A Change in the Weather: What's Next for Baton Rouge?

After a night of heavy storms, things are finally calming down. The rain is easing up, and the air is getting drier. This means the humidity will drop, and it will feel less sticky outside. By this afternoon, temperatures will be in the upper 70s, which is a bit cooler than recent days. The wind is blowing from the northwest, helping to clear out the clouds, but it might take a while for the sky to become completely clear. Most of the area will stay dry, but there might be a few scattered showers in the afternoon. If you have plans, you should be good to go, but it might still feel a bit damp. Tonight, the sky will be mostly clear, and the temperature will drop to the mid- to upper 50s. That’s pretty chilly for this time of year!The next few days will be quiet and pleasant. Monday will be nice with highs in the upper 70s and low humidity. But another cold front is coming on Tuesday, bringing even cooler air. By midweek, highs will only reach the upper 60s, and overnight lows could dip into the 40s north of Baton Rouge and near 50 closer to the coast. The second half of the week looks dry and crisp, perfect for outdoor activities. It might even be the coolest weather we’ve had so far this season. Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa is getting stronger. It’s now a Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 140 mph. The storm has intensified quickly and could reach Category 5 strength by tonight. Melissa is moving slowly westward and is expected to pass just south of Jamaica before hitting the island’s southern coast on Tuesday. After that, it will turn northeast, crossing southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas midweek. Melissa is expected to hit Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane, causing strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding. It might weaken slightly afterward but will likely stay a major hurricane as it moves toward Cuba and the Bahamas. People in these areas should stay alert and follow updates.