New Orleans is starting Sunday cool, with mostly cloudy skies expected through the afternoon. A chance of showers arrives overnight before the city settles into a warmer, mostly dry stretch by midweek.
Sunday Stays Mostly Dry Until Late
Sunday afternoon should remain mostly cloudy, though temperatures may ease back toward 62 degrees after reaching the mid-60s. East winds will run 10 to 15 mph, keeping the day breezy.
Light showers are possible late Sunday into overnight. Skies will turn mostly cloudy, with a low near 52 degrees and northeast winds around 10 mph that could gust to 25 mph.
Monday Morning Showers Give Way To Sunshine
A few showers could continue before 10 a.m. Monday, but the rest of the day should turn partly sunny. The high will reach about 63 degrees, with northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph, making for a damp start rather than a full-day washout.
The National Weather Service expects the heaviest rain to remain largely west and south of the New Orleans area. Rainfall totals in the city should stay light, with amounts generally less than a tenth of an inch.
Dry Air Raises Fire Concerns As Gulf Waters Turn Rough
Dry air and ongoing drought conditions will raise fire-spread concerns across northern portions of the forecast area through Sunday afternoon. Residents in areas under burn bans should not conduct outdoor burning, while everyone else should use extra caution with grills, fire pits and other open flames.
Boaters face a more serious turn in conditions. A Small Craft Advisory is expected from Sunday evening into Tuesday morning in much of the area, while a Gale Warning covers parts of the Gulf waters; open-water winds could reach 20 to 30 mph with seas building to 6 to 10 feet Monday.
Warmer Weather Takes Over Tuesday
The forecast turns noticeably friendlier Tuesday, with highs in the lower 70s across the area. Wednesday should reach the mid- to upper-70s, followed by highs in the mid- to upper-70s Thursday; some locations could reach 80 or 81 Friday, with Saturday near 75 and little or no rain expected through the end of the week.
Overnight temperatures will gradually climb early in the week, with a general warming trend continuing through the week. In other words, New Orleans gets a brief rain check Monday before settling into a week that looks increasingly patio-friendly.
