Amber Wheeler

Two areas to watch.The first is located just off the East Coast, where a frontal may help organize low-pressure. It's expected to move away from land. The 2nd area is farther east in the Atlantic. A tropical wave is expected to enter favorable conditions for development by mid to late next week.

The powerful earthquake near Russia was so strong, it sent seismic waves all the way to Louisiana (and across the rest of the globe)… in just about 15 minutes. While we didn’t feel them, sensitive instruments picked up the motion. Data courtesy of Bayou State Weather. #lawx #earthquake

A massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake just struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Tsunami threat to Japan and Russia. Tsunami Advisory for the Aleutian Islands and a Tsunami Watch for Hawaii and Guam. #earthquake #tsunami

A tropical wave will move into the Atlantic. It’s packing plenty of moisture, which gives it some potential, but it still faces challenges like Saharan dust and the occasional hostile upper-level winds. Nothing is unusual about this. It's typical late July/early August.

Spending my Saturday night with Liz Reyes. 🙌 And I’m talking more heat on the news tonight. Happy weekend, friends. #nola

August marks the start of the typical uptick in Atlantic tropical activity, and models are taking notice. The reliable European ensemble is hinting at a strong tropical wave emerging off Africa that bears watching. #tropics

Six months ago today I was standing on an I-10 overpass during a snowstorm in New Orleans. You should be able to see the Superdome in this photo, but the heavy snow makes it impossible. I took this photo for my way later years to look back on and remember covering this historic event. #nola

THURSDAY: Heavy downpours will flare back up later today as the surface low continues to move inland. This is not going to develop, but will continue to bring an isolated flood threat. Any storms that form will be slow-moving with torrential downpours. #nola #lawx #mswx

Slow, soaking tropical downpours will move in tonight. More scattered storms arrive Thursday. #nola #lawx #mswx (7-16-25)

A TSUNAMI WARNING has been issued for portions of Alaska following a M7.2 earthquake registered 50 miles S of Sand Point, Alaska. Residents are urged to move farther inland. #earthquake

Tropical moisture will bring a flood threat to the Gulf Coast this week. Here in LA, we’re looking at the potential for a multi-day flood threat starting late Wed. Could this system develop into a tropical depression or storm? Yes, but if it does, it would be weak. The bigger concern is the rain.

The NHC has highlighted an area in the eastern Gulf and off the SE coast. Slow development is possible this week. If it doesn’t develop, it’ll certainly dump a ton of rain. #tropics

A tropical storm is expected to form by Sunday in the southern Gulf. It would take the name Barry. The storm is projected to make landfall early Monday morning in eastern Mexico

Invest 91L is showing signs of organizing. A Hurricane Hunter is currently flying through the storm. This could be organized into a depression by this afternoon. If that's the case, Tropical Storm watches and warnings may be issued soon for the Mexican Gulf coast. #tropics

GULF STORM? Hurricane Hunters will fly into this storm Saturday. It's now called Invest 91L, which means it has not developed but is being investigated further. A tropical depression is possible this weekend. Any development is expected to move into eastern Mexico and will bring torrential rain.

There's a new area of interest in the Atlantic. This time in the Bay of Campeche. Conditions aren’t especially favorable right now. Cooler-than-normal water temperatures in that region will make it difficult for development to occur. Development is much more favorable on the Pacific side. #tropics

The first storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has formed. It”s located in the middle of the Atlantic and will be short lived, posing no threat to land. #tropics

Stormy weather lasts through the weekend. It won’t be a complete washout but a few heavy downpours could lead to street flooding. Make sure to have your Plan B ready for any outdoor plans. #nola #lawx #mswx

Storm chances are increasing over the next two days. Expect periods of heavy downpours, which could lead to isolated street flooding. While the severe threat is low, it’s still something to keep an eye on. #nola #lawx #mswx

We continue with the sweltering forecast for Sunday. Near record-breaking highs and high heat index values have spurred a Heat Advisory for many around the lake and the river parishes. #nola #lawx

From Canada to Cocodrie, LA. You can see the haze from wildfire smoke brought in by the upper level winds. It makes the sun look muted. #lawx #wildfiresmoke
📸 Tom and Sharon McClain

Wildfire smoke is clearly visible on sat imagery this afternoon, stretching all the way from North Dakota down to Georgia. While the smoke won't impact air quality in the South, it’s a different story in the Upper Plains. ND, in particular, is experiencing very unhealthy air quality today.

NEXT WEEK: A thick plume of Saharan dust will approach the Gulf Coast late next week.
✅ Benefits:
1. Beautiful Sunsets
2. Hurricane Suppression
3. Fertilizes the Ocean
⚠️ Cons:
1. Air Quality Issues
2. Hazy Skies

🌫️ Wildfire Smoke on the Move 🌫️
Smoke from fires Canada is expected to drift into the U.S. this weekend, bringing hazy skies to several regions. Some of that smoke could travel all the way to the Gulf States, so don’t be surprised if the skies look a bit milky or muted.

You’re probably starting to see some chatter about hurricanes on social media - and that’s no surprise. This time of year, conditions in the usual hotspot areas are starting to become more conducive, and the models are picking up on that. It’s still too early to know if anything will actually form.

MEMORIAL DAY STORMS: the tail end of this storm complex coming out of Texas will arrive in SE Louisiana by this afternoon. These storms will be hit or miss between 4pm and 7pm. Each day we will see these storm complexes coming for us this week. Some will dissipate while others hold together. #nola

Tropical season is waking up!
Some early signs of potential development are showing up in the eastern Pacific by late May, thanks to warm waters and a supportive atmosphere. After that, we’ll keep an eye on the western Caribbean heading into early June.

No named storms yet - just areas to watch.

A big heat ridge will cover most of the Gulf Coast for the next week. Highs will be in the 90s - Our first of many 90 degree days to come. You’ll hear a lot about the heat index as it will soar also. #lawx #mswx

Enjoy the cooler Mother’s Day weekend. We’re cranking up the heat after Monday. #nola #lawx #mswx

Hey, heads up Jazz Fest goers. A few pop-up storms are possible today, and a line of storms will move through this evening. There is a scenario where this moves through after Jazz Fest is over. But it's best to have a poncho ready just in case. #nola #lawx