It’s official: El Niño has formed in the central Pacific, according to the Climate Prediction Center. This is just the beginning, as El Niño is projected to intensify over the coming months, likely impacting hurricane season and altering global weather patterns.

Forecasts indicate a high probability of a strong event, with a 68% chance of it materializing by the peak of hurricane season, followed by a 63% chance of a very strong, potentially record-breaking event by early winter.

How El Niño Tames The Tropics:

This is a story the Storm Station has been tracking for months. As a quick refresher, El Niño is a massive pool of abnormally warm water that sits right along the equator in the eastern Pacific. This creates a region of stormy weather in the Pacific, which kicks off a chain reaction. El Niño first enhances the subtropical jet stream, a band of high winds in the upper atmosphere that blows into the tropical Atlantic, boosting wind shear that rips apart developing tropical systems.

This creates a hotspot of stormy weather in the Pacific that kicks off a massive global chain reaction. The process enhances the subtropical jet stream, a band of high-speed winds in the upper atmosphere that blows into the Atlantic, ramping up the wind shear that rips apart developing tropical systems. The subtropical jet also has a tendency to sink over the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic, working against thunderstorms required to feed a hurricane.

History Agrees: Citing El Niño as the dominant factor, Colorado State University lowered its 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast with its June update. The updated report notes that current ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions closely resemble those of 1957, 1965, 1987, 1997, 2009, and 2015.

Average sea surface temperatures relative to average from August-October in 1957, 1965, 1987, 1997, 2009, and 2015

El Niño had fully developed in each of those years by the peak of hurricane season, and each season brought below-average hurricane season activity:

Still, It Only Takes One Storm: While forecast data, current observations, and historical analogs provide a clear outlook for lower overall storm numbers in 2026, these seasonal predictions say nothing about where individual tracks will lead or who they will ultimately impact.

There have been many significant storms even in the “quiet” years of 1957, 1965, 1987, 1997, 2009, and 2015, including some in Louisiana:

• 1957 – Hurricane Audrey made landfall in southwest Louisiana as a strong Category 3 storm, causing $150 million in damage and killing 416. Four other tropical storms made landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast that year.

• 1965 – Hurricane Betsy unleashed fury in Louisiana, making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Storm surge from Betsy inundated New Orleans’ levee system, flooding much of the city. Betsy had a death toll of 81 with economic damages exceeding $1 billion. Three other tropical storms made landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast that year.

• 1987 – No major hurricanes made landfall in 1987, though Hurricane Emily did make landfall in the Dominican Republic and Bermuda as a Category 2 and 1, respectively. One other weak tropical storm made landfall in Texas early in the season.

• 1997 – Hurricane Danny made landfall near Buras as a Category 1 hurricane in July, then continued northeast to make further landfalls in Alabama as a weak hurricane. Danny is remembered for extreme rainfall totals and a tornado outbreak across the Southeast U.S.

• 2009 – Tropical Storm Claudette made landfall on Santa Rosa Island in the Florida Panhandle as a tropical storm. Later that November, Hurricane Ida narrowly missed a Louisiana landfall, tracking just east of the mouth of the Mississippi River before pushing toward Alabama. Notably, this 2009 storm is entirely distinct from the catastrophic Category 4 Hurricane Ida that struck southeast Louisiana in 2021.

• 2015 – Tropical Storm Ana and Bill were the only storms to make landfall in the U.S., doing so in May and June, respectively. The only other noteworthy storm is Hurricane Joaquin, which battered the Bahamas over a span of multiple days. Joaquin’s name was retired from use in the list of hurricane names due to the destruction it left behind.

These storms emphasize that even a slow year on paper can still have catastrophic impacts with the right storm placement. For more on the season ahead and preparedness, visit 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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A new study suggests that a redesigned hurricane warning scale helps people better understand storm risks and make more informed decisions about whether to evacuate.

Research from the University of South Florida compares the traditional Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS), which ranks hurricanes from 1 to 5 based on maximum sustained wind speed, with a newly developed Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale (TCSS). Researchers say the traditional scale can be misleading because it only accounts for wind, even though storm surge and rainfall are responsible for far more deaths.

“I kept finding time and time again that people would report that they would base their decision to evacuate largely on the category from the Saffir Simpson hurricane wind scale,” said Doctor Jennifer Collins, one of the project's researchers.

According to the study, storm surge accounts for 49 percent of U.S. hurricane fatalities and rainfall accounts for 27 percent, compared to just 8 percent from wind. Researchers say classifying a hurricane's threat based on wind speed alone does not capture its full severity.

The study points to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as an example. Katrina ranked as a Category 3 on the SSHWS but caused more than 1,800 casualties and $125 billion in damage due to extreme flooding from storm surge and rainfall.

Researchers also cite Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in South Carolina and resulted in 55 fatalities from freshwater flooding across the southeastern United States.

“The cat. ones and even tropical storms can have major rainfall, for instance, or storm surge and result in flooding and loss of life. So, I think it is a big mistake. I think people underestimate, especially, those lower categories of storm,” said Collins.

 

Proposed Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale (TCSS)

The new scale would consider the forecast for all three main hurricane hazards – wind, storm surge and rain. Each of those hazards would be assigned a value. The values for each of the three hazards would be added together to get a sum value that corresponds to the Category on the TCSS. With the TCSS, a particularly intense storm that is expected to bring major impacts from two or three of the hazards could lead to a category six.  

 

Proposed Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale (TCSS) Example

To test the new scale, researchers ran a large online experiment with about 4,000 participants in U.S. coastal states prone to hurricanes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive warnings using either the SSHWS or the TCSS, presented as text only or text with a graphic.

Participants using the TCSS were better at identifying the main hazard of a hurricane. Those exposed to TCSS warnings answered an average of 3.7 out of 10 quiz questions correctly, compared to 1.3 correct answers for those who received SSHWS warnings.

Evacuation intent was also higher under the TCSS in scenarios where the TCSS category was at least two categories higher than the SSHWS category. In those cases, average evacuation intent was 4.3 under TCSS versus 4.1 under SSHWS, a statistically significant difference.

On precautionary measures, the TCSS appeared to have a positive effect, though not always at the researchers' stated significance level. Sandbag adoption was higher in the TCSS group, with a mean of 3.24 versus 3.16, but researchers described that difference as inconclusive because it did not reach their preregistered significance threshold.

The study also notes that many people incorrectly assume hurricane damage increases in a straight line as the category number goes up. Researchers say this misunderstanding, combined with a process called "milling" where people delay decisions while searching for more information, can lead to dangerous inaction during a storm.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) have been trying to de-emphasize scale in recent years, noting how harmful it can be for users to focus on categories. However, researchers argue that people are used to a scale and so the current one should just be modified and account for rain and storm surge, along with wind.

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 — Each hurricane season, two specialized teams from the U.S. Air Force and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intentionally fly into hurricanes. It’s far from a thrill-seeking stunt, but rather a vital scientific operation, collecting data critical to accurately forecasting tropical cyclones. With the data, forecast accuracy improves by about 10 to 20 percent, according to National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Michael Brennan.

“The aircraft are really the most valuable direct measurements we have because they can fly right to where the storms are,” Brennan said.

The United States is the only country to fly routine hurricane reconnaissance missions.

The Air Force flies the WC-130J, a military cargo plane fitted with weather instruments. Lt. Col. Jeremy DeHart, an aerial reconnaissance officer who has been flying into storms for 10 years, said the plane is not specially built for hurricane flying.

U.S. Air Force WC-130J Aircraft

"It's not specially outfitted to fly into hurricanes or anything like that," DeHart said. "It's just these things are like tanks, like tanks in the sky."

The plane continuously collects wind speed, wind direction, pressure, temperature, and moisture data from inside the storm. That information is packaged and sent via satellite to the National Hurricane Center to improve forecast models and support watches and warnings.

One of the key tools on board is the dropsonde, a small instrument released from the bottom of the aircraft. DeHart described how it works.

"It's basically a backwards weather balloon," DeHart said. "So all the way down to the sea surface, and they're gathering the same data in the vertical as we're gathering horizontally at flight level."

The Air Force unit focuses primarily on locating the center of the storm and sampling the storm environment, flying what is called an alpha pattern, essentially repeated large X’s through the storm. While NOAA has the same capabilities as the Air Force, it focuses more on the research side of the mission.

NOAA flies a different aircraft, the P-3 Orion.  Flight Director and Meteorologist Joyce Hirai walked the Storm Station through the features on the aircraft, including its tail doppler radar.

NOAA WP-3D Orion Aircraft, "Miss Piggy"

"The tail Doppler radar is more like a 3D scan or an MRI scan that gives a 3D scope of the hurricane as every time we pass through it," Hirai said.

That data recently became operational, meaning the National Hurricane Center can now use it in real time for official forecasts.

NOAA also flies Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft, retrofitted with its own tail Doppler radars to capture the high-altitude environment and conditions around the storm.

NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP Aircraft

More recently, NOAA has been experimenting with launching unmanned drones into the storm, gathering direct measurements closer to sea level. For the first time this hurricane season, data from these drones will be input into computer model simulations.

Flying into hurricanes can be intense. As DeHart puts it, the hours-long missions are usually "90% boredom and 10% terror." He described the 2018 landfall mission of Hurricane Michael as his roughest ride.

"We lost about 2,000 feet of altitude in the eyewall in the last pass," DeHart said. "Stall warnings were going off in the airplane. So all the nightmarish things that we think of were happening."

He also recalled flying a landfall mission during Hurricane Harvey, when the crew received mayday calls from ships near Corpus Christi and relayed them to the Coast Guard while flying up and down the coastline.

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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With the continued rainy pattern the Capital Region has been under, the latest drought monitor reveals major improvements area-wide. Baton Rouge Metro Airport has now reported a net surplus of rain for the year. It was not that long ago that the Capital City was falling behind the average for yearly rainfall.

The greatest rainfall totals over the past several weeks have fallen over the Baton Rouge area and along the 10/12 corridor. Given that fact, it is no surprise that most of the area has been eliminated from any drought category. The worst drought conditions were located near the coast and north of Baton Rouge, closer to the state line. Both of these areas have seen full category improvements in the latest monitor. 

There are still some areas of drought remaining, with locations near the coast like Morgan City and Houma still hanging on to moderate and severe drought. Further to the north, portions of Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes, along with Wilkinson County, still have moderate drought.

Storms will stay in the forecast through at least early next week, so it would not be surprising to see more improvements in the next update.

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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LAKELAND, Fla. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its 2026 hurricane season outlook. NOAA predicts a below-average season with 8-14 named storms, 3-6 hurricanes, and 1-3 major hurricanes. This generally aligns with Colorado State University's forecast that was issued in April. 

The development of an El Niño is the primary driver for the slightly below-average prediction. This is all but certain to develop by peak hurricane season per the latest trends and guidance, and there are some signs that the El Niño could be strong. 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.

However, there is another competing factor that plays a role in the prediction. Atlantic ocean temperatures are expected to be slightly warmer than normal, with trade winds weaker than average. Such conditions would tend to support a more active year. NOAA's National Weather Service Director Ken Graham says, “Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold... that is why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now. It only takes one storm to make for a very bad season.”

The Storm Station echoes Graham's reminder, so prepare accordingly. There have been seasons with a lot of storms but few impacts to land and seasons with few storms but a lot of impacts to land. For more on the season ahead and preparedness, visit wbrz.com/weather and click on the hurricane center.

Watch NOAA's 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook announcement here:

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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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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.

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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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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UPDATE - June 10, 2026: Colorado State University researchers have released an update to their Atlantic hurricane season forecast, lowering their projected storm numbers. The forecast now calls for 11 named storms, five hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. That's down from the April forecast of 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

The drop in numbers is primarily related to an increased likelihood of a moderate to strong El Niño around peak season. This tends to increase the upper-level winds across the Atlantic basin, creating hostile conditions for tropical formation and intensification. While Atlantic sea surface temperatures are currently sending mixed signals, with a combination of warm and cool regions, the developing El Niño remains the dominant factor that will likely limit overall activity.

Phil Klotzbach, the lead author of the forecast report, also notes that "so far, the hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to the 1957, 1965, 1987, 1997, 2009 and 2015 seasons.” All of these seasons had below-average Atlantic hurricane activity, boosting their confidence in the prediction.

However, the Storm Station likes to remind everyone that even in a quieter season, it only takes one storm to change everything. For instance, 1957 was one of those below-average seasons, but it was also the year Hurricane Audrey unleashed havoc on southwest Louisiana. The time to prepare is now, well before a storm threatens.

ORIGINAL STORY: 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.

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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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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