Watches and Warnings Posted: Louisiana’s Severe Weather Wednesday

It will be a stormy start to Wednesday morning across Louisiana. The Storm Prediction Center, the arm of the National Weather Service whose job it is to predict severe weather across the nation has already painted a very large bullseye across almost all of Louisiana. There is a risk of severe storms in the portion of the state that lies south of Interstate 20.

If you live along I-10 in Louisiana you are at a greater risk for severe storms this morning and today than your neighbors who inhabit the area along and north of I-20. There are currently watches and warnings posted for portions of Louisiana. There is also a good possibility that those watches and warnings could be extended or even upgraded as the day wears on.

The image you see is from the National Weather Service Radar site in Lake Charles. That still image was taken at 400 am CST. If you'd like to see a live radar image, you can use this link. 

The current weather warnings affecting Louisiana include a Flood Warning, a Flood Watch, and a Flood Advisory. Many Louisiana parishes in those warned and advised areas are also included in the Weather Prediction Center's forecast for excessive rain events.  You can see the graphic from the WPC below.

Now that you have an idea where forecasters believe the heaviest rain will fall, let's look at the severe weather potential for the state. The Storm Prediction Center has placed cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge in the slight risk category for severe storms during the day today. There is a marginal risk of severe storms in the western half of Acadiana extending westward through Lake Charles and into southeastern Texas.

It might be easier for you to visualize the scope of the potential severe weather threat via the graphic below provided by the Storm Prediction Center.

Forecasters believe we will have a bit of a lull early this morning in the heaviest rainfall and storms. But, the storms and rain should pick up in intensity and coverage after lunch and into the early evening hours. For much of Louisiana, the worst of the weather should be done well before midnight tonight.

Thursday should dawn mostly sunny and cooler but the sunshine will be short-lived as another rain threat moves into the area late in the day on Friday and ramps up Saturday afternoon and evening. That could affect a lot of Mardi Gras events and College baseball season openers. Let's hope that won't be the case but do check back with us for further information, especially where severe storms are concerned.