Surface Boundaries, Upper Disturbances Will Make Christmas Warm & Wet

"This is great weather for April or October...but not for Christmas"  National Weather Service Office Baton Rouge/Slidell.  Yep, but for those of us who love to golf or fish in the Wintertime, we love it!  Cold air & snow geeks are not enjoying this at all.  Unfortunately, Christmas here has the potential to be an ugly day with several periods of showers, and possibly some thunder.  This will be caused by surface boundaries coupling with upper air disturbances.   Let me show you the boundaries.  The one over the Gulf is attached to a surface low east of Florida while the storms to our west are the more active.

NWS is indicating the storms in Texas will weaken as they approach us, but Christmas Day here looks Naughty & not nice.

As you can see, there are a lot of lightning strikes with these storms and several tornado warnings have been issued.  But that upper system is expected to weaken over night. It's a complex surface map.

There definitely is a difference either side of the fronts.  However, as the upper disturbance lifts to the northeast, the fronts will stall and not make it through us.  In fact, another stronger disturbance is along the West Coast and that will bring another round of showers & storms for late Thursday into Friday.

SPC's severe risk map for Thursday is similar to today's storm locations.  Until the upper pattern shifts to an East Coast trough, all of the South will be Spring-like into the New Year. I moved all my plants back outside to get some light & rain.

Out over the Pacific, a powerful jet stream is aiming another round of storms into the West Coast.

This will bring plenty of snow to the ski areas along with milder Pacific air for the lower elevations.  Finally, from Brenda, Bob & Bailey

Some of you are suffering through the loss of a loved one.  That 1st Christmas is very difficult and I hope you can stay strong.  St. Catherine of Siena in Metairie has a wonderful Grief Support group.  Our Spring session begins on March 12th.  For now, you're in our prayers.  Merry Christmas Gang!  Stay tuned!