Cold Front Coming, Some Rain, Much Colder Weekend...

After finally stopping our warm streak at 3 weeks, we had a brief cooldown with a fast warm up today. But unlike most of February into early March, we don't have the SE upper ridge to block more fronts from coming.  In fact, tomorrow's cold front will bring back the heavy coats for this weekend.  Hopefully, it'll also bring us our first soaking rainfall since early February?

In fact, if you look at the new drought monitor out today, we're drier that most of California!

Along with increasing rain chances as the front approaches Friday morning, SPC shifts a slight severe risk over us.  Today it's level 3 back to our NW and they decrease the risk to level 2 on Friday.  Why?  The main upper energy is staying far to our north.

Since this should be a fast moving front, models are keeping the heavier rains well north of Lake P.

We'll take whatever we can get since our lawns and gardens need a good soaking.  The weather map is basic mid-March with Winter-like north of the front and Spring time to the east and south.

Bruce showed us the timing of the front that will put a damper on tomorrow's St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Friday may start as a warm & mostly dry morning, but be ready for a shock after the noon hour as rain arrives and we turn much colder.

Because the upper flow behind the front will stay WSW, clouds are likely to linger for most of this weekend.   It does warm up again later next week, but I'll be back to my heavy weather gear this weekend.  Finally,

Clouds are back today, but I grabbed these satellite views yesterday showing all the muddy waters caused by the current high river levels (12 feet +).  The Spillway isn't opened, but the seepage flowing into Lake Pontchartrain is apparent.  The Mardi Gras breech on the east side of the river is pouring the muddy waters into Breton Sound.    Stay tuned!