The big heat yielded to big thunderstorms this afternoon as the upper low in the Northeast Gulf helped destabilize the atmosphere. The result was some intense thunderstorm activity this afternoon and evening that produced better than 7,000 cloud to ground lightning strikes per hour for several hours. We had sporadic reports of damaging winds and hail. Winds gusted to 40-60mph in the heavier storms while mostly pea to marble size hail fell in more moderate storms. I did get a couple of reports of quarter size hail in Rapides Parish.Â
The forecast over the next several days will call for more scattered showers and storms, but the strength of the storms should be less than those of today for tomorrow, with more garden variety splash and dash showers and storms Friday and Saturday. It won’t be as hot, but it will still be hot with highs in the mid-90s tomorrow and low-mid-90s on Friday. Our heat wave should resume into next week with decreased rain chances beginning Sunday.   Highs should be back into the mid-upper 90s starting Sunday and continue until at least Wednesday. Low and behold a weak frontal boundary may get close to us toward the end of next week so maybe a break in the humidity is in the offing. Although tropical activity will begin to ramp upward in the next week or two, at least we can look forward to the slim possibility of cool fronts getting closer to us as we head toward September!Â
Rob Perillo