October starts next week, and you would think we would be steering clear of the 90s, but they might be back over the weekend. Humidity levels will remain high and rain chances will start to drop off, especially on Sunday. Next week looks a bit more fall like…we’ll get to that later.
Yesterday I was expecting a bit more coverage on the rainfall. I was pleased to see then sunshine so I could finish up some much needed grass cutting. About half way through the job though, I was shaking my fist at the sun because the heat combined with the humidity made it almost unbearable by early afternoon. The heat index around 2pm in New Iberia was 99! I know, I know….”Dave, why do you cut grass in the middle of the day when it’s the hottest?” Well with my schedule, it’s the only time I have between getting home from work, and preparing for afternoon homework when the school bell rings!
Today, I’m expecting more of the same. Clouds until late morning, sun and clouds by midday, hot and humid this afternoon with some widely scattered showers and storms popping up. Most of the rains will fall apart by the evening. Temps will run in the upper 80s again, heat index will run about 95 or so. Heaven for the skeeters.
Saturday, expect low clouds and haze during the morning with muggy conditions. By midday we’ll see some sunshine again. Temperatures will climb into the upper 80s. Afternoon storms will fire up again, with about a 30% coverage. Normally we’ll see the storms dying out by the evening, but Saturday night there will be a jolt of energy passing by in the mid and upper levels. That might keep the storms going a little later into the evening. Most of the action should wind down after midnight.
Sunday again will be muggy and cloudy in the morning. Sunshine expected during the afternoon. Drier air in the mid levels will suppress the thunderstorm development. 20% on the coverage, and with considerable sunshine temps will soar into the lower 90s with the heat index touching 100. Try to find a nice shady spot for the big Sugar Cane Festival Parade Sunday afternoon. If you’ve got kids walking in the Children’s Parade Saturday morning make sure they stay hydrated!!!
So, about this so called “More Pleasant Weather” expected next week. It does appear a cool front will have enough push to get through the area and push well into the Gulf of Mexico. Now this won’t happen until late Monday or early Tuesday morning. The air mass will be slightly cooler, but much drier. You’ll feel a hint of fall during the early morning hours as temps should fall into the mid 60s. The lower humidity will keep it pleasant during the day even with temps pushing back into the mid 80s. Dry air can change in temperature a lot easier than humid air can. So when the humidity is low, there is a greater temperature spread between the high and the low. When the summer doldrums are present, we see about a 20 degree change between the high and the low. When the air is dry, like in the fall, temperature swings of 30 degrees between night and day are not uncommon.
I thought this Eve nagging Adam cartoon was funny. I hope this puts you in the fall spirit! Have A Great Weekend!!!!
StormTeam3 Meteorologist Dave Baker
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