Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA

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390 FXUS64 KLIX 220054 AFDLIX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 754 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM...
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(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 400 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 Impressively strong upper level ridge centered around TN encompasses nearly 2/3`s of the country. Looking at water vapor imagery, it`s hard to believe how high PW was on this morning`s local sounding (1.8"). Closer inspection shows the depth of higher moisture is how that 1.8" occurred with a low dewpoint depression all the way up to around 600mb. The ridge has been and will continue to drive drier air into the region as the afternoon and evening progresses. Isolated to scattered shallow showers have been able to develop this afternoon over southern portions of the CWA within a pocket of moisture ahead of approaching drier air. No appreciable impacts expected with this activity. Models show the center of the broad ridge to be just north of the CWA midday Saturday. Strong subsidence along with PW`s down to 1.5" or less, should not see much of any rainfall activity. A stray shower or 2 not impossible but not enough to justify any mention of POPs in the forecast. On the temp side, increasing heights means increasing temps. Went about the consistently low biased NBM for New Orleans metro (really for the entire forecast period). Much of that region will likely not see less than 80 degree lows for awhile. Then, for CWA daytime highs, mid 90s expected areawide.
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&& .LONG TERM...
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(Sunday through Thursday night) Issued at 400 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 Medium range models initially in decent agreement as we head through the weekend and then begin to has some disagreements in the details. That said the differences are subtle and overall suggest expect the warmer muggy conditions to return with scattered afternoon convection. NBM is on the warmer side compared to the MOS numbers but is very close and given the possible setup not confident enough drop temps from the NBM. One change was to increase the morning lows at the typical warm spots this weekend around the lake. Will day though that ECMWF is on the warmer side of guidance as well. Rainfall potential remains on the low side Sunday, a bit lower than previous forecast with the best chance for any afternoon storms as there may be a slightly better chance of the seabreeze getting north of I-12 east of I-55 with slightly stronger southerly winds and up to h925. That said pops will still be right around 20% for some of the local area and with h925 temps hovering around 25-26C highs will likely range from the lower 90s in southwest MS to mid/upper 90s most other locations. Heat index values is the other concern going into Sunday. As moisture increased in the lower levels, there is a chance that the heat index values could jump 108 range. An isolated 108 value could be reached. At the moment, not confident enough for widespread Heat Advisory conditions, but may need to consider one for urban areas. Will say though, Monday and Tuesday does appear to be around the same for daytime highs but with higher dewpoints. So wouldn`t be surprised if a Heat Advisory is needed then. Early next week as the ridge continues to strengthen over the 4 corners with the ridge axis extending north into Canada the eastern periphery will start to tighten up and could place the region back under northwest to northerly flow. This would begin to favor convection once again but likely occurring very late in the day. This would probably play into the decision of whether to issue a heat advisory or not.
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&& .AVIATION...
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(00Z TAFS) Issued at 711 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 VFR conditions prevailing areawide with only FEW to SCT cu noted on satellite imagery expanding outward with the lakebreeze. Should see VFR conditions prevail through the period with high pressure overhead suppressing cu and SH/TS development tomorrow. Winds will be easterly to southeasterly through the day with lake/sea breeze influence in the afternoon.
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&& .MARINE...
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Issued at 400 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 Strong easterly winds are and continue to slowly relax as the tightened pressure gradient created by Alberto weakens. It`s not as fast, however, as it`d typically be as yet another broad area of low pressure tries to develop in the Bay of Campeche. By Sunday, that system shifts west while high pressure builds aloft. This will breakdown the local area wind field and seas will subside. Expect non-impactful marine conditions until typical summertime nocturnal onshore flow increases resume Monday into Tuesday.
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MCB 69 95 73 94 / 0 0 0 10 BTR 74 98 76 97 / 10 10 0 20 ASD 72 95 76 95 / 10 0 0 10 MSY 80 94 80 94 / 10 10 0 20 GPT 72 93 76 93 / 10 0 0 10 PQL 70 97 75 96 / 0 0 0 0 && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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LA...None. GM...None. MS...None. GM...None.
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&& $$ SHORT TERM...ME LONG TERM....ME AVIATION...TJS MARINE...ME