AFDLIX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 1251 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1244 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 - Hazardous marine conditions will persist through much of the week. Winds and seas will be highest today and Thursday. Inexperienced mariners and those operating small craft should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. - Minor coastal flooding of east-facing shores and tidal lakes is expected during high tide cycles today and especially Thursday afternoon. This could result in upwards of 1 foot of water inundating low-lying roads. && .SHORT TERM... (Now through Thursday night) Issued at 1244 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 A surface high over the southeastern US and east coast is controlling the local weather. The weather element that is causing the most impact is the wind associated with the high pressure, with results noted above in the Key Impacts section. Skies will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Daytime temperatures are seasonable but will be rising through the end of the week to the low 80s, about five to seven degrees above normal; overnight low temps will be in the upper 50s which is normal to a couple degrees above normal. The circulation around the high pressure will bring Gulf moisture into the area. But unfortunately, the only chance for rain looks to be Thursday and chances are still low with PoPs in the 20 percent range and amounts totalling less than a tenth of an inch, if that much. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday night) Issued at 1244 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 We remain on the periphery of the surface high through the long term. Into the long term the high/low temps discussed above hold steady. There are some weak hints of rain into next week, but not enough to have any confidence in. Overall, we are in a very benign and unintersting weather pattern. /Schlotz/ && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1244 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 TAFs are VFR across the area and forecasted to stay that way through the period. Winds have been gusty, but are settling with KGPT having some gusty conditions lingering for several more hours. /Schlotz/ && .MARINE... Issued at 1214 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2026 A strong area of surface high pressure positioned across the eastern U.S. will provide persistent easterly winds across the coastal waters through the entire week. This will keep marine weather conditions hazardous through much of the week and small craft headlines are in place. The highest winds and seas are likely to be on today and Thursday where sustained winds will be 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30kt, especially east of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Wave heights in the unprotected open waters will also approach 7 to 10 feet during the peak of these winds. Hazardous marine conditions are likely to persist through Friday before gradually relaxing into the weekend as the pressure gradient weakens. /Frye, Schlotz/ && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...Coastal Flood Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM CDT Thursday for LAZ058-060-069-070-076>078-080-082-084-087. Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for LAZ070- 076-078. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ530-532-534. Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ536-538-550- 552-555-557-570-572-575-577. MS...Coastal Flood Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM CDT Thursday for MSZ086. Coastal Flood Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for MSZ086. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ532-534. Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ538-550-552- 555-557-570-572-575-577. && $$ $$