The dome of high pressure aloft will continue to control our weather as we head into the weekend, giving us above average temperatures and keeping us mainly dry. Isolated showers are possible as moisture from Tropical Storm Barry brushes our area but not many places will see rain. The main effects we could see from Barry would be increasing swells and a higher rip current risk this weekend. Water could also be higher on the beaches. Otherwise, expect the dry, hot and humid weather to continue through much of next week as the weather pattern doesn't look like it will change much.
Tropical Storm Barry is expected to gradually strengthen as it moves toward the Louisiana coast Friday, making landfall early Saturday morning, possibly as a category 1 hurricane. The main threat will be the heavy rain due to the slow movement of the storm. It is expected to produce rain accumulations of 10-20 inches over southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi with local amounts possibly up to 25 inches. Also, the combination of dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause flooding inland from the shoreline. Areas on the east side of the storm could also see a few tornadoes, from southeast Louisiana, far southern Mississippi and the Alabama coast.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy with lows in the upper 70s to near 80s and light and variable winds.
Friday-Weekend: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny with an isolated shower chance and highs in the mid to upper 90s to near 90 at the beaches. Winds will come in from the north to northeast at 6-12 mph, shifting to the southeast Sunday. Heat indices will reach 105-110.
