Weather forecasters are expecting to see record heat across much of southeast Louisiana this week, with afternoon highs nearing the 90s in some areas. And it won't stop there 鈥 unusually warm temperatures are likely to continue through this spring.聽
In its recently released 2025 spring outlook, the Climate Prediction Center said much of Louisiana has a 40-50% chance of seeing above normal temperatures through May. One small corner of south Louisiana near the Texas border is even more likely to see above average heat.
While drought conditions are expected to continue in large swaths of the western U.S., the forecast for precipitation in Louisiana is still up in the air. The state has equal chances of seeing below normal, normal and above normal rainfall rates, according to the Climate Prediction Center.聽
"The biggest takeaway for southeast Louisiana is that while there could be a few periods of cooler than normal temperatures through the remainder of spring and into early summer, there is increasing confidence that overall, the temperatures will be warmer than normal," National Weather Service meteorologist Danielle Manning said.
A transitional season that often comes with rollercoaster weather, spring is defined by the NWS as March through May. Warm afternoons aren't uncommon this time of year in Louisiana, Manning said, and warmer than average temperatures could mean potentially dangerous heat.聽
Southeast Louisiana generally sees lows in the low 60s and highs in the upper 70s in April, and lows in the upper 60s and highs in the mid 80s in May, according to Manning. By June, the first month of meteorological summer, Manning said lows tend to hover around the mid 70s and highs start to rise into the 90s.聽
But temperatures are already rising to unseasonal heights. This week, forecasters expect to see June-like temperatures across much of the region.聽
Highs of 86 degrees are forecast for New Orleans on Thursday through Saturday, which would match or beat daily high records set in 2023 and 2017. In Baton Rouge, daytime highs are expected to reach the 90s, potentially beating out one heat record set in 1908.聽
Regardless if we hit 90潞F or not, the real story here is how unseasonable and rare these highs are for this time of the year. Record highs could be tied or surpassed at Baton Rouge and New Orleans Wednesday thru Saturday. Go home Summer, not yet. 鈽锔忦煓 (2/2)
鈥 NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans)
NWS forecasters called the forecast "unseasonable and rare" in a post on X Tuesday.聽
"Go home Summer, not yet," the NWS said.聽