Weather Service: Severe Storms Possible Sunday in Louisiana

Lake Charles, LA - Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles as well as storm specialists with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma are predicting a bumpy end to the weekend in portions of Louisiana. The SPC is once again reaching beyond its normal comfort zone to suggest that a severe weather threat will move into the region some five days ahead of its expected arrival.

Severe storms certainly won't be top of mind today in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Shreveport since those communities will experience a clear and cool but very blustery day today. There is a wind advisory and Red Flag Warning posted for portions of Louisiana, mainly along and north of I-10 for gusty winds today.

So, other than a stiff breeze and chilly overnight temperatures your next weather worries won't manifest until sometime during the day on Sunday. As of now, the thinking is that a vigorous upper-level storm system will track across the state before the weekend comes to a close. But there are still a lot of uncertainties with this forecast.

As you can see below in the graphic provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles, the strongest potential for severe storms should be along and north of US 190. But the coverage and intensity forecasts for those storms still have a lot of wiggle room so don't focus on a specific area, focus more on the region.

The timing of Sunday's storms is still a bit up in the air as well. The thinking right now suggests late afternoon and into the evening hours is when we should expect the stronger storms to move across the area. Some of those showers and storms could linger in the area during the early morning hours of Monday as well.

But things should calm down and sunny skies should return to the area by Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. It will be warmer too. The forecast high temperatures for early next week suggest afternoon temperatures will reach to 80 degrees or warmer.