New Orleans wakes up warm and mostly clear this morning, with a Lakefront observation near 63°F and that familiar Gulf humidity already making itself known. Highs are expected to reach the mid to upper 70s today while southerly breezes keep the air feeling sticky. Patchy to widespread fog is likely to develop overnight and again on Thursday and Friday mornings, which could put the brakes on early commutes.
Afternoon Temperatures And Winds
By this afternoon, look for partly sunny skies and a high near 77°F with south winds around 5 to 10 mph that ease after sunset before turning more onshore overnight. Clouds will thicken tonight and lows will stay in the mid 60s, so the muggy feel is not going anywhere. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures should run above normal through the work week while fog chances tick up on a couple of mornings.
Fog Could Slow Morning Commutes
Forecasters expect widespread fog after midnight and again before about 9 a.m. on Thursday, which could cut visibility in low lying neighborhoods and along the lakefront. Overnight lows will hover in the mid 60s and light southerly winds may slow fog from lifting, so it is smart to budget extra time if you are on the road early. For additional local context, an earlier forecast flagged similar commute headaches tied to dense morning fog.
Weekend Showers Then A Sharp Cool Down
Rain chances pick up late in the week, with scattered showers possible Friday and a better chance of showers and a few thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening as a cold front closes in. That front is expected to sweep through Saturday night into Sunday, bringing a sharp temperature drop, with Sunday highs only near the low 60s and north winds that could gust as high as 30 mph. Marine interests should be ready, since small craft advisories are likely Saturday night into Sunday as winds flip offshore, and the National Weather Service is calling for a significant cool down Sunday into early next week with the potential for light freezes in some northern suburbs Monday or Tuesday morning.
Plan Ahead
On foggy mornings, slow down, stick with low beams, and give yourself extra room and extra time. Boaters should keep a close eye on the marine forecast and be prepared for advisory level conditions as the front moves through Saturday night. Gardeners and anyone with tender plants will want to plan now for much colder mornings early next week, when those light freezes could sneak into the outlying suburbs.
