New Orleans is starting Tuesday clear, humid and already warm, with temperatures around 82 degrees before sunrise. The city should climb near 91 degrees, but showers and thunderstorms may move in after 10 a.m. and interrupt the afternoon heat.
Afternoon Storms Could Bring Downpours
The National Weather Service in New Orleans puts the chance of rain at 50% Tuesday, with scattered showers and thunderstorms most likely from late morning through the afternoon. Any stronger storm could bring frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts and a brief burst of very heavy rain, with rainfall totals generally between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, according to the National Weather Service.
Winds are expected to stay light from the northwest at around 5 mph, and most storms should fade by evening. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low near 79 degrees and only a slight chance of additional rain.
Wednesday Looks Hotter Before The Storms
Wednesday is forecast to be sunny for much of the morning before another round of showers and thunderstorms develops after 1 p.m. The high could reach 93 degrees, while the heat index may climb as high as 108.
Forecasters say a heat advisory could become necessary if storms stay limited Wednesday, particularly along the Interstate 10 and Interstate 12 corridors. No watches, warnings or advisories are currently listed, but anyone spending time outdoors should drink plenty of water, take breaks in shade or air conditioning, and head indoors when thunder is audible.
Thursday And Friday Bring The Wettest Stretch
Rain chances rise sharply Thursday, reaching 80% as showers and thunderstorms become likely through the day and evening. Temperatures should top out near 90 degrees, with the possibility of an organized line or cluster of storms that could produce damaging winds and very heavy rain.
Friday looks similar, with an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 90. The storm pattern should remain active into Friday night, when temperatures fall only to around 77 degrees.
Weekend Rain Chances Ease Some
Storm chances dip over the weekend, though the heat does not go anywhere. Saturday and Sunday are both expected to reach about 91 degrees, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible and overnight lows in the upper 70s.
Monday currently looks much the same: mostly sunny periods, a high near 91 and a chance of afternoon or evening storms. In other words, New Orleans gets a few drier breaks, but the umbrella probably should not be retired just yet.
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