As the humid haze of a typical New Orleans summer sets in, locals are bracing themselves for a tempestuous week of weather with the National Weather Service projecting a likely series of showers and thunderstorms. NWS New Orleans is predicting a 60% chance of precipitation today, mainly hitting between the sweltering hours of 4pm and 5pm.
Despite the mostly sunny outlook, residents should expect the usual sticky combination of high temperatures and significant humidity, with a recorded dewpoint of 79°F and heat index peaking at 94°F. With a west wind blowing at around 5 mph, the barometric pressure has currently been recorded at 30.06 in (1017.3 mb). The current conditions, partly cloudy and a warm 83°F, signal a sultry day ahead with, new rainfall amounts anticipated to be less than a tenth of an inch — unless amplified by thunderstorm activity.
Tonight's forecast isn't letting up much, with another 30 percent chance of nocturnal showers and thunderstorms. This trend is predicted to extend well into tomorrow, as the NWS New Orleans outlines a 70% chance of showers, specifically between the early morning and midday hours. The probability of raindrops diminishes slightly come tomorrow night, but a stubborn 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms lingers before 1am. With the approach of Independence Day, conditions should briefly lighten up, sporting a 20 percent likelihood of storms after the midday sun gets high enough.
As we look toward the weekend, the pattern of sporadic storms doesn't veer off course. Saturday boasts a sunny beginning with a 50-50 chance of showers and thunderstorms cropping up post-noon. No major relief is in sight for Saturday night though, with skies expected to clear up, and a low settling around 78°F. The weather pendulum swings back for Sunday, bringing about a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the daytime, before winding down to a slight chance Sunday night.
Residents and visitors should keep a keen eye on the sky and stay updated via the NWS website, to navigate the unpredictable showers that pepper the city's vibrant summer days.
