LOUISIANA WEATHER - April 7, 2010

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA: Today will be sunny during the day with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Thursday through Saturday is forecast to be sunny with the evenings being clear to partly cloudy.
Temperatures: Wednesday: 79/55, Thursday: 73/46, Friday: 74/49, Saturday: 75/53, Sunday: 76/57
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: A cold front will reach inland southeast Texas right before sunset and move across the forecast area, exiting the lower Atchafalaya basin before daybreak. A broken line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop right ahead of the front. Some of the storms could become strong with gusty straight line winds, small hail and frequent cloud to ground lightning. Brief heavy rainfall will be possible with hourly rainfall rates between 1 and 1 1/2 inches. However, due to the progressive nature of the front, rainfall amounts should not be too high with average basin amounts between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Thursday through Tuesday high pressure will prevail with fair weather through the period.

The Sabine River near Deweyville is currently at 24.03 feet (minor flood stage). Minor flood stage is from 24 to 26 feet. The river is expected to recede below flood stage by Friday. At 24 to 25 feet, minor lowland flooding may occur. Low lying roads in southwestern Beauregard Parish including Robert Clark Road may have water over them.

The Atchafalya River at Morgan City is currently at 5.16 feet (Minor flood stage). Minor flood stage is from 4 to 7 feet. The river is expected to remain at this level through the week. At 4 to 5 feet, water may move up the bank and across access roads below the city dock.

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA: Today will be sunny with a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Thursday has a 60 percent chance of showers during the day and mostly clear in the evening. Friday through Sunday is forecast to be sunny.
Temperatures: Wednesday: 81/65, Thursday: 73/47, Friday: 74/45, Saturday: 77/48, Sunday: 74/51
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: A cold front will enter southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi late tonight producing a good chance for showers and thunderstorms just before midnight through early Thursday morning. There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms developing in advance of the front tonight mainly across extreme southwest Mississippi and areas west and north of the Baton Rouge metro area overnight. Any severe thunderstorm activity will be isolated in nature. One or two storms may produce damaging winds. Thunderstorms are likely north of Lake Pontchartrain and on the Mississippi coast Thursday morning. The severe threats are expected to diminish and any severe thunderstorm activity will be isolated in nature Thursday morning. Hazardous weather is not expected Thursday afternoon through Tuesday. Minor flooding will continue at Morgan City on the Atchafalaya River and at Red River landing on the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River at Red River Landing is currently at 49.21 feet (Minor flood stage). Minor flood stage is from 48 to 55 feet. The river is expected to rise to 49.5 by Friday. At 48 to 51 feet, all river islands along the reach from Red River landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. Access roads will be inundated and evacuation of all river islands must be complete. Protection of people and property in the river bottom land on the river side of the levees must be complete.

CENTRAL LOUISIANA: Today has a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms during the day with an increase to 50 percent in the evening. Thursday through Sunday is forecast to be sunny and clear to partly cloudy in the evenings.
Temperatures: Wednesday: 83/55, Thursday: 70/43, Friday: 75/46, Saturday: 77/48, Sunday: 79/52
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: A cold front will reach inland southeast Texas right before sunset and move across the forecast area, exiting the lower Atchafalaya basin before daybreak. A broken line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop right ahead of the front. Some of the storms could become strong with gusty straight line winds, small hail and frequent cloud to ground lightning. Brief heavy rainfall will be possible with hourly rainfall rates between 1 and 1 1/2 inches. However, due to the progressive nature of the front, rainfall amounts should not be too high with average basin amounts between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Thursday through Tuesday high pressure will prevail with fair weather through the period.

NORTHERN LOUISIANA: Today has a 70 percent chance of showers throughout the day. Thursday through Sunday is forecast to be sunny and clear to partly cloudy in the evenings.
Temperatures: Wednesday: 81/49, Thursday: 67/41, Friday: 73/45, Saturday: 75/49, Sunday: 78/52.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: A strong upper level storm system across the central and southern plains will move eastward today, impacting the four state region. As a strong cold front moves into northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas this afternoon, strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible across this feature beginning after the lunch hour. Afternoon heating and frontal forcing, along with lift provided by the upper level trough, could result in potent storms developing along the cold front. The greater threat of strong to severe thunderstorms will be across northwest and north central Louisiana, as well as south central Arkansas late this afternoon, into the evening hours.