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

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595 FXUS64 KLIX 192106 AFDLIX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 406 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE... .SHORT TERM...
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(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 402 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 Current radar shows scattered showers across the CWA. These showers are moving relatively quickly at around 25kts towards the west due to strong onshore flow north of Tropical Storm Alberto. Will continue to see easterly moisture advection combined with daytime heating to promote shallow convection through the rest of this afternoon. Although showers will be brief, rainfall rates will be fairly impressive with such a moisture rich column in place. In addition, don`t be surprised to experience gusty winds 30-40 mph and precip loading transfers stronger winds aloft down to the surface. Loss of daytime heating will be the end of inland convection with coastal showers expected overnight. 0A strengthening upper ridge, possibly reaching 600dm (that`s really really high), centered over the Appalachian Mountains will spread farther westward through the southeastern CONUS into tomorrow. This will cause Alberto to track west into northern Mexico, therefore removing some moisture content in our CWA. The other aspect of this is subsidence from the ridge. So should see much less rainfall activity in the northern half of the CWA Thursday into Friday. At the same time, high temperatures will begin to increase closer to normal with decreased rainfall and cloud coverage and then surpassing climo with highs reaching mid/upper 90s late week to the weekend. MEFFER
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&& .LONG TERM...
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(Saturday through Tuesday night) Issued at 402 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 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. As we kick the weekend off the ridge will continue to slowly retrograde across the Lower MS and become centered over the 4 corners by early next work week. Over the weekend this should keep rainfall potential on the low side with the best chance for any afternoon storms south of the 10/12 corridor likely associated with the seabreeze. Not anticipating the seabreeze making it that far north Saturday given the LL winds will remain out of the east or northeast but on Sunday 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 in the 20 to 30% range for much of the area and with h925 temps hovering around 25-26C highs will likely range from the lower 90s in southwest MS to mid 90s most other locations. Sunday may be fairly similar with the highs and with increasing LL moisture there is a chance that the heat index values could jump up into the 100 to 108 range. 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 also mean we would see the rather warm temps continue as well. /CAB/
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&& .AVIATION...
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(00Z TAFS) Issued at 402 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 Terminal conditions vary across the spectrum with most at VFR, but RA and TS driving some lowered ceilings to MVFR or spotty/occasional IFR. Rain should be clearing by late evening into overnight hours leaving predominantly VFR, but could see isolated MVFR or IFR toward sunrise. Winds remain elevated at all terminals but inland ones should see a decent drop in wind speeds this evening and tonight. However, don`t expect the typical summertime drastic drop in wind speeds. Coastal terminals could see wind gusts to 25 to 30 knots during the afternoon hours today with a slow but appreciable decrease in speeds after around 06Z.
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&& .MARINE...
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Issued at 402 PM CDT Wed Jun 19 2024 Strong easterly winds in response to pressure gradient created by Alberto continue to impact the local coastal waters. Latest observations still show 20 to 30 knot winds with higher gusts over all marine areas other than the outer coastal zones. In those outer waters that are closer to the storm, winds are 5 to 10 knots stronger, hence the Gale Warning in effect there. Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for all other areas. These strong winds will continue drive water into to tidal lakes as well as all other eastern facing shores. No changes made to the current Coastal Flood Advisory in place but did extend the Coastal Flood Warning to include coastal Tangipahoa, Livingston, St Tammany and St John Parishes. Recent observations in Pontchartrain and Maurepas show that water is still steadily rising and now nearing 3 feet above where they typically should be. With winds not expected to slack off through the night, thinking those water levels will slowly increase and justify the upgrade to the warning. Winds should be at their peak and begin gradually relaxing with time later tonight through Friday as Alberto moves into northern Mexico. Non- impactful winds/seas expected through this weekend. This will help the tidal lakes start their slow fall in elevated water heights.
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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MCB 72 90 70 93 / 20 10 0 10 BTR 78 93 75 95 / 10 30 0 10 ASD 77 92 74 93 / 20 30 10 10 MSY 82 89 79 92 / 10 40 10 20 GPT 77 90 75 93 / 30 20 20 10 PQL 75 93 73 95 / 30 10 20 10
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&& .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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LA...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for LAZ068. Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for LAZ056>060-064>070- 076>078-080-087>090. Coastal Flood Warning until 4 PM CDT Thursday for LAZ058-070-076- 078-080-082-084-086. Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for LAZ060- 066>069-077-087. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ530-532-534- 536-538-550-552-555-557-577. Gale Warning until 1 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ570-572-575. Small Craft Advisory from 1 AM to 4 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ570- 572-575. MS...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MSZ086>088. Coastal Flood Warning until 4 PM CDT Thursday for MSZ086. Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for MSZ087-088. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ532-534-536- 538-550-552-555-557-577. Gale Warning until 1 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ572-575. Small Craft Advisory from 1 AM to 4 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ572- 575.
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&& $$ SHORT TERM...MEFFER LONG TERM....CAB AVIATION...MEFFER MARINE...MEFFER