An increasingly wet weather pattern is expected to settle over south Louisiana this week, bringing repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the Baton Rouge area and surrounding communities through at least the upcoming weekend. Forecasters say the highest rain chances will begin to ramp up Tuesday afternoon and continue daily into Memorial Day weekend. The Baton Rouge metro and surrounding areas are expected to see multiple waves of storms fueled by deep Gulf moisture.

Forecast discussions indicate several inches of rainfall could accumulate between Tuesday and Sunday, with widespread totals of 2 to 4 inches possible and isolated locations receiving even more where storms repeatedly track over the same areas. The atmosphere is expected to remain unusually humid for May, creating conditions favorable for heavy downpours capable of overwhelming drainage systems in a short amount of time. A marginal excessive rainfall risk is already in place for parts of the region during the middle of the week, and forecasters warn the flash flooding threat may increase later in the week as wet ground conditions worsen.

While severe weather is not expected, a few stronger storms could still produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, and isolated hail, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. The greatest concern appears to be the repeated nature of the rainfall rather than one single storm system. Long-range forecast guidance suggests this unsettled southwest flow pattern may remain locked in through at least part of Memorial Day weekend, meaning outdoor plans could face periodic interruptions from thunderstorms and locally heavy rain. Residents are encouraged to monitor forecasts throughout the week, especially in flood-prone areas where repeated heavy rainfall could quickly create travel problems.

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BOGUE CHITTO, Miss. (AP) — Powerful storms that included at least three tornadoes tore through several Mississippi counties, damaging around 500 homes, uprooting trees and injuring at least 17 people, authorities said Thursday.

There were no immediate reports of deaths after storms cut across the state's southwest on Wednesday night, said Scott Simmons, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

He said 12 of those hurt were transported from a hard-hit trailer park in the small community of Bogue Chitto, about an hour's drive south of the state capital in rural Lincoln County.

Most of the two dozen homes at Gene’s Mobile Home Supply were flattened into heaps of splintered boards and twisted metal. People picked through the debris Thursday morning under cloudy skies as a chainsaw buzzed in the background.

“I was just watching TikTok on my bed and thought it was thunder. I went to my living room. I went back to my room, and the room’s gone,” resident Max Mahaffey told WAPT-TV.

He said he wasn't injured, but his grandmother hurt her ankle and some of his neighbors suffered cuts and bruises.

One intact trailer lay flipped on its roof near the tree line. Several cars, some with hazard lights blinking, appeared to have been picked up by the storm.

“We know there were at least three tornadoes,” said Daniel Lamb, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office in Jackson.

“The same storm produced at least two tornadoes from Franklin, Lincoln into Lawrence counties, and then there was another one from Lamar possibly into Forest County.”

He said there may have been more. “Those are just the ones that we are able to confirm by radar before even having gone down there.”

“Pray for Mississippi,” Gov. Tate Reeves posted online, saying the state Emergency Management Agency was coordinating response efforts.

Many roads were still blocked in Lincoln County and teams from the agency were assessing the damage.

“We ask that you please refrain from sightseeing as crews are working,” the department posted early Thursday.

The governor said a volunteer rescue group was providing a 50-person shelter pod, a high-powered generator and 10 pallets of supplies to the county, which reported at least 200 damaged homes.

Lamar County to the southeast reported about 275 homes damaged, according to the state emergency management agency. Another 10 to 12 homes were damaged in Lawrence County.

More storms were expected Thursday with the possibility of tornadoes across parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida, the weather service said. Strong storms also were possible for parts of the Carolinas and Texas.

There were no immediate reports of deaths from the storms that struck several counties on Wednesday night. At least 17 people were injured, according to Scott Simmons, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

He said 12 of those hurt were transported from the Wash Trailer Park in the small community of Bogue Chitto, in Lincoln County.

The park was severely damaged.

“I was just watching TikTok on my bed and thought it was thunder. I went to my living room. I went back to my room, and the room’s gone,” resident Max Mahaffey told WAPT-TV.

He said he wasn't injured, but his grandmother hurt her ankle and some of his neighbors suffered cuts and bruises.

The National Weather Service said “a very large and dangerous tornado” moved from eastern Lincoln County into Lawrence County.

Gov. Tate Reeves said multiple tornadoes were reported throughout the central and western parts of the state and that the state Emergency Management Agency was coordinating response efforts.

“Pray for Mississippi,” he posted online.

Emergency officials in Lincoln County said the severe weather caused major damage and several injuries, but no deaths.

“Damage assessments are ongoing, there are multiple roads blocked in the county we ask that you please refrain from sightseeing as crews are working,” the emergency management department posted early Thursday.

The county reported at least 200 homes were damaged. Lamar County to the southeast reported about 275 homes damaged, according to the state emergency management agency. Another 10 to 12 homes were damaged in Lawrence County.

More storms were expected Thursday with the possibility of tornadoes across parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida, the weather service said. Strong storms were also possible for parts of the Carolinas and Texas.

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A cold front will bounce around the Gulf Coast late Wednesday through Saturday, leading to a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The position of the front will be critical—and to difficult to forecast—as to which locations receive showers and thunderstorms on which days.

Late Week Storms: scattered activity through Saturday, heavy at times

Dry Time for Mom: occasional showers and thunderstorms, not a washout

Cold Front Clear-Out: another break in rain, humidity early next week

Tonight & Tomorrow: An approaching cold front will trigger scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across our area tonight. A few storms could become severe, bringing the threat of damaging wind gusts, large hail, and even an isolated tornado, particularly for locations north of the state line. Closer to Baton Rouge, showers and thunderstorms should pack a little less of a punch, though some briefly heavy rain could reduce visibility and cause ponding of water for the Thursday morning commute. Lows will be in the mid to upper 60s. The cold front will slowly push south through the day and cause a few showers and thunderstorms to pop up as it does. Some of these could bring short downpours as well. To be clear, there will be a lot of dry time on Thursday with otherwise cloudy skies. Highs will be in the upper 70s.

Up Next: On Friday, the front is expected to move back northward into the region, helping to ignite another batch of showers and thunderstorms. Though still not necessarily a washout, more locations will be getting rain more of the time on Friday, especially during the afternoon. Again, some of the activity could produce downpours and lead to a few flooding issues.

Use the slider to advance through the next 24 hours of Futurecast

We are tracking two more waves of energy for the weekend. The first will arrive late Saturday, followed by another on Mother's Day. Of the two days, Saturday looks considerably wetter with several hours of showers and thunderstorms possible during the afternoon and evening. Sunday will have some pop-up showers and thunderstorms around in response to daytime warming, and then another round will be possible at night as a cold front sweeps through the region, finally pushing all of the muggy and active weather away to the southeast.

Through the weekend, showers and thunderstorms should add up rain totals of 2-5” with locally higher amounts possible. By Monday, skies will clear with a stretch of dry and mild weather into the middle of next week.

Get the latest 7-day forecast and real-time weather updates HERE.

Watch live news HERE.

Remember that the WBRZ WX App. is *free* on Apple and Android devices and can be used for breaking weather information, live radar, and forecast details. You can also use it to watch live coverage if power or broadcast signal is ever lost. For even more, connect with the Storm Station on X and Facebook. Stream WBRZ+ for continuous information as it becomes available.

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The Climate Prediction Center’s May outlook paints a fairly balanced temperature picture for south Louisiana, including Baton Rouge. After a warm spring, the pattern is expected to even out, leaving us with temperatures that average close to normal for the month. That means typical mid-May highs in the mid-80s and morning lows in the mid-60s, with some ups and downs along the way but nothing too far from what we expect this time of year.

Rainfall is where the forecast stands out. A more active weather pattern across the Gulf Coast is expected to bring a better chance for above-normal precipitation through May. This setup includes multiple disturbances and the potential for a stalled boundary nearby, both of which can increase rain coverage and frequency across Louisiana.

That’s especially encouraging given the ongoing drought conditions. Baton Rouge normally sees just over five inches of rain in May, and we’re already off to a strong start after picking up more than two inches on the first day of the month. If this wetter pattern continues, it could go a long way in helping ease dry conditions as we head deeper into late spring.

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Baton Rouge has reached the low 90s for the first time in 2026. The official thermometer for record-keeping purposes at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport registered an air temperature of 90° at approximately 3:48 p.m. Monday. Out of 134 years of record, only in 13 years has Baton Rouge experienced its first 90°+ day before April 27. This also ties the record high temperature for the day of 90°, last set in 1963.

This comes amid a short burst of heat. In fact, the Capital Area might make a run for the low 90s again on Tuesday, before another cold front sends temperatures crashing later in the week. CLICK HERE for the latest Storm Station Forecast.

90s will become much more common in the coming weeks to months; here are 9 stats about the 90s:

1) Annual averages show the Red Stick recording its first 90° temperature by May 13.

2) The earliest 90° day on record is March 2, 1909. Only on seven occasions has Baton Rouge been in the 90s in March.

3) The latest in the year it has taken Baton Rouge to reach 90° is June 10, 1950 & June 10, 1976.

4) Baton Rouge experienced its latest 90° high in the calendar year in 2024. That was shattered on three occasions: October 30, November 4, and November 6. Also remarkable is that these are the only recorded 90° days in the month of November.  

5) On average, the last 90° high occurs on October 4.

6) The earliest that the area has ever experienced the final 90° high for the year was September 6, 1893.

7) The maximum number of days that the Capital City has reached 90° or above was 140 in 2023. 2024 comes in at #2 with 139 days.

8) The fewest number of days that the Capital City reached 90° or above was only 30 days in 1961.

9) On average, Baton Rouge spends approximately 90 days per year in the 90s.

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Louisiana is no stranger to water; it quite literally defines the state’s geography and way of life. So, when rain dries up over a prolonged period, the landscape shifts rapidly. It's happening across the state as significant rain continues to be scarce.

Drought is more than just a lack of rain, but rather a natural hazard that ripples through the environment, affecting everything from air quality to water safety to prices at the grocery store.

Developed in 1999, the U.S. Drought Monitor provides a comprehensive overview of drought conditions across the nation. It’s a multi-agency collaboration between the National Drought Mitigation Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Agriculture. Updates are distributed every Thursday, mapping out drought-stricken areas.

While precipitation plays a major role in each update, many other data sources are considered, such as streamflow, reservoir levels, temperature, evaporation, soil moisture, and vegetation health. These indicators, along with field observations and local insights from over 450 experts, go into the map’s creation.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is made up of five categories that describe how dry the soil is and attempt to quantify its impact. Historically speaking, Louisiana has experienced the following impacts at each level:

Abnormally Dry – This isn’t a full drought yet, but it’s a sign of where things are going with continued dry conditions. Grass begins turning brittle, and the number of grass fires tends to increase on dry and breezy afternoons.

Moderate Drought – At this stage, farmers begin planting fewer crops to avoid losses. The overall fire risk increases further, and local officials begin closely monitoring burn conditions.

Severe Drought – Drought starts showing more visible signs at this stage. The ground begins to crack as the soil dries out. Grass stops growing, the grazing forage disappears, and trees show signs of distress. Local creek and bayou levels also start to run low.

Extreme Drought – A serious drought that threatens all industries that allow Louisiana to thrive. It is at this stage that the crawfish population decreases significantly as their habitats dry out. Rice becomes too expensive to maintain, and soybean yields plummet. As river levels drop, saltwater from the Gulf pushes further inland, making the river too salty for irrigation in the bayou parishes. Local officials begin issuing voluntary water restrictions in addition to bans on burning and fireworks.

Exceptional Drought – The highest and worst drought classification. Louisiana experienced this level of drought in 2023. Voluntary water restrictions tend to become mandatory at this stage. Pasture and crop losses are no longer localized, but rather show up everywhere. The fishing industry becomes heavily compromised. Mosquito numbers also drop with fewer pockets of standing water for them to breed in.

The latest drought outlook reveals a quick ramp-up into severe drought just to the north and south of the Metro Baton Rouge area. The abnormally dry area highlighted in yellow continues to get smaller as moderate drought conditions take over.

Since drought tends to be a slow-moving hazard, tracking drought conditions from week to week provides valuable insight to help mitigate economic losses and make smarter policy decisions. Damages from drought can be as substantial as those from hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other natural disasters.

While the Drought Monitor does not trigger political actions in and of itself, many agencies utilize it. For instance, the USDA uses the Drought Monitor to trigger disaster declarations and eligibility for low-interest loans. The IRS uses it for a tax deferral on forced livestock sales due to drought. On the state and local level, it’s often used as a tool to declare burn bans and water emergencies.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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TOKYO --A strong earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast, prompting a tsunami alert from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 and hit near the Sanriku coastline around 4:53 p.m. local time (0753 GMT). It originated at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles) beneath the ocean floor.

Tsunami waves were quickly detected along the Iwate coastline. Officials reported a wave of roughly 80 centimeters (2.6 feet) at Kuji port, along with a smaller 40-centimeter (1.3-foot) wave at another nearby location.

Authorities urged people to move away from coastal areas and rivers immediately and seek higher ground. Residents were also warned to stay alert for aftershocks over the next week.

Evacuation advisories were issued for 11 towns in Iwate prefecture, though they were not mandatory.

Forecasters say tsunami waves as high as 3 meters (10 feet) are possible. Alerts were issued for Iwate, Aomori, and southeastern Hokkaido, while lower-level advisories extend south into Miyagi and Fukushima.

The region has experienced recent seismic activity, including another magnitude 7.5 earthquake in December that left dozens injured.

This latest quake comes 15 years after the devastating March 11, 2011 disaster, when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 22,000 people and displaced nearly half a million. The crisis also triggered a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, forcing about 160,000 residents to evacuate. Tens of thousands have yet to return, either due to ongoing restrictions or concerns about radiation.

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On April 14, 1967, Baton Rouge experienced a weather event worth remembering, even in a region with a trying history of heavy rain and flooding. A storm system stalled over the region, dumping a record-breaking foot of rain in a matter of hours, paralyzing transportation, and triggering widespread flooding that many residents had never seen before.

The deluge began in the early morning hours of Friday, April 14, 1967. By 11 a.m., the U.S. Weather Bureau at Ryan Airport reported that more than 10 inches of rain had fallen in just nine hours—doubling the city's typical average for the entire month of April.

By the time the storm let up, the official record for the day stood at a staggering 11.99 inches of rain. In some parts of the parish, totals were reported as high as 14 inches, falling at a rate of nearly an inch per hour for half of the day.

Cathy Heckman emailed the Storm Station, stating that she remembers the day well:

"A neighbor and I worked in the same office. Her son, who was my age, was attending LSU. She said they would pick me up in her car, he would drop us off at the office, and he would go on to LSU. They picked me up at 7:30 a.m. and we drove around until 1:00 p.m., but we never could make it to downtown because of flooded streets. Her car got water in it. My father had to park his car several blocks away from our house after work and walk home because he couldn’t drive through the flooded streets. He left early enough in the morning to get to where he worked on Main Street before the flooding started."

The sheer volume of water overwhelmed the city’s infrastructure. By midday Friday, Mayor-President Woody Dumas declared a state of emergency. Rising water stalled cars on virtually every street and road in the city and parish.

Highland Road, a main artery to LSU, became impassable to vehicles, leaving "foot" as the only means of transportation. School children were dismissed at noon and sent home by bus as officials scrambled to clear streets. Law enforcement used the majority of their vehicle resources to evacuate residents from low-lying areas.

While the city streets began to drain by Saturday, the crisis shifted toward outlying areas as the Amite and Comite Rivers began to swell. In Denham Springs, State Highway Department crews worked with draglines to clear logs and debris from the Amite River bridge to prevent the structure from clogging and failing. Meanwhile, State Police has to intermittently block U.S. Highway 190 at Albany and Denham Springs due to changing water levels.

Governor John McKeithen and Representative John Rarick conducted aerial surveys of the damage on Saturday. At the time, there was debate as to whether or not the event surpassed The Great Flood of 1943, but Mayor-President Dumas noted that houses and businesses in East Baton Rouge were hit that had never been threatened by water before.

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Breezy conditions will create dangerous rip currents along Gulf Coast beaches in Alabama and Florida through at least Friday. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. 

Those planning a trip to Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches—including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola, and Destin—a High Rip Current Risk will be in effect through Friday night, with the potential for extensions into Saturday and Sunday.

Further east and south along the Florida Peninsula, the risk will be more prolonged. In areas like Miami and Palm Beach, the high risk is slated to last through Sunday evening, accompanied by a High Surf Advisory with breaking waves as high as 7 to 11 feet.

Beachgoers should swim near a lifeguard whenever possible and not swim alone. If caught in a rip current, experts advise not to swim against the current and to relax and float. Swimmers may be able to escape by swimming parallel to the shoreline or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach. Those unable to escape should face the shore and wave or call for help.

Rip currents don't pull swimmers under. They are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore. These currents often occur near groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. Swimmers should stay at least 100 feet away from these structures.

Anyone who sees someone in trouble should get help from a lifeguard or call 911. Never enter the water without a flotation device when attempting a rescue.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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The Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University (CSU) has officially released its highly anticipated annual outlook for the 2026 Atlantic Basin hurricane season. While the historical average (1991–2020) sits at 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes, CSU’s 2026 outlook calls for 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes.

This year, Dr. Philip Klotzbach and the research team point to an emerging El Niño as a driver for lower tropical cyclone activity. However, there is still a level of uncertainty when forecasting the strength of El Niño several months in advance. 

Additionally, the outlook mentions above average sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean, but below average temperatures in the Atlantic. This pattern provides mixed signals in relation to an above average or below average season. Meanwhile, a strengthening El Niño could lead to increasing wind shear across the Atlantic Basin, which ultimately impedes the development of tropical systems. 

El Niño typically reduces the amount of storm activity in the Atlantic basin because it increases the amount of vertical wind shear. Vertical wind shear is strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere that typically prevents circulations like tropical systems from becoming fully formed. The opposite is true for La Niña, which typically reduces the amount of vertical wind shear.

As defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific—the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” for short. Keep in mind that El Niño and La Niña do not “cause” any one specific weather event; rather the two phases of ENSO influence changes in global climate patterns that then increase the likelihood of specific weather events. Once again, ENSO is not “to blame” for any one storm system, temperature anomaly, or hurricane.

As of April, ENSO was in the La Niña phase. A quick transition to El Niño, possibly a strong one, is expected over the next couple of months. Exactly when El Niño emerges and at what strength is still somewhat unclear. However, current projections do show El Niño taking hold late summer or early fall, near the peak of hurricane season. 

CSU's forecast is based on an extended-range early April statistical prediction scheme that was developed using over three decades of past data. These seasonal forecasts were originally developed by the late Dr. William Gray, who was the lead author on these predictions for over 20 years and continued as a co-author until his death in 2018. You can review the entire prediction, the scientific explanation, and the reason such a forecast is made, RIGHT HERE. In-season updates are issued in June, July, and August as basin conditions continue to evolve. 

Since 2002, pre-season predictions have shown modest accuracy. CSU outlooks fall within a reasonable margin of error (3 for named storms, 2 for hurricanes, 1 for majors) about 60% of the time. Those from NOAA have been only slightly better than a coin flip. In fact, simply using the expected state of ENSO (El Niño or La Niña) has historically, more accurately predicted above (La Niña) or below (El Niño) average activity than the aforementioned outlooks. 

The team at CSU Colorado State University and the Storm Station remind that “it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for you,” so prepare accordingly. NOAA’s official outlook is expected in Late May. For more on the season ahead and preparedness, visit wbrz.com/weather and click on the hurricane center.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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New mobile weather radars from NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory are expected to improve severe weather forecasting and public safety across the United States. NOAA researchers can now bring advanced radar technology directly to the front lines of tornadoes, hail storms, flash flooding, and severe wind events. These mobile radars give scientists a closer and clearer look at dangerous storms, helping them spot threats faster and with more detail than before.

DaNa Carlis, director of NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, said the new radars are a major upgrade for forecasters and decision makers. The technology allows researchers to see the lowest parts of storms, where tornadoes and other hazards often form.

Each radar truck carries two X-band radars, which are sensitive to small particles, and one C-band radar, which works well in heavy rain. By using multiple radars at once, scientists can better measure wind speed and direction inside storms.

Pam Heinselman, deputy director of the lab, said this detailed data helps protect people by showing exactly where and how storms are changing. Kurt Hondl, associate director, explained that having more than one radar on a storm gives a much better picture of what is happening, which can lead to more accurate warnings.

OTHER FORECASTING BENEFITS

The new radars will also help track wildfires, monitor smoke and fire-driven winds, and pinpoint where the heaviest rain is falling during flash floods. This information can help communities prepare for sudden weather threats.

The project is part of the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment-United States, or VORTEX-USA, which brings together experts to study tornadoes and severe storms.

NOAA says the data from these mobile radars will be used to improve weather forecasts and give people more time to get to safety when severe weather is coming.

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For the first time in more than 50 years, NASA has launched humans back toward the Moon. Following the success of the unmanned Artemis I flight in 2022, the Artemis II mission marks a historic leap forward in an effort to pave the way for mankind to return to the Moon while also preparing for an eventual Mars landing. WATCH the Live Mission Coverage below:

Space Launch System (SLS) Program Manager John Honeycutt and Chief Engineer Dr. John Blevins describe the mission as “a practice run that will set the stage for future Artemis missions – humans once again landing on the lunar surface, exploring areas the Apollo astronauts did not, staying longer, learning more, and making new discoveries. It is the next step to establishing our presence on a strategically important piece of solar system real estate.”

The mission serves as a critical stress test of the Orion spacecraft’s life support system and will confirm that the ship can sustain a crew on future missions. The astronauts will practice operations essential to the success of Artemis III and beyond.

The mission will take place aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by the SLS rocket that will generate more than 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

The crew features a team of veteran astronauts who will become the first to see the side of the Moon opposite Earth since the Apollo era. Three Americans, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and one Canadian, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, will board the flight.

From left to right, Artemis II NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) Jeremy Hansen

Weather played a critical role in launch operations. NASA has established strict weather guidelines to safely roll the rocket out to the pad and launch the rocket. Such criteria are very specific and consider temperature, precipitation, wind, solar activity, cloud type, lightning, and proximity to nearby thunderstorms.

The Artemis II mission launched at 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. The launch window spanned two hours, beginning at 5:24 p.m. local time (6:24 p.m. EDT). Should the launch have been scrubbed, there were five other two-hour launch windows from April 2-6, and another on April 30.

Before launching to the Moon, the crew will orbit Earth twice to ensure systems are functioning properly in a deep space environment, while still close to home. During that time, the crew will take manual control of Orion to test the human skill of maneuvering the spacecraft. This will be essential in future missions in order to dock with the lunar lander in orbit.

The next phase of the mission involves Orion propelling toward the Moon, during which the crew will evaluate the spacecraft’s systems, practice emergency procedures, and take part in science experiments. Eventually, the Moon’s gravity will catch Orion and take the ship around the far side of the Moon, where the crew will lose communication with Earth for about 30 to 50 minutes. From their vantage point, the Moon will appear around the size of a basketball held at arm’s length at that time.

The Moon will then “slingshot” Orion back around toward Earth for the final leg of the journey. Upon re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, the spacecraft and crew will be recovered with the help of the U.S. Navy.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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As the 2026 hurricane season approaches, coastal communities will notice significant changes to the maps and tools they rely on during a tropical weather system. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is rolling out several updates designed to provide more accurate and easier-to-understand forecast information.

 

CHANGES TO THE CONE

Perhaps the most recognizable graphic in weather, known as the “cone of uncertainty”, is getting a permanent makeover. Starting this year, the cone will now include color-coded watches and warnings for inland areas, not just the coastline. For years, the cone only showed alerts for the immediate beach and bay areas. If you lived in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, or Gonzales, you often had to look at a separate map to see if your parish was under a Hurricane Warning or a Tropical Storm Warning. Now, those alerts will be layered directly onto the cone graphic from NHC.

This change is meant as a reminder that a tropical system isn't just a coastal event. Think of the cone like a flashlight beam; the center of the storm is expected to stay within that beam, but the "light" (the wind and rain) often spills out much further than the beam itself. By showing inland warnings, the NHC wants to make it clear that dangerous winds can travel far from the center of the storm.

With each passing season, the NHC seeks to capitalize on improved weather forecasting and computer modeling by gradually shrinking the cone. For 2026, it will be about 4% to 8% smaller than it was last year. Cone changes are determined by how well forecasts performed over the last five years. Because technology and tracking have improved, the margin of error has decreased. A smaller cone means forecasters are more confident in the storm’s path, though occasionally, a storm may still venture outside of the cone.

 

CHANGES TO TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOKS

When you check the Tropical Weather Outlook, the map that shows "X" marks over the oceans where storms might form, you might see a new colored “X” that will be gray. Previously, any system with a low, 0 – 30%, chance of developing had an “X” marked in yellow. Starting this year, if a system has a zero percent chance of becoming a tropical depression or storm, it will have an “X” colored in gray. NHC still wants to highlight these systems because they could have the potential to cause heavy rain. However, the gray “X” will provide clarity that the systems will not also become a wind or storm surge threat.

 

MOBILE-FRIENDLY UPDATES

Recognizing that most people check the weather on their smartphones, the NHC is launching a redesigned, mobile-friendly front page for its website, hurricanes.gov. The new layout is designed to load faster and be easier to navigate on smaller screens during power outages or evacuations.

 

AN “EXPERIMENTAL” ELLIPSE

In addition to the official changes, the NHC will be testing a new "experimental" cone in 2026. Instead of using circles to build the cone, they will use "ellipses" (oval shapes).

This is a technical change to better account for "along-track" and "cross-track" errors. In simpler terms, it will help NHC forecasts better show if a storm is likely to be fast or slow, rather than just whether it will turn left or right. This experimental version will also cover 90% of the likely path, providing a much wider guardrail than the standard 67% cone.

 

REMINDER ABOUT POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONES

Recently, NHC began designating Potential Tropical Cyclones (PTCs) to give people more preparation time for developing systems that haven’t technically reached storm or hurricane status. Before this, NHC could not issue alerts for undeveloped systems. Forecasters can now issue official advisories for a PTC up to 72 hours before it arrives. The change gives emergency officials and residents extra notice when there is high confidence that a system will bring dangerous winds or storm surge to the coast.

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins June 1. The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your tropical weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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The Pacific Ocean is heating up, and El Niño appears ready to take the driver’s seat as the peak of hurricane season kicks into high gear. If this pattern develops fully, it may pump the brakes on the number and intensity of hurricanes in the Atlantic during the upcoming season.

La Niña Phasing Out, El Niño Building

For the last two hurricane seasons, La Niña has been the dominant force. During La Niñas, strong easterly trade winds push warm surface water toward Asia, allowing cooler water to well up along the South American coast. This reshapes the global atmospheric circulation, effectively weakening the upper-level winds that typically guard the Atlantic. This works in favor of tropical systems. As it turns out, La Niña was one of the key contributors to the active 2024 and 2025 Atlantic hurricane seasons.

Now it appears La Niña's time is up. A massive pool of warm water has been traveling from the West Pacific toward the east over the past couple of months, hiding a few hundred feet beneath the water surface. Now, the warmth is beginning to emerge at the sea surface off the coast of South America.

Water temperatures compared to average along the Equator for the first 1,500 feet beneath the surface. The belt of deeper reds and oranges corresponds to an expansive pocket of warm water migrating toward the East Pacific.

In the coming months, that pool of warm water will continue expanding toward the surface in the East Pacific, swinging the pendulum toward El Niño. Such a transition would trigger a chain reaction that strengthens upper-level winds across the Atlantic — opposite of La Niña. These winds work to shred apart developing tropical cyclones before they get organized. Historically, El Niño years see fewer named storms and, crucially, fewer major hurricanes. Current projections indicate a 80% chance of El Niño by the peak of hurricane season.

Probabilities of El Niño vs. La Niña by season. 'ASO' describes the probabilities for the August-September-October season, which coincides with the peak of hurricane season.

Still Remain Vigilant

While El Niño is an ally that promotes below-average activity, it isn't a perfect "off" switch. For instance, if the enhanced upper-level winds over the Atlantic take a break and a storm finds a patch of warm water, a hurricane can still quickly spin up.

The timing of the transition to El Niño also matters. There's a gap between the exit of La Niña and the arrival of El Niño that may overlap with the start of hurricane season. Early-season storms in June and July often form before the wind shear “shield” of El Niño takes hold.

Also, remember that it only takes one storm to cause big problems, even during "quieter" peaks in August and September. 1992 was an incredibly quiet year — until Hurricane Andrew hit. That's a sobering reminder that a "slow" year on paper can still be a catastrophic year on the ground.

Most Likely Outcome

The upcoming hurricane season appears likely to be notably quieter than the last few seasons. As El Niño tries to take control, the most probable result is a below-average season. Such seasons tend to feature at least one or two high-end hurricanes, but they often recurve out to sea and avoid the Caribbean/Gulf.

Every now and again, a hurricane can sneak through — rest assured, the Storm Station will be keeping close tabs on any system that threatens. The first official outlook for hurricane season from Colorado State University will be released in April.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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After a night of stormy weather, the Capital Region is waking up to a dramatic temperature drop and frozen precipitation. Monday morning, many Storm Station viewers sent in pictures of ice pellets, which were a mixture of sleet and graupel. 

While hail typically falls in spring and summer thunderstorms, sleet and graupel are more common with cold precipitation events. There is a difference in how the two types form.

Sleet occurs when snowflakes melt into raindrops as they fall through a thin layer of warmer air, but then hit a much deeper layer of freezing air near the ground. This causes the droplets to refreeze into tiny, clear ice pellets before they hit the surface. Hail is jagged and spiky as it is pushed up and down in a storm cloud via turbulent winds. Sleet is smooth and rounded formed in a more straightforward process of "melting and refreezing" on the way down.

Sleet is often clear or translucent. In some cases the frozen pellets may be opaque or white which would be graupel. This forms when snowflakes falling well above ground are coated with water in a warm layer of the atmosphere and then it all freezes in a colder layer on the way down.  

A final check may be the sound and texture. Graupel is a softer, slush that would make less noise hitting surfaces and would more easily mush between your fingers. Sleet is more of a solid ice pebble that would make a distinct ticking sound when hitting hard surfaces and be hard to crush between your fingers, and that was a sound familiar to many of the videos taken on Monday morning. 

The Storm Station expects a blustery and much colder Monday. Temperatures will fall well below average before a gradual warmup later this week. A FREEZE WATCH is in effect for Monday night, with temperatures expected to plummet into the low 30s.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go. 

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BATON ROUGE — The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the entire Capital region on Monday

Going into effect at 1 p.m. and lasting until 7 p.m. on Monday, the warning emphasizes how the combination of very dry air and gusty winds could lead to rapid wildfire spread should one ignite.

Officials ask that residents refrain from burning while these conditions are present, as any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.

Affected parishes include East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Assumption, Iberville, East Feliciana, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. Mary, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana Parishes, as well as Amite and Wilkinson Counties.

Storm Station Meteorologist Malcom Byron says that the reasons for the warning are gusty winds following a cold front coming to the area and low humidity.

"Whenever you have really dry conditions, that would be low relative humidities and breezy conditions, with low relative humidities, the air is so dry that it has a tendency to suck up the moisture out of dry vegetation a little bit faster. That promotes better fire fuels,” Byron said.

If fires were to ignite, then the gusty winds would help the fire spread easier.

"If you take a tissue paper and you drop it outside and it blows two feet, if that would have been a fire. It would've been four feet. So just keep that in mind. If you got something that's going to deliver ash, it can land on top of a dead pine tree or it can go a mile and catch something else on fire,” Husser Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dale Vernon said.

Byron says despite recent heavy rains, the soil is dry.

"While Baton Rouge is not technically under a drought, areas just north of the Metro area and south of the metro area, even despite all the added rain recently, they're still under a drought,” Byron said.

Fire officials recommend against burning Monday and say even something as small as flicking a cigarette can be problematic.

"Avoid burning anything outdoors. Anything that can create sparks in dry vegetation, you want to avoid that. A small spark can get away from somebody really quickly before they're able to control it,” Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesperson Billy Zachary said. 

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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UPDATE: The U.S. Geological Survey has upgraded the magnitude of the earthquake near Edgefield, LA to 4.4. While the new upgrade is stronger, new data reveal a deeper earthquake with a depth of around 7.3 miles. A separate 4.0 magnitude quake occurred one minute prior.

COUSHATTA — Another 4.0+ magnitude earthquake has struck north Louisiana.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a magnitude 4.0 earthquake hit just north of Coushatta, Louisiana, at 4:41 a.m. on Monday. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of about 5 km (around 3 miles).

This appears to be an aftershock following last week’s rare magnitude 4.9 earthquake in the same area — the strongest recorded on land in Louisiana. Four smaller, and likely unnoticeable aftershocks, were also reported in the 24 hours leading up to the recent 4.0. 

No damage or injuries have been reported. Residents across parts of north Louisiana may have felt brief shaking.

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North Louisiana was shaken with an unexpected wake-up call early Thursday morning as a 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Edgefield. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake occurred at 5:30 a.m., centered approximately 4.4 miles northwest of Edgefield and roughly 29 miles northwest of Natchitoches. While the epicenter was located about 173 miles from Baton Rouge, the tremor was felt across a wide swath of the state and into East Texas.

The earthquake occurred at a depth approximately 3.1 miles below ground level which is relatively shallow and makes shaking more noticeable to those nearby. Cities such as Coushatta and Mansfield may have notified moderate shaking while some weaker activity may have been felt in Shreveport, Bossier City and Natchitoches. According to USGS estimates, over 670,000 people live within the region that may have felt at least light shaking.

Damage from this level of shaking is unlikely but experts say older unreinforced brick masonry buildings could be vulnerable to minor cracking. No major infrastructure damage has been reported.

Earthquakes of this magnitude are uncommon for the Pelican State. Historically, Louisiana sits in a relatively quiet seismic zone compared to neighbors like Arkansas or the New Madrid Fault zone further north. The last comparable events in the broader region occurred in 1982 and 2001, both registering at a 4.7 magnitude.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Hurricane Committee announced this week that Hurricane Melissa has been officially retired following the "death and destruction" the storm unleashed across the Caribbean last October. In its place, the name Molly will join the rotating list of storm names starting in 2031.

A Record-Breaking Monster

Hurricane Melissa wasn't just another storm; it was a historic powerhouse. At its peak, it reached Category 5 status—the highest level on the scale—with terrifying winds hitting 185 mph.

The storm’s impact was staggering:

• A Historic Hit: Melissa is now the strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in Jamaica.

• All-Time Records: Its wind speeds at landfall tied the infamous Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane for the strongest ever seen in the Atlantic basin.

• The Human Toll: The storm was responsible for more than 90 deaths across Jamaica, Haiti, and neighboring island nations.

"Years of Development Rolled Back"

The storm brought a "triple threat" of disasters: devastating storm surges (ocean water pushed onto land), extreme winds, and massive flooding from historic rainfall.

"It only takes one landfalling tropical cyclone to roll back years of development," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. "And this was unfortunately the case with Hurricane Melissa."

Evan Thompson, head of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service, noted that the trauma remains fresh. "Melissa has now been engraved in the collective memory of the nation," he said, adding that retiring the name helps ensure the country doesn't have to constantly face that traumatic reminder in future forecasts.

Why Do We Retire Names?

The WMO uses a rotating list of names to make it easier for the public to communicate about storms and stay safe. These names repeat every six years. However, when a storm is so deadly or costly that using its name again would be insensitive or confusing, the committee "retires" it out of respect for the victims.

2025: Quality Over Quantity

Interestingly, the 2025 hurricane season actually had fewer storms than a typical year, but the ones that did form were exceptionally powerful.

Forecasts Saved Thousands

While the loss of 90 lives is a tragedy, experts say it could have been much worse.

Michael Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, credited the "lifeline" of early warnings and close cooperation between countries for preventing a much higher death toll. These warnings allowed for massive evacuations and the closure of airports before the wind even started to pick up.

The Storm Station is here for you, on every platform. Your weather updates can be found on News 2, wbrz.com, and the WBRZ WX App on your Apple or Android device. Follow WBRZ Weather on Facebook and X for even more weather updates while you are on the go.

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