The Big Easy is bracing itself for a wet week ahead. Today, locals can expect showers and thunderstorms likely to occur, primarily between 1pm and 4pm. The sun may make a brief appearance, with a high nearing 89 degrees, as the wind picks up from the south at around 5 to 10 mph this afternoon. The likelihood of rain stands at a solid 70%, so don't forget to grab your umbrella before heading out. Areas could see new rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch, according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans.
Tonight, the rain isn't going, to completely vanish, with a 30 percent chance of precipitation, mainly between 2am and 4am. The skies will partially clear up as the temperatures dip to a low near 76 degrees. Calm winds from the south will persist, creating a somewhat muggy atmosphere. Moving into Sunday, rain and thunderstorms are expected mainly before 4pm, then potential showers and a possible thunderstorm after 4pm, with an increased chance of precipitation at 90%. The pattern looks set to continue into the following days, with similar conditions forecasted for Monday and Tuesday.
Looking ahead, Monday promises showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with highs peaking close to 90 degrees. The calm wind will take a turn to the southwest by the morning, while chances of precipitation will hover around 80%. For those already weary of the continuous damp conditions, don't expect much respite on Monday night as there remains a 30 percent probability for further showers and thunderstorms. Overcast skies and a low around 75 degrees will be the norm, with a subtle southwest breeze providing scant relief.
The wet weather is set to stay locked in for the first half of the week, with Tuesday showcasing high chances of showers and potentially another thunderstorm. The trend doesn't seem to seriously shift until Independence Day, when showers and thunderstorms are "likely" to happen in a mostly sunny sky, coupled with highs pushing the mercury to near 91 degrees. Hence, those planning festivities should remain vigilant and possibly plan for a Plan B, indoors, to avoid getting caught in the consistent downpours.
