New Orleans starts Friday clear and warm, with temperatures around the mid-70s, before a strong cold front flips the script later in the day. The city should reach the upper 80s to low 90s this afternoon, but increasingly gusty north winds will usher in much cooler, drier air by tonight.
Wind Advisory Arrives Friday Afternoon
The front is expected to enter the area by noon or shortly thereafter, with passage late Friday and Friday night. A Wind Advisory runs from 4 p.m. Friday through 3 p.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service is calling for north winds of 20 to 25 mph and frequent gusts of 30 to 35 mph, with some forecasts reaching 40 mph.
Friday night will turn partly cloudy and noticeably cooler, with a low near 59 degrees. Rain chances remain minimal, but loose outdoor items may get shoved around, and drivers of high-profile vehicles should use extra caution on exposed roads and bridges.
Saturday Feels Like A Different Season
Saturday will be sunny but blustery, with a high in the mid-70s and northeast winds of 15 to 20 mph. Gusts could again reach 40 mph, making it a better day for a brisk walk than for leaving patio furniture unsecured.
Boaters should also pay attention to possible gale conditions over portions of the offshore waters late Friday into Saturday. Conditions should gradually ease late Saturday and Sunday, but the weekend will remain breezy, dry and far less humid than the warm stretch New Orleans has been enjoying.
Clear Skies Continue Into Next Week
Sunday stays sunny with a high in the mid-70s, followed by highs climbing to the mid-80s by Monday afternoon and reaching the mid-80s Tuesday and Wednesday. Overnight lows are expected to slide from the mid-60s into the mid-50s.
Elevated fire-weather concerns are possible Saturday as dry air and strong winds arrive. Residents should avoid open flames, keep vehicles off dry grass and secure anything that could become airborne.
The updated advisory gives a sharper edge to the weekend cooldown outlined in Hoodline's earlier forecast: Friday may begin like another Gulf Coast warm spell, but Saturday will feel much more like fall.
