New Orleans rolled into Thursday under a gray, blurry start, with mist and patchy fog hugging the lakefront and coastal neighborhoods and temperatures sitting in the upper 50s to low 60s. Visibility is knocked down in spots this morning, and coastal waters are under a dense fog advisory into Thursday. Things improve by midday, when skies should turn partly sunny and the high climbs to around 70°F for a warm, muggy afternoon.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
A Dense Fog Advisory is in place for nearby Gulf waters through noon Thursday and patchy fog may still cut visibility on roads and bridges during the early commute, according to the National Weather Service. Drivers are urged to stick with low-beam headlights, slow down to match conditions and be ready for delays where the fog really thickens. By midday, skies should turn partly sunny with highs near 70°F, easing back into the upper 60s by late afternoon.
Temperatures stay on the mild side through Friday, with highs again near 71°F and overnight lows in the upper 50s, and patchy fog could make a repeat appearance late tonight into Friday morning. The initial fog and the broader warm pattern were first laid out in this look at fog, heat and a sleepless storm weekend, but today's bulletin stretches the marine fog through Thursday and sharpens the timing of the weekend storm setup.
Weekend Storm Threat
Forecasts call for a surface low sliding east late Saturday and shoving a front through overnight, which will bring numerous showers and thunderstorms from late Saturday into early Sunday, with the biggest concern overnight. The pattern could support strong, fast-moving storms capable of damaging straight-line winds and, in a limited corridor, a brief tornado, especially if storms manage to become surface-based, according to the National Weather Service. South to southwest winds are expected to pick up Saturday afternoon into Sunday, with gusts in the 15–25 mph range and locally higher gusts near the coast.
Boaters And Commutes
Mariners should be ready for choppy seas and strengthening southeast winds Saturday into Sunday, with Small Craft Advisories or gale-force gusts possible near the coast. Anyone with weekend plans, especially overnight events, should line up a backup plan and keep an eye on updates, since both timing and intensity could still shift. For routine commutes, keep a phone handy to check for changing traffic conditions from late Saturday into Sunday morning.
Bottom line: expect foggy conditions this morning, a warm and partly sunny afternoon with a high near 71°F, and a stormy stretch from late Saturday into early Sunday with the potential for damaging winds and brief tornadoes. Updates will follow if watches or warnings are issued; check the National Weather Service before heading out this weekend for the latest forecast details.
