Severe Storms May Disrupt Your Weekend Plans In Louisiana

(KMDL-FM) Forecasters with the National Weather Service have fine-tuned Louisiana's weekend weather forecast. And the outlook did not take a turn for the better. In fact, even more of Louisiana, according to the updated forecasts, is at risk for storms that could reach severe limits and street flooding from excessive rainfall.

READ MORE: Excessive Rain Threat for Louisiana This Weekend

The catalyst for the increased rain and storm threat is a cold front. It's not an exceptionally strong front, as in temperature differentials on either side. It's just more of a weathermaker. And the weather this system will be making across the Gulf South will likely cause some cancellations and rescheduling of several weekend events.

Which Sporting Events Could Be Affected by the Weather This Weekend?

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team has already had its Friday games moved to Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma. I would not be surprised if schedule changes weren't in the offing for the scheduled baseball matchup in Dallas between Ragin Cajun Baseball and the team from Dallas Baptist.

In Lake Charles theres college baseball and softball this weekend as McNeese hosts Lamar in softball and Cowboy Baseball hosts the team from Houston Christian. Over in Baton Rouge, LSU hosts Sacramento State in baseball. The Tiger Softball team is on the road in Knoxville, Tennessee; their games might not be affected until later in the weekend.

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The greatest change in the forecast that we've noticed from yesterday to today includes the expansion of the severe weather threat. The area under the greatest risk for severe storms stretches from the southwestern corner of Louisiana to the southwestern corner of Mississippi. That covers the northern half of the state. Here's what that looks like on a map.

Severe storms aren't the only threat that Louisiana residents will need to be concerned with over the weekend. The threat of flooding rains is also a possibility. Granted, this won't be a flood like the one the region experienced in 2016. Instead, if we do get high water, it would likely be caused by what is called an excessive rainfall event.

What Is an Excessive Rainfall Event?

In layman's terms, that simply means it rained harder and faster than the drainage system could carry the stormwater away. We see that quite often during Louisiana's afternoon and early evening showers and storms. A lot of rain falls in a very short time, and roads hold the water until the drainage system can catch up.

Even more of Louisiana is at risk for excessive rain than it is at risk for severe storms. According to the Weather Prediction Center, much of the I-10 corridor from the Texas line eastward to Baton Rouge could experience torrential downpours on Saturday. That area is expanded to include all of southern Louisiana on Sunday. Here is how that looks on the map.

The forecast for southern Louisiana suggests that there could be some passing showers today. The rain threat doesn't really ramp up until midday on Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, rain chances of 60% or better will be common across the region.

The threat of heavy rain, strong storms, and gusty winds will increase across the area on Saturday night and be even more likely during the early morning hours of Sunday. Rain chances will begin to decrease by Sunday evening.

What Is The Weather Forecast for Patty in the Parc in Lafayette?

The following workweek looks to be a mixed bag of partly cloudy skies and a chance of scattered showers. The forecast for next weekend's Patty in the Parc celebration in Lafayette is currently spectacular. Expect afternoon temperatures for Patty in the Parc Day to be around 80, with nighttime temperatures falling into the 60s.