New Orleans hits 110°F heat index and it's just the beginning
This summer has a 50% chance of being hotter than average in New Orleans and most of Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.
Why it matters: Extreme heat is a major public health threat. It also threatens the reliability of the power grid.
The big picture: New Orleans over the weekend had its first heat advisory of the season.
New Orleans tied the high temp record on Saturday of 95°F. The "feels like" temp was 110°F at the airport and lakefront, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell.
Temperatures are expected to be in the high-80s and low-90s all week, with daily thunderstorms possible, NWS says. The cloud cover should keep the "feels like" temp around 108°F.
Yes, but: This is just the start. July and August are historically the hottest months of the year in New Orleans.
Threat level: The heat has already been deadly this year. A toddler died Sunday in Hammond after being left in a hot car for more than nine hours, authorities say.
Last year, 51 people died in Louisiana from heat-related causes, according to the state health department.
How to protect yourself: If you are outside in the heat, drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothes, apply sunscreen and take frequent breaks in the shade or AC, officials say.
Summer's getting hotter
Zoom out: Like most of the country, summer has been getting hotter in New Orleans over the past 50 years, a recently updated analysis found.
The average summer temperature in New Orleans is now 4°F hotter than it was in 1970, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit climate research and communications group, using NOAA data through 2024.
Zoom out: On top of rising overall temperatures, New Orleans is the among the worst " heat island" communities among all major U.S. metros, according to Climate Central.
77% of New Orleanians live in urban heat island neighborhoods, the group says.
New Orleans can be more than 8°F warmer than surrounding tree-covered communities, mostly due to a lack of permeable surface. Go deeper.
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