Louisiana at Risk for More Severe Storms Today and Thursday

The threat of strong storms and severe weather should once again be top of mind for residents of Louisiana. Just as we have seen over the past few weeks the state will be under a threat of strong to severe storms from later today, through tonight, and into the day on Thursday.

The graphic above is a depiction from the Storm Prediction Center that shows where forecasters believe the worst of the weather will occur today. As you can see, north central Texas is under the gun for strong storms but that threat extends eastward into northwestern Louisiana. The Shreveport/Bossier City area isn't quite in the enhanced risk zone but they are included in the slight risk of severe storms zone.

By tomorrow, you can get a visualization of Thursday's forecast in the graphic from the SPC below, you'll notice the storm threat shifts. You can see the enhanced threat has been removed, at least for now, but the slight threat area has not only shifted to cover the I-10 corridor but it covers a much larger area of the state, especially the southern parishes.

The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles says south Louisiana won't experience too much in the way of rainfall today. The Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge areas will see a much larger and more concentrated threat of showers and storms on Thursday.

Chief Meteorologist Rob Perillo with KATC Television has been watching Thursday's forecast very closely because of Festival International. That worldwide music festival begins in Lafayette tonight but many festival goers are concerned about Thursday's forecast and how it might affect the Lauren Daigle performance at Parc International.

That graphic from Rob and KATC.com (see below) suggests the strongest showers and storms will move into the Acadiana area during the morning hours of Thursday. If the model forecast holds true the bulk of the storms should exit the area by the early afternoon.

Hopefully, this will not affect Thursday's opening ceremonies for Festival International and the Lauren Daigle concert that is scheduled after those ceremonies have concluded.

Other than a slight risk of a shower Saturday afternoon and evening the rest of the festival run in Lafayette should be rain free. But in the meantime, it would be a good idea to be "weather aware" for the next 24 to 36 hours from Shreveport to Lake Charles and Lafayette to Baton Rouge as this next weather maker moves through and out of the state.