Isolated thunderstorms, with more heat at the weekend

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Today’s forecast: A weak low pressure system moving across the area should be enough to create a good chance of rain today. I have a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, with highs mostly just above 35 degrees.

The scattered rain in the morning should clear up by late morning. Further precipitation is expected in the afternoon as temperatures rise above 30 degrees.

Weekend outlook

High pressure will build up again in the sky, which will help our forecast for slightly hotter and drier weather. There will still be isolated thunderstorms on both days, but highs of around 35 degrees will become more common, with isolated areas reaching over 35 degrees.

In addition, rising heat index values, particularly until Sunday, could lead to renewed heat warnings being issued in the region.

Expanded outlook

A disturbance moving east-west along the northern Gulf Coast looks to bring better rain chances through Monday. However, depending on the timing of the rain, highs could still reach the mid-90s and heat index values ​​could reach 110° in areas where rain stays away long enough.

As the week progresses, the chance of rain will slowly decrease and plenty of heat will remain. Highs of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius are expected to persist from July 4 through the following weekend.

Tropical Update

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three different phenomena in the tropics this morning. The first is a tropical wave moving through the northwestern Caribbean. Land interaction will likely limit its potential for development, and the NHC currently gives it a 30% chance of development. Development or not, it should eventually reach Mexico.

Further out in the Atlantic, the next tropical depression of the season is likely to form soon. The probability of its formation is 90% as of 1 a.m. Friday. It will move generally west-west-northwest toward the Caribbean over the next few days. It is too early to speculate on possible impacts in the Gulf of Mexico.

Finally, there is a 20 percent chance of a tropical wave forming over the eastern Atlantic in the next 7 days. It should move generally from west to west-northwest.

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