Severe Weather Possible Today in Baton Rouge

...Tornado Watch until 6 PM for parts of the WBRZ Viewing area...
...Flood Watch until Tuesday Afternoon for all of the WBRZ Viewing area...

Updating my blog from yesterday evening...there is still a threat for severe weather across the Baton Rouge area today into tonight. Then we will have a heavy rain event starting this afternoon and continuing through Mardi Gras Tuesday. Please read below for all the important details:

A strong cold front is moving across the Southern U.S. and it has become very warm and humid ahead of it. Showers and thunderstorms are popping up right now and that will continue throughout the afternoon into tonight. Some of these storms could be strong to severe and rotate. Due to this, SPC has issued a Tornado Watch until 6 pm for East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, and St. Helena Parishes. Also, Amite, Pike & Wilkinson Counties in Mississippi.

Not only can any storms produce tornadoes, they can also contain damaging winds and hail. A squall line of storms is sinking south across Louisiana and Mississippi. It has a bowing-shape to it and that means you can have damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. It is likely that is squall line could stall over SE LA later today and that could prolong the severe weather threat.

Additionally, we could pick up some very heavy rain over the next few days as the cold front stalls over the Gulf Coast States. Forecast models are showing 2 to 4 inches of rain is possible! Some places could even get up to 6 inches. This could cause some flash flooding for all of SE LA. The NWS in Slidell, LA has issued a Flood Watch until Tuesday Afternoon. While streams, creeks, ditches, bayous and local rivers are running low the ground is pretty saturated. This will cause the water to run off quickly and into those streams, etc. Hence the reason for the Flood Watch.

The severe weather threat is mainly expected today in Baton Rouge, but could last longer depending on the exact place the cold front stalls. Right now, it looks like there could be a few severe storms along the Louisiana Coast on Monday, but just heavy rain in Baton Rouge Monday through Tuesday. The front will finally move east of Louisiana by Wednesday Morning. Then we will become sunny and turn MUCH COLDER with highs in the lower 60s and lows near 40 on Thursday and Friday. Some colder air arrives on Saturday with highs in the 50s and lows near freezing! Brrr!

Please stay tuned to my Facebook and Twitter pages for additional updates today through Tuesday. Be prepared and watch WBRZ and WBRZ's Weather Channel for updates too. -Dave

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