Louisiana Severe Weather Threat Expanded for Saturday

Louisiana residents with outside activities planned for Saturday will want to make sure they are keeping an eye on the sky and perhaps an ear out for thunder as well. The Storm Prediction Center has updated their severe weather forecast for the weekend and it does look as if more of Louisiana will be included than first thought.

The SPC Forecast, as you can see in the graphic above now calls for a larger part of the state to be included in a larger threat of severe storms than originally anticipated. Shreveport and Ruston will have an enhanced risk of severe weather during the day on Saturday. That part of the state as well as northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas will most likely be looking at severe weather watches or warnings as the day progresses on Saturday.

Cities such as Lake Charles, Lafayette, Alexandria, Monroe, and Baton Rouge are now included in a slight risk of severe storms. There is a marginal risk of severe storms for the Greater New Orleans area as well. The greatest threat from these storms will be strong gusty winds, small hail, and the potential for tornadoes. But most of that will not be unfolding across the region until Saturday midday and afternoon.

Forecasters suggest that today's shower and thunderstorm activity will begin along the coast but might not push onshore until later in the morning or the early afternoon hours. By this afternoon much of the state will experience widely scattered air mass thunderstorms, some of which could be heavy or reach severe limits, but most of the showers and storms will be what is normally thought of as "typical" for this time of year.

On Saturday a trough of low pressure in the upper atmosphere will begin to influence Louisiana's weather. As this system slides over the state on Saturday the ingredients appear to be in place for a rather robust round of showers and storms. Hence, the uptick in the SPC projection.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles is suggesting the showers and storms will start to fire up across the area during the mid-morning hours of Saturday. Rain chances along the I-10 corridor are expected to jump from about 20% at daybreak to 50% by lunchtime and later in the day.

The showers and storms should lessen in coverage and intensity as the sun begins to set on Saturday night. Temperatures should reach into the lower 90s for much of the region on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The exceptions will be those areas where showers or storms have cooled the atmosphere with a shower or thunderstorm.

By late next week severe weather will not dominate the headlines in Louisiana, instead high temperatures in the upper 90s will move into the area. Forecasters say readings in excess of 95 to 97 degrees will be common across the region by next Thursday. Now would be the time to make sure your HVAC system is running up to speed and that you have changed filters and done seasonal maintenance.