gulf Coast during the summer season. In 2017 though, heat may have been kept from getting excessive, by an uptick in rainy days and total precipitation. Not saying it was cool, but summer 2017 could have been hotter... more »

• Why are weathercasters so hung up on dew points? Play Video

  July 4, 2017 1:50 PM

  The WBRZ Weather Team often makes reference to dew points instead of relative humidity when describing the humidity. How does that make sense? Well, although the terminology may not jive, the dew point offers a much better relation as to how it is feeling outside. A sliding scale that... more »

• Crime fighters mingle with kids in effort to build relationships

  June 16, 2017 7:16 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The special unit assigned to work the streets of Baton Rouge and deter crime met with kids Friday in an effort to build lasting relationships early. BRAVE officers held a summer block party at Gus Young Park where kids interacted with police. Organizers said a positive... more »

• Texas newspaper: Baton Rouge is 'more than a pit stop'

  May 17, 2017 3:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE – One Texas newspaper has highlighted Baton Rouge as the perfect destination for a summer trip. "Baton Rouge deserves more than a cursory glance en route to New Orleans for its walkable downtown and rising dining scene," the The Houston Chronicle writes. The paper writes that in... more »

• New video shows Deputy Nick Tullier operating a wheelchair

  March 22, 2017 5:37 PM

  HOUSTON, Tx. - East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Deputy Nick Tullier's family posted a new video Wednesday showing him operating a wheelchair as he continues his recovery. In an update, Tullier's father says the hospital had to remove a "central line" IV that was causing an infection. His father goes... more »

• Season ends but temperatures stay

  September 21, 2016 6:55 AM

  “Slightly drier” or not, the Baton Rouge remains hot and will enter astronomical fall feeling more like summer. THE FORECAST: Today and Tonight: Another afternoon of sun and warmth is ahead. Despite lower humidity, highs will easily climb into the low 90s. Overnight, expect clear skies with lows... more »

• Families look to beat the heat at BREC's Liberty Lagoon Play Video

  July 5, 2016 2:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Despite heat index temperatures soaring to more than 105 degrees Tuesday, some Baton Rouge families are still braving the outdoors at an increasingly popular spot for beating the heat. Weather officials issued a heat advisory for Southeast Louisiana on Tuesday as high temperatures will approach 95... more »

• Pat Shingleton: "I Do and Another Season..."

  June 2, 2016 4:17 PM

  Welcome to June with 19 days until summertime starts. Society sections of local newspapers showcase engagements and weddings and June is a popular time to exchange vows. Long before air conditioning, antiperspirants and perfumes, hot temperatures and high humidity created some bothersome odors. To combat these “smells”, brides would carry... more »

• Budweiser to rename its beer 'America'

  May 10, 2016 10:32 AM

  In what Anheuser-Busch, Inc. is calling “maybe the most American summer ever,” the beer giant has decided to take things even further with the decision to change Budweiser's name to “America.” With patriotism experiencing a major groundswell in the face of an upcoming and incredibly polarizing election paired with... more »

• BattleBots - Clips Available

  June 23, 2015 11:33 AM

  BattleBots promises to wow viewers with next generation robots—bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. The show will focus on the design and build of each robot, the bot builder backstories, their intense pursuit of the championship and the spectacle of the event. >>Website more »