LOUISIANA, USA — Parishes across our area are planning for severe weather Saturday. Those at the helm of emergency command centers say the biggest concern is the expected strong winds.

Saturday around noon is when officials say we could see winds picking up. Sarah Babcock with Jefferson Parish is urging people to make sure there is nothing laying around in your backyard that could end up being a projectile.

Babcock said, “The last time a storm set up in a similar fashion to this was December of 2022 when we saw the tornado go from Marrero to Arabi.”

She went on to say, “This is like 60-80 mph winds, similar to what we would see in a small hurricane, we can also see hail and tornadoes as well.”

 “We want to really make sure that no one is putting stuff on the parade routes before the storm,” she said.

Collin Arnold with the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says this probably isn’t going to be a rain event.

“I do know that public works has been out, picking up a lot of the gutter buddies that was out for Mardi Gras, those have all been collected,” Arnold said.

He went on to say, “The public should really be more concerned about strong winds, lightening, those things that come through with strong thunderstorms.”

He says, even here in the city, people need to be prepared for possible tornadic weather, “It’s pretty unique, we only get these days a couple times a year, and tomorrow is going to be one of those days.”

Over on the Northshore, officials are warning residents to be ready and have a weather plan. “We’re at a high threat level for severe weather tomorrow,” said Clint Ory with the St Tammany Parish office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Ory said, “People who may be living in houses that are less substantial, we’re asking them to follow their normal plans where they would go in the event of severe weather.”

Ory says lightning will also be a concern, saying, “Most likely what we’re going to get is some periods of heavy rain and lightning, that’s most likely, most dangerous we could get 80 mph wind gusts, that’s hurricane force winds along with up to two Inch hail.”

Another reminder, when these fronts come through — you should not be on the road.

In Orleans Parish, you can sign up for weather alerts with NOLA READY. In Jefferson Parish it’s JP ALERTS.

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