NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Coastal flooding and isolated storms are expected across the northern Gulf Coast again today.
Alberto made landfall on the Mexican coastline early this morning as a tropical storm. As it moves inland, it will continue to weaken rapidly and dissipate due to the higher terrain in Mexico. While this will cause the pressure gradient to relax and reduce wind speeds, it will take some time for winds and sea swells to calm down.
There has been no significant change in wind direction, so it will take some time for the higher water in the tidal lakes to drain. The National Weather Service (NWS) in New Orleans plans to replace the Coastal Flood Warning with a Coastal Flood Advisory for tomorrow’s high tide cycle. The advisory may be canceled if water levels fall quicker than forecast, but minor flooding issues could still occur on Friday.
Drier air is moving westward through much of the local area. This has been noticeable in recent weather readings, which show a decrease in atmospheric moisture compared to the previous days. The northern parts of the area may already be experiencing significantly drier conditions.
With less moisture in the air, there will be fewer showers and storms today and Friday. Most of the rain will be south of the Interstate 10 corridor, and rainfall amounts should be minimal. Expect lower chances of rain, with only a few isolated showers or storms.
With less rain and cloud cover, temperatures are expected to rise. Most areas will see temperatures in the lower to middle 90s today and Friday.
Rain chances Friday through Sunday are minimal at 20 percent or less each day. Any storm development over the weekend will be isolated and mainly occur in the afternoon, primarily south of Interstate 10. As we move into early next week, there is increasing potential for thunderstorms, some of which could produce heavy rainfall.
Temperatures will be on the higher end of the forecast range over the weekend and Monday, with highs in the lower to middle 90s. There is possibility of heat advisories being issued on Sunday and Monday, with heat index values approaching 110°F.
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