Area forecast discussion National Weather Service New Orleans la 318 PM CDT Thursday may 23 2013 Discussion... A few isolated thunderstorms are still possible over the next few hours as we reach peak heating. Most of the activity is expected across the coastal parishes. This activity is expected to subside early this evening. However...an approaching backdoor wedge front will begin to move from the northeast after midnight tonight. Given the high amount of low level moisture in place...we could still see a few isolated pockets of convection along the front. The front is expected to exit the South Shore by Friday afternoon giving way to drier conditions as a ridge of high pressure moves in. A very pleasant weekend is on tap with the lower dewpoints in place. Some of the extreme northern zones could see temperatures drop into the upper 50s Saturday night. However...conditions will begin to change early next week as southerly flow returns. Moisture should be deep enough by the latter half of next week to support afternoon convection. Even then...coverage will remain isolated. 7/arm && Aviation... VFR conditions will prevail at most airports through this evening. Isolated rain showers/thunderstorms and rain this afternoon and evening will have to be monitored for later inclusion in tafs...but probability is too low for mention at this time. Slightly drier air in the low levels will start to filter in from north to south across kmcb area late tonight...and areas along I-12/10 around midday to the afternoon hours on Friday. Areas of light to moderate fog and low ceilings in stratus will again be possible late tonight through middle morning Friday at some airports. 22/dew point && Marine... Ridge of high pressure is expected to build over the coastal waters on Friday. A drier airmass in place will produce a steady northeast breeze...especially late Friday night into Saturday morning. Small craft caution conditions are likely...mainly along the sounds. Winds are expected to shift slowly to the southeast in time for early next week. This flow is expected to be prevailing for much of next week. As a result...higher swells are expected by weeks end due to the long fetch. && Decision support... Dss code...blue. Deployed...none. Activation...none. Activities...slurry support. Monitoring river flooding. Decision support services (dss) code legend green = no weather impacts that require action blue = long fused watch/warning/advisory in effect or high visibility event yellow = heightened impacts with short fused watch/warning/advisory issuances; radar support Orange = high impacts - slight to moderate risk severe; nearby tropical events; hazmat or other large episodes red = full engagement for moderate to high risk severe and/or direct tropical threats; events of National significance && Preliminary point temps/pops... mcb 65 86 56 85 / 20 10 0 0 btr 69 89 64 87 / 20 20 10 0 asd 68 88 60 84 / 20 10 0 0 msy 71 88 68 85 / 20 20 10 0 gpt 69 89 61 83 / 20 10 0 0 pql 67 88 57 84 / 20 10 0 0 && Lix watches/warnings/advisories... la...none. GM...none. MS...none. GM...none. && $$