New Orleans rolled out of bed Tuesday into the kind of soupy, muggy fog that makes the city feel more like a sauna than a skyline. Lakefront readings hovered near 70°F with the air almost completely saturated, and visibility has been hit or miss in low-lying neighborhoods and across the Causeway. Expect slower-than-normal commutes through midmorning as the fog gradually lifts. South winds will help stir the atmosphere later this morning, allowing temperatures to climb into the low 80s by afternoon.
Fog Burns Off, Then a Warm Afternoon
Patchy fog should hang around through the early commute before giving way to partly sunny skies and highs in the low 80s on Tuesday, with south winds around 5 to 10 mph. The steamy feel is not going anywhere, so bring water if you will be outside and give yourself extra travel time this morning. For more on the fog and this week's heat, check the latest breakdown.
Strong System Arrives Late Wednesday Night
A strong upper-level trough is set to shove a cold front through the region late Wednesday into early Thursday, dragging a line of showers and thunderstorms that could pack damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes overnight. Current timing puts the worst of it in western parishes between about 6 p.m. and midnight Wednesday, then shifting into eastern parishes from midnight to 6 a.m. Thursday. The line may lose some punch as it pushes east, but forecasters say heavy rain around 1 to 2 inches and wind gusts above 60 mph are still on the table. The NWS advises residents to “Ensure your Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) is turned ON and will wake you up overnight,” according to NWS New Orleans.
Plan Ahead
If you have outdoor plans Wednesday night, now is the time to think ahead. Secure loose items, and consider moving events earlier or indoors since strong gusts could topple light structures and scatter yard debris. Boaters should be ready for rapidly deteriorating conditions and hazardous coastal waters through Thursday morning. Keep phone alerts enabled and stay tuned to local forecasts for short-notice updates as the system moves in.
