New Orleans woke up Wednesday to a gray, sticky start, with patchy fog before 8 a.m. and temperatures already in the upper 60s. Once the low clouds burn off by midmorning, sunshine should send highs to around 80°F, with enough humidity to make it feel more like late spring than early March.
Foggy Mornings, Sunny Afternoons
Patchy fog is likely again before 8 a.m., especially along the Lakefront and in low-lying spots, before mostly sunny afternoons return. Forecasts call for southeast winds of 5 to 10 mph and highs near 80°F each day. Nights will stay mild, with lows in the mid-60s, and fog could redevelop after midnight.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service say a warm, moist flow off the Gulf will keep feeding this pattern, favoring repeated morning fog through early next week.
Late-Week Thunder Threat
Rain chances tick up later in the week. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday, with showers and thunderstorms likely by Friday as the pattern turns more unsettled. Most spots are expected to see modest rainfall totals, but a few localized heavier storms are possible Friday afternoon and into the weekend.
For some context on the recent fog and warm afternoons, check out our recent fog and warm days.
What This Means For Commuters And Boaters
Drivers should plan on slower early-morning commutes, use low-beam headlights when visibility drops, and give themselves extra time on bridges and lakefront approaches. Boaters and river traffic should be ready for visibility issues around dawn as well. Cooler nearshore and river waters have been cited as a factor in overnight sea and river fog development, raising the risk of low visibility at daybreak, according to the National Weather Service.
Bottom line: enjoy the warm afternoons, but keep one eye on the fog in the mornings and another on updated forecasts and radar if you have outdoor plans later this week.
