textproduct: New Orleans/Baton Rouge

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 145 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

- Sun and temperature related health risks will be the primary concern with sunny skies and warm temperatures on tap through Saturday. Make sure to use sunscreen and drink plenty of water if you intend to be outside enjoying activities like sports and festivals.

- Most visibilities should remain greater than 1/4 mile, so a dense fog advisory is not expected. But, patchy dense fog could occur around sunrise Saturday morning especially around river systems.

- The next chance of measurable rainfall will occur along and ahead of a cold frontal boundary late Saturday into Sunday.

SHORT TERM

(Now through Monday) Issued at 145 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Above average temperatures continue across the region this afternoon with many locations warming into the middle 80s, especially away from larger water bodies. Overall a continuation of mostly tranquil conditions this evening and into the overnight. Once again, some patchy locally dense fog will be possible Saturday morning, especially southwest Mississippi and the Florida Parishes of southeast Louisiana.

Going into late Saturday a cold front will begin to move into the region. Along and ahead of this feature showers and storms are forecast to develop and move through the CWFA. The best potential will be west of the I55 corridor, but likely everyone will see some measurable rainfall...it's just the lower numbers will be seen the further east you go in our CWFA. Behind the front a cooler and drier airmass will settle into the region. On Sunday breezy conditions are forecast to develop with some gusts approaching 30mph, especially over the southshore. With dry northwest flow and the front moving further away as we start the new workweek...rainfall doesn't look likely beyond Sunday afternoon. (Frye)

LONG TERM

(Monday Night through Thursday night) Issued at 145 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Strong surface high pressure will wedge down the Appalachians and into the Gulf Coast region. This will help transition winds to a more easterly or onshore flow. Going further, overall the synoptic pattern becomes a bit tricky and POP forecast is fairly messy at this juncture. The region aloft will be under a more zonal flow so with the quasi return flow setting up we will see temperatures starting to gradually increase Tuesday and into Wednesday. The globals, however, diverge a good bit. GFS is optimistic with POPs as an H5 impulse spreads east over the region late Tuesday and into Wednesday. The ECM is dry, so splitting the difference we will continue to advertise lower end POPs late in the period and again an overall warming trend should take shape. (Frye)

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1227 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Mostly VFR conditions through the cycle. However, once again some VIS issues may develop closer to sunrise Saturday, especially terminals along and north of I10/12. Otherwise light to moderate southerly flow will continue. (Frye)

MARINE

Issued at 145 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

High pressure from the gulf into the Atlantic will continue to produce a light to moderate easterly to southeasterly fetch at 10 to 15 kt over the local waters through Saturday. A cold front is expected to move through the region bringing northerly winds Sunday into early next week where hazardous marine conditions may develop leading to the need for Small Craft Advisories. Northeast winds will shift to east into Tuesday but remain elevated. Wednesday, winds will shift to a more SE direction and ease a bit to around 10-15 kt, possibly remaining that way for the remainder of the week. (Frye)

LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

LA...None. GM...None. MS...None. GM...None.