FXUS64 KLIX 201728 AFDLIX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 1228 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1202 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 - Above normal temperatures and dry weather will be in place through the end of next week. - Threat of fog increases over the weekend, mainly near the Atchafalaya River Basin. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 1202 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Upper trough off the Atlantic coast with unseasonably strong upper ridging centered near Phoenix. At the surface, high pressure extended from the Carolinas to the north central Gulf. Under mostly clear skies, temperatures ranged from the upper 60s to mid 70s at noon. Forecast soundings would justify high temperatures this afternoon between 75 and 80 for much of the area. Only real forecast issue through the weekend is whether fog develops around sunrise the next couple mornings. The higher dew points the next couple nights are over the Atchafalaya River Basin, and that's where the highest probabilities are at. Even there, probabilities of visibilities less than 3 miles is on the order of 10 to 20 percent. Will mention patchy fog there, but threat doesn't appear high enough to justify advisories. High temperatures Saturday likely to be in the lower 80s in most areas, but coastal areas probably will only get to the upper 70s, as nearby water temperatures are still in the 60s. Overnight lows will gradually be creeping upward, in the 50s tonight, then some areas will remain in the lower 60s tomorrow night. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday night) Issued at 1202 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Shortwaves in northwesterly upper flow will try to suppress the eastern extent of the upper ridge on a couple of occasions over the next week. The first will be Saturday night into Sunday morning, and the second at the middle of next week. Moisture continues to be lacking, with little or no threat of precipitation through the end of next week. Much above normal temperatures to continue with highs upper 70s to mid 80s, and lows in the 50s and lower 60s. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1202 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Primarily VFR conditions through the forecast period. May be some MVFR visibilities around sunrise Saturday at KMCB and KBTR, but those should quickly improve by about 15z. && .MARINE... Issued at 1202 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Surface high pressure is centered just into the northern Gulf. This will keep wind generally light and variable for a couple more days. By Sunday, southwesterly flow will become better established. That ridge will then drift back north towards the northern Gulf again, resulting in subsiding winds and minimal wave/seas impacts through at least Wednesday. && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. GM...None. MS...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...RW LONG TERM....RW AVIATION...RW MARINE...RW