New Orleans woke up to clear skies and a cool start this morning, with Lakefront readings around 48°F, but the city will warm quickly. Afternoon highs should climb to near 70°F under mostly sunny skies. West winds stay on the light side through the afternoon, setting up an easy-going day for outdoor plans, festivals and errands.
Boaters Should Take Note
A Small Craft Advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday for coastal waters, with west winds around 20 to 25 knots (roughly 23 to 29 mph), gusts near 30 knots and seas of 4 to 6 feet on the outer Gulf. That will mean choppy conditions for smaller vessels. Inexperienced mariners and anyone planning to launch from local slips are urged to avoid open waters and to secure loose gear. According to the National Weather Service, conditions should improve by Saturday.
What To Expect Through Early Next Week
Sunny, dry weather holds through the weekend, with a cooler Saturday featuring a high near 62°F and a low around 44°F Saturday night. Temperatures rebound into the upper 60s and low 70s Sunday and Monday. A quick-moving system may bring a slight chance of showers Tuesday or Wednesday, though most of the metro area is expected to stay dry. Overnight lows will generally remain in the 40s, so widespread freezing is not anticipated.
Flights, Commutes And Plans
VFR conditions are expected overall, but early-morning flyers should be aware of possible low-level wind shear Friday morning that could make takeoffs and landings a bit bumpy until the atmosphere mixes out. The NWS also notes brisk gusts over coastal waters that could affect exposed bridges and lakeshore areas, so it is a good idea to secure any loose outdoor furniture. This post updates forecast reported by Hoodline earlier this month, with the new Small Craft Advisory the main change.
