Severe Weather Threat: Today into Early Thursday

By Jay Grymes

Louisiana State Climatologist

Action has already begun today in NW Louisiana, where the NWS has issued a number of Tornado and Severe T-Storm Warnings this morning.

The SPC expanded the region of "SLIGHT Risk" for severe storms today and tonight ... and has issued a Tornado Watch for most of the western half of the state as of 11:25 AM CDT.  Additional Watch(es) will be possible later today. 

The SPC also has highlighted the potential for those tornadoes that do develop to achieve EF-1 or EF-2 intensities.  The SPC also has increased the potential for damaging winds over a number of northern and  eastern parishes.

The WPC has issued a potential for localized Flash Flooding to include the upper 2/3rds of the state.

Unfortunately, the timeline for the greatest severe threat for SE Louisiana is from the late night into the pre-dawn hours of Thursday.  The one bit of good news is that all of the active weather is well east of Louisiana by the Thursday morning commute.