Farmer's Forecast: A Soaker, Not a Storm: What to Expect This Week

By Nick Mikulas

Louisiana Farm Bureau News/Cenla Weather

Most of Louisiana has seen 1/2 to 3 inches of rain in the last week, and it looks like we are about to see more. Fortunately, these rain chances don’t look like they will contain a threat for severe weather. Let’s take a look at the next system, and beyond.

Rain is going to spread across the state Wednesday evening into Wednesday night, and I think there will be some heavy amounts south of a Leesville to Alexandria to Ferriday line. There will be some thunder, but nothing severe. I expect 1-3 inches of rain south of that line, with 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches north of that line. Temperatures will remain cool, and that cool air is what will keep our severe threat pretty much completely out of the forecast. I don’t like to give absolute guarantees, but it’s close.

After this, the pattern flips back to a ridge of high pressure out west. That means a dry, northwesterly flow in our area, with temperatures around where they should be, or slightly above average for this time of year. In the long range, there are still some hints at cold air trying to make it back down south later in December, but there’s nothing specific just yet. I’ll be watching, and will update if it looks like any sort of significant event is on the way. For now, it looks like we get some rain to help the drought, and then jump right back into a dry pattern.