Timing Louisiana’s Severe Storms Saturday – Much Colder Sunday

It looks as if Louisiana's severe weather outlook is on repeat as another bout of strong storms with heavy downpours, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes is expected to move across the state during the day on Saturday. Forecasters are projecting that some of the heaviest showers and storms will affect the state's larger cities during the late afternoon and early evening hours, but the entire weekend won't be a total washout.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the northwestern two-thirds of the state in the slight risk category for severe storms Saturday afternoon and evening. The southeastern corner of the state which includes Baton Rouge and New Orleans will be at a marginal risk for severe storms during the same forecast period. As you can see in the graphic provided by the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles, Lafayette is right on the line between Slight and Marginal risk.

Because the system that will be the catalyst for the strong storms will be moving much faster than last week's storm system we shouldn't have the issues we had with flooding. Granted there will be periods of heavy rain associated with Saturday's storms, they just won't linger or "train" over the same areas as many of last week's soaking storms did.

One of the bigger issues that many holiday gatherings, festivals, and celebrations will have to deal with on Saturday, besides the threat of storms, will be strong gusty winds. Saturday's forecast calls for winds of 1o to 15 mph gusting to as high as 35 mph during some of the stronger storms. This could pose a problem for holiday displays, holiday decorations, and Christmas Trees that aren't anchored down outside.

Forecasters are suggesting the threat of showers or storms won't move into southwestern Louisiana until mid-morning on Saturday. So, morning activities should not be affected by the weather, other than the wind. As the day wears on showers and storms will increase from the west but are not expected to arrive in Acadiana until nine pm or later on Saturday night.

That model projection from KATC's Rob Perillo is not an official forecast but does give you a good idea of when you should expect the worst of the weather where you live.

The forecast for Sunday calls for skies to clear out quickly and winds to be very gusty from the north. That will mean not only cooler actual temperatures but the "feels like" temperatures on Sunday will be several degrees cooler than what your thermometer will be reading. The high on Sunday is forecast to be 56 degrees or about 20 degrees colder than the forecast high for Saturday. 

The rest of the work week next week should be quiet and cool. Skies will be clear to partly cloudy through at least Thursday with temperatures in the 40s at night and in the 60s during the day. Sounds like it will be a good week to do some catching up on some holiday movies or Christmas specials.