Severe weather threat after noon until 9pm today

A line of severe weather is raking across Louisiana today.  Southeast Louisiana could see dangerous conditions ahead of the line starting after noon, and more severe weather could hit in the evening as the line actually moves through.

"A cold front and area of low pressure will move across Louisiana today," WWL-TV Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum explained. "The atmosphere ahead of it in Southeast Louisiana will be very unstable... When you add all of those ingredients together, we have the formula for severe weather today."

He says that the Storm Prediction Center has placed our entire area in an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather today.  So, while we may not see dangerous conditions, the potential is higher than normal.

What are the threats?

"The severe elements we’ll be watching for are damaging winds around 70+ mph, tornadoes (some strong with 110 mph winds or around EF-2 strength) and large hail (possibly up to 2” diameter)," Nussbaum said. 

Timing:

• 11 am – 2 pm: A few isolated storms could form ahead of the main system around the Baton Rouge area. There may not be a lot of these early storms, but any that form will have the potential to rotate and turn strong to severe. These supercells (rotating thunderstorms) are the ones that could produce tornadoes and large hail. 
• 2 pm – 8 pm: The bulk of the strong to severe storms will happen during this time. First from the individual supercells, and then from a squall line moving east across the area. The line will likely contain storms with straight-line damaging winds and a few tornadoes.  Heavy rain is also expected and we could see street flooding.
• 8 pm – 11 pm: The severe threat will be over for SE LA around 8 PM, but it will continue for the MS Coast until 10 PM.  The rain will gradually come to an end from west to east by 11 PM.

Nussbaum says flooding could be an issue too.

"Rain amounts will be 1-3 inches, so some brief street flooding will be possible, especially north of the lake where 2-3+ inches are expected. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the Northshore today."

Things get much better for late tonight and the entire weekend.

"Good Friday will be very windy with a mix of sun and clouds and stray showers as they wrapping around the upper-level low pressure." 

Easter Weekend: High pressure will build over the Gulf South and we will have beautiful on Saturday and Easter Sunday. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s. 

Here is a look at the 7 Day Forecast for the New Orleans area: WWLTV #lawx pic.twitter.com/iTt1CPP0in

DETAILED FORECAST...

TODAY:Mostly cloudy, very windy, warm and humid with a 100% chance for heavy rain and thunderstorms. Numerous storms expected to become strong to severe. Highs around 80. Wind S 20-30 mph.

TONIGHT:Cloudy, windy and tuning cooler with a 40% chance for showers ending during the evening. Lows around 58. Wind NW 15-25 mph.

GOOD FRIDAY:Mostly cloudy, windy, less humid and cooler with a 20% chance for stray showers. Highs around 68.

HOLY SATURDAY:Sunny and mild. Lows north of the lake around 45 and south around 52. Highs around 74.

EASTER SUNDAY:Sunny and warm. Lows north of the lake around 49 and south around 55. Highs around 79.

MONDAY:Partly cloudy and warm. Lows around 61. Highs around 81.

TUESDAY:Partly cloudy and warm. Lows around 64. Highs around 81.

WEDNESDAY:Partly cloudy and warm with a 20% chance for isolated showers. Lows around 67. Highs around 82.