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Strong to severe storms are possible today

Short Term Forecast:  It is a pretty quiet Thursday Morning across the Capital City.  We have mostly cloudy skies and it is a little breezy with temperatures in the upper 40s to lower 50s.

The weather will be going downhill by lunchtime today.  A warm front will move up from the Gulf of Mexico, and this will usher in warm and humid air.  This will make the atmosphere unstable and breezy.  The NWS has issued a Wind Advisory for parts of the WBRZ Viewing area as the winds will be around 15 to 25 mph and have gusts to 30+ mph.  At the same time, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be developing around Baton Rouge.  These storms will increase in coverage throughout the afternoon ahead of a strong cold front.  Some of the storms could become strong to severe.  Some of them could have large hail over 1", damaging winds over 60 mph and even a few tornadoes.  SPC has put all of Louisiana in a Slight Risk for severe weather today.  High temperatures will climb into the lower 70s once the warm front moves through. 

The showers and storms will continue tonight as the cold front moves into and through Baton Rouge.  Some could still be strong to severe early.  Lows will be in the upper 50s.

The cold front will stall along the Louisiana Coast on Friday.  Disturbances, or areas of low pressure, will move along the front during the day.  They will set off scattered showers and a few thunderstorms.  Some heavy rain will be possible and that could lead to flash flooding.  We could pick up 2 to 3 inches of rain between Thursday and Friday Night.  Highs will be in the lower 70s.  Friday Night will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers.  Lows will be in the lower 50s.

Weekend Outlook:  The cold front will get pushed to the east of Louisiana on Saturday and that will briefly put an end to the rain.  We will be partly to mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s.  Saturday Night will have partly to mostly cloudy skies with lows in the mid 40s.

The old cold front will actually move back to the north as a warm front on Sunday.  This will bring back the warm and humid air along with scattered showers and storms later in the day.  Highs will be in the lower 70s.  Sunday Night will have scattered showers and storms as another cold front moves in from the west.  Some of these could be strong at times.  Lows will be in the mid 50s.

Take that umbrella with you and keep an eye on the weather today.  Have a good one! -Dave

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