LOUISIANA WEATHER - July 24, 2010

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA: Saturday will be partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms increasing to a 40 percent chance overnight. Sunday through Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a 40-60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms each day.
Temperatures: Saturday: 95/75, Sunday: 91/77, Monday: 90/76, Tuesday: 91/76
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: Showers and thunderstorms are expected to begin increasing in coverage ahead of Tropical Depression Bonnie. This system is currently forecast to make landfall in southeast Louisiana then track northward keeping the core of the system to the east of the area. The main impacts from Bonnie are anticipated to be an increase in showers and thunderstorms for all areas with some gusty winds possible.

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA: Saturday will be mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms after 7AM. Tropical storm conditions are possible Saturday night through Sunday with an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms each day. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. On Saturday night, winds will be out of the north 15 to 20 mph increasing to between 30 and 35mph. Winds could gust as high as 50mph. Sunday will see winds out of the south 25 to 30mph decreasing to between 15 and 20mph. Winds could gust as high as 40mph. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Sunday night through Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a 40-50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms each day.
Temperatures: Saturday: 92/81, Sunday: 90/79, Monday: 91/80, Tuesday: 90/79
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: A Tropical Storm Warning is posted for all coastal areas including Lake Ponchartrain. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible overnight across the coastal waters.
Tropical Depression Bonnie is forecast to strengthen to a Tropical Storm on Saturday and approach Southeast Louisiana, coastal Mississippi and the adjacent Gulf waters late Saturday and Saturday night. The main impacts will be near the coast, lakeshore area and over the Gulf waters where sustained tropical storm force winds and seas of 8 to 10 feet offshore are possible. Storm surge inundation of 2 to 4 feet will be possible, with the highest levels expected in bay areas and inlets along southeast facing shorelines.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be on the increase over the weekend with Tropical Depression Bonnie forecast to strengthen to a Tropical Storm over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and affect the central Gulf Coast region late Saturday into Sunday. The primary threat will be areas of heavy rainfall and localized flooding. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue much of next week as deeper tropical moisture is expected to remain over the area.

CENTRAL LOUISIANA: Saturday through Saturday night will be mostly cloudy with a 30-40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms decreasing to a 40 percent chance overnight. Monday through Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a 50-60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms each day.
Temperatures: Saturday: 96/74, Sunday: 92/76, Monday: 91/76, Tuesday: 93/75
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: Showers and thunderstorms are expected to begin increasing in coverage ahead of Tropical Depression Bonnie. This system is currently forecast to make landfall in southeast Louisiana then track northward keeping the core of the system to the east of the area. The main impacts from Bonnie are anticipated to be an increase in showers and thunderstorms for all areas with some gusty winds possible.

NORTHERN LOUISIANA: Saturday through Sunday night will be partly to mostly cloudy with a 20-40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms each day. Monday through Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with a 30-50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms each day.
Temperatures: Saturday: 94/74, Sunday: 96/76, Monday: 94/76, Tuesday: 93/76
HAZARDOUS WEATHER: No hazardous weather at this time.