Fake fall arrives in New Orleans after long-awaited rain

The big picture: Thunderstorms are expected Wednesday and Thursday, with up to 1.5 inches falling through 7am Thursday, NWS says.

• Some of the storms could be severe.
• Wednesday, the storms are mostly likely in the midafternoon through early evening, says NWS meteorologist Phil Grigsby.
• They are possible most of the day Thursday.

By the numbers: New Orleans got 0.06 inches of rain Monday, the first measurable rainfall of the month, NWS records show.

• The city is about 4 inches below normal rainfall for September, and drought conditions are starting to spread.

Good news: A cold front is right behind the storms. It's expected to drop the heat index from 104 on Tuesday to 90 by Friday.

• The mornings should feel great, with temps in the low 70s on the south shore and mid-60s on the north shore.
• "It's going to feel fantastic," Grigsby says. "It'll be our first hint of fall."