textproduct: New Orleans/Baton Rouge

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 130 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

- Tropical Storm Bertha is moving westward away from the area with gradually improving conditions during the morning hours. Tropical Storm Warnings continue for lower portions of most southeast Louisiana coastal parishes and adjacent coastal waters. - Minor coastal flooding is expected to continue for today's high tide cycle before conditions improve.

- Impactful heat conditions are likely to return this weekend and persist beyond that.

SHORT TERM

(Now through Sunday) Issued at 130 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Tropical Storm Bertha continues to move westward away from the local area early this morning. Scattered rain showers wrapping around the system will continue to move northwestward across much of the area for the remainder of the night, but anything more than light rain will be very short in duration.

With winds out of the southeast behind the system, tide levels are expected to remain elevated for one more high tide cycle before water levels diminish. We earlier extended the coastal flood products through the end of the morning high tide cycle.

Beyond today, little or no precipitation is expected through the weekend. Today's cloud cover will likely hold high temperatures in the lower 90s for most areas, and heat index values are likely to remain in the 103 to 107 degree range, so not planning on a Heat Advisory for today with this package.

There's going to be abundant sunshine Friday through Sunday, which is going to take high temperatures right back to the levels that were occurring Sunday and Monday. High temperatures in the middle and upper 90s are expected to be common all weekend. Heat Advisories are likely to be necessary for portions of the area for Friday through Sunday, especially along the Interstate 10 and 12 corridors.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Wednesday) Issued at 130 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

An upper ridge will be nearly stationary over Oklahoma and Texas for the first half of next week, with surface high pressure over the Gulf. Precipitable water values won't be much higher than the 25th to 50th percentile climatologically during the period, so if there is any precipitation at all, it won't be much more than isolated thunderstorms during the heat of the day.

Unfortunately, that means high temperatures will remain above normal, with highs potentially approaching 100 degrees on multiple days. Heat Advisories and/or Extreme Heat Warnings are a pretty good bet for Monday, Tuesday and probably Wednesday for a large portion of the CWA.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 130 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Tropical Storm Bertha is moving westward away from the area. The overnight hours are likely to still see patches of rain with at least temporary MVFR conditions at most terminals, and possibly IFR conditions. The threat of rain should eventually pull away from the area this morning with VFR conditions expected by afternoon. Gusty winds will also continue this morning, primarily out of the south and southeast, sustained around 15 knots with occasional gusts to 25 or 30 knots. These conditions should improve around sunset. Won't entirely rule out a few patches of fog Friday morning if winds drop off enough at KMCB.

MARINE

Issued at 130 AM CDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Tropical Storm Bertha continues to pull away from the local waters. Tropical Storm Warnings will likely be dropped over the western waters later this morning or afternoon. Where warnings have been dropped, they've been replaced by Small Craft Advisories while conditions slowly improve. Friday through much of the weekend should see much improved conditions for marine operations. By Sunday night and Monday, we may need some Small Craft Exercise Caution headlines, but conditions aren't expected to be anywhere near those of the last 24 hours.

LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

LA...Tropical Storm Warning for LAZ091-093-095-097.

Coastal Flood Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for LAZ058- 077-080-082-093-095-097-098.

Coastal Flood Warning until 10 AM CDT this morning for LAZ070- 076-078-091.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for GMZ529- 531>536-554-557-575-577.

Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ541-543-551-553-570-572.

MS...Coastal Flood Warning until 10 AM CDT this morning for MSZ086>088.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for GMZ531>536-554-557-575-577.

Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ543-551-553-570-572.