Louisiana Weekend Washout? Excessive Rain Threat is Verified

Most of us in South Louisiana were either lulled to sleep by the pitter-patter of raindrops last night or we were rousted out of our beds by a clap of thunder while we slept. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles tracked a big line of storms across the region in the overnight hours. Several parts of the state received rainfall amounts of five inches or more.

Today's weather event has wound down considerably since midnight. Today's forecast calls for decreasing clouds with gusty winds and much cooler temperatures. Take a coat with you this morning, you'll want it by this afternoon.  Friday doesn't look to bad weatherwise. That should bode well for LHSAA Semi-Final Football games.

Excessive Rain Advisory in Louisiana This Weekend

The Weather Prediction Center is the division of the National Weather Service that issues advisories when there is a potential threat of heavy rain. This weekend the WPC has drawn a not-so-lovely "bullseye" on the state of Louisiana.

Yeah, the big green blog on the map represents where the WPC is expecting "excessive rainfall" this weekend. Fortunately, the current thinking doesn't suggest a total washout for the weekend. But please do remember forecast can change and this one will as we get closer to Saturday and Sunday.

As of early this morning holiday events and championship football games on Saturday should escape the wrath of most of the rain. I would make sure I had my rain poncho or my umbrella handy, especially if you're going to be out late on Saturday.

Rainfall across the I-10 corridor won't really pick up until early Sunday morning. And by Sunday afternoon and evening there appears to be strong evidence that flooding rains will be a part of your plans.

There are a number of holiday events planned for Sunday afternoon. We encourage organizers of those events to check back with us often for the latest updates on the forecast and the timing of the heaviest rain. As of now, forecasters are going with a 50% chance of rain late Saturday night. That will increase to a 70% chance of rain, heavy at times, during the day on Sunday.

The threat of heavy showers and storms will likely continue into the evening hours of Sunday. The rain should eventually move out of the area by midday on Monday.