If you're waiting for a break from the heat in Southeast Louisiana, you're going to have to hang on a little longer.
LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says we are in what could be a particularly miserable stretch, with high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico limiting clouds and rain while pushing moisture into the region.
Keim says the timing is especially unfortunate because mid-July through mid-August is typically the warmest stretch of the year.
“This next week is not going to be any indication that we're going to be on that downward slide,” Keim says. “It's going to be a miserably hot week.”
Heat index values could reach 110 to 115 degrees on some days, with dew points in the upper 70s and approaching 80.
And while afternoon showers are still possible, Keim says they won't be as widespread as they typically are during the summer.
“Normally, we have about a 30% chance of rain,” he says. “But with this high pressure in place, it's going to be more like a 10 or 20% chance of rain.”
Keim says there is a small reason for optimism toward the end of the week. A front moving down from the north could bring more cloud cover and increase rain chances Friday into the weekend, potentially providing at least some relief.
But he cautions against expecting a major cooldown.
For anyone wondering why the heat seems especially oppressive in South Louisiana, Keim says humidity is a major factor.
Dew point temperatures several degrees higher than normal mean significantly more moisture in the air. That makes it harder for sweat to evaporate and for the body to cool itself.
“When you have very high humidity in the atmosphere, that evaporation process slows down and your body can't as efficiently cool itself,” Keim says.
That's also why visitors from other Southern cities can notice a distinctly different kind of heat here, even when temperatures aren't dramatically different.
Keim recommends staying hydrated, taking frequent breaks, seeking shade and giving your body time to recover in air conditioning when possible.
“Let your body sort of live to fight another battle, as opposed to just staying out there and let it beat you down,” he says. “That's where trouble starts and people start heading into the emergency room. So let's avoid that.”
