After weeks of triple-digit heat index values and stifling humidity, southeast Louisiana is finally getting a short-lived break.
An unusual summertime cold front has pushed all the way into the New Orleans area, bringing slightly cooler temperatures and, perhaps more importantly, noticeably lower humidity.
LSU Health climatologist Barry Keim says it's a rare sight for this time of year.
"We have an unseasonable cold front that's dipped all the way down to the city of New Orleans," Keim said. "Normally those fronts get locked up around the Louisiana-Arkansas border, but this one penetrated all the way down here at literally the warmest point in the year."
While afternoon highs will still reach the lower 90s, Keim says the biggest improvement will come from a drop in dew point temperatures, which measure the amount of moisture in the air.
"It's bringing us some serious relief from mostly the humidity," he said. "It's knocking the temperatures down just a little bit, but taking that dew point into the low 70s rather than the upper 70s makes a big difference."
Keim says even small changes in humidity have a noticeable impact on how the weather feels.
"Every time that temperature clicks up by one degree, the amount of moisture goes up by about four to five percent," he explained. "When you jack it up by five or six degrees, it really feels pretty bad out there."
The drier air is expected to last through Wednesday before humidity begins returning Thursday and into the weekend.
Keim cautions residents not to mistake the brief reprieve for an early fall.
"This is still summer in Louisiana," he said. "It's not going to be refreshing when you walk out the door, but it's not going to pound you into oblivion either."
Looking ahead, Keim says the return of higher humidity will coincide with one of the most active periods of hurricane season.
"This is just a little taste of relief," he said. "We still have several more weeks of some pretty miserable weather in front of us, probably through the middle or even end of September. Enjoy it while you can."
With the peak of hurricane season approaching, Keim says now is also a good time for residents to review their storm plans while conditions remain relatively quiet.
Right now, the tropics are quiet. Humidity returns to the area by Wednesday, while rain chances will stay at or below 20 percent during the week. High temperatures will hold in the low- to mid-90s.
MONDAY:
Mostly sunny. A bit less humid. Hot. Low: S 76, N 71. High: 92.
TUESDAY:
Mostly sunny. A bit less humid. Hot. Low: S 76, N 71. High: 93.
WEDNESDAY:
Mostly sunny. Hot, humid. Low: S 77, N 73. High: 93.
THURSDAY:
Partly cloudy. Hot, humid. Low: S 78, N 74. High: 93.
FRIDAY:
Partly cloudy. 10% chance isolated showers/storms. Hot, humid. Low: S 78, N 74. High: 92.
SATURDAY:
Partly cloudy. 10% chance isolated showers/storms. Hot, humid. Low: S 79, N 75. High: 92.
SUNDAY:
Partly cloudy. 10% chance isolated showers/storms. Hot, humid. Low: S 79, N 75. High: 92.
