Summer's sneaking in early in New Orleans
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New Orleans is getting an early taste of summer, meteorologists say, with the "feels like" temperature expected be near 100 through Monday.
Why it matters: Make sure to stay hydrated and seek shade if you are outside.
The big picture: The actual temperature is expected to hit 90 degrees Saturday for the first time this year, according to Kevin Gilmore, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New Orleans.
- When combined with the humidity, it will feel like 98 degrees. It will feel slightly better (96 degrees) on Sunday and Monday, NWS says.
- It's an abrupt change from the cooler-than-average weather in the 70s and 80s we've been enjoying the past week.
- The average high for this time of year is 85, he said.
Threat level: Last year, 49 people died in Louisiana from heat-related causes, according to the state health department.
- This weekend won't have the dangerous extreme heat of the deep summer, Gilmore says, but it will be enough to lead to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
- Residents should drink fluids, apply sunscreen and take breaks in the AC, NWS says.
What's next: A front is expected to move through on Wednesday, lowering humidity and bringing the potential for rain, Gilmore says.
Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center has begun its daily forecast for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf.
- As of Thursday afternoon, all was quiet.
- Hurricane season starts June 1, but storms can form any time. Historically, the most active period for strong storms in the Gulf is August and September.
Go deeper: New Orleans' heat island effect, mapped