Severe Storm Threat Confirmed For Louisiana’s Festival Weekend

(KMDL-FM) This is a big weekend for outdoor activities in Louisiana. We have major festivals in New Orleans and Lafayette. There are also other smaller festivals in smaller communities.

READ MORE: Etouffee Festival in Arnaudville is This Weekend

And no matter the size of the festival, large or small, there could be some significant weather concerns as we move through the busy weekend. However, this doesn't mean you should change any weekend plans. You just need to know before you go, and to check back with us over the weekend.

Where Is Severe Weather Possible in Louisiana This Weekend?

The Storm Prediction Center is the wing of the National Weather Service that focuses on severe weather and predicting where severe weather might occur. Unfortunately, for a large portion of Louisiana, the SPC has us squarely under the gun for weather that is not conducive to outdoor activities.

Based on the forecast guidelines published by the Storm Prediction Center, the greatest threat of severe storms will be along and north of US 190. That portion of the state is under a slight risk for severe storms.

What Is the Severe Weather Risk for Festival International and Jazz Fest This Weekend

The area along and south of US 190 to the coast is under a marginal risk for severe storms during the day and early evening hours of Friday. This marginal risk would include the cities of Lafayette, where Festival International is now underway. And also the city of New Orleans, where the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is underway.

In the National Weather Service forecast discussion released just before 1 AM Friday, forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles made mention of two potential severe weather risks for the I-10 corridor on Friday.

Two possible opportunities for severe (wind and maybe large hail) storms in the afternoon (dying storms in cenLA) and overnight (another round of dying storms in southeast TX and southwest LA) early Saturday.

The first would come from dying storms moving southward across Central Louisiana this afternoon. There is some concern that a squall line could develop in that part of the state and could hold together long enough to reach the I-10 corridor.

READ MORE: Who is Playing Jazz Fest in New Orleans This Year? 

The second opportunity for strong to severe storms would come in the overnight hours as another round of thunderstorms is expected to form over southeastern Texas. There is speculation that this line of strong storms could hold together long enough to bring gusty winds and heavy rains to the area before sunrise Saturday.

What's interesting about this forecast is that rain chances for the area are minimal through the weekend. In the Lafayette area forecasters have rain chances at 20% for today and tonight, elevating to 30% on Saturday.

So, I guess the thinking is that if we do get rain, it will come in the form of a thunderstorm. But the thinking is currently that most of the storm activity will stay well to the north of I-10. So, regardless of rain or storms, your festival weekend plans, if they are interrupted, won't be interrupted for very long. 

Maybe you could pop in for ice cream while you wait. Have you tried these flavors?