Cloudy forecast for eclipse viewing

Brooke Laizer
·2 min read

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Good Morning, New Orleans! Our forecast for today’s partial solar eclipse viewing opportunity includes clouds, warm temperatures, and increased humidity values.

During these next 24 to 48 hours, our conditions will remain fairly quiet with high temperatures only reaching 70s.

Eclipse 2024

Unfortunately, our forecast for the solar eclipse could be better locally. The maximum eclipse for New Orleans is 1:49 p.m. Monday when the moon will obscure just under 82 percent of the sun. At that point, most of the area will see cloud cover when looking up.

As moisture continues pumping into the region from the Gulf of Mexico, some showers and isolated thunderstorms are also possible this afternoon, but the overall rain chances remain low around 20 to 30 percent. Similar conditions will roll into Tuesday, but a marginal risk for severe weather returns late.

Louisiana eclipse map: Which cities will have the best view?

Wednesday is shaping up to be the most impactful day of the week as a storm system moves through. Some storms could become strong to severe, producing heavy rainfall. Widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches are in the forecast for Wednesday, raising potential flooding concerns. Details on timing and impacts will become all the more clear Tuesday.

While heavy rain is the primary concern, there’s also the possibility of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has outlined New Orleans as well as the Northshore and Mississippi Gulf Coast for a Level 3 threat for severe weather. Louisiana’s coastal areas remain under a Level 2 threat for storms and impacts.

After the cold front swings through Wednesday, high pressure returns, bringing drier air and less humid conditions just in time for the Strawberry Festival and French Quarter Festival. Temperatures will range from the mid to low 50s for lows and upper 70s for highs on Friday and Saturday. Humidity will return again by Sunday as temperatures rise into the low 80s during the day and fall towards low 60s overnight.

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