NEW ORLEANS — Tuesday morning was less foggy than Monday thanks to slightly stronger winds. When wind blows it mixes the air at the surface and usually makes it harder for fog to settle. On Tuesday before sunrise winds were still light, and dense fog had developed across some areas including Houma, Slidell, and Bogalusa.
But by sunrise Tuesday wind speeds increased slightly to 5-10 mph from the east/southeast. That movement to the air made it much harder for fog to set in, and visibility improved quickly in spots that had fog earlier. Compare that to Monday morning when we had almost completely calm winds - smoke and fog were able to thicken, and that made it difficult to see on the roads.
The fog potential should be lower the next couple of mornings thanks to those winds. Our weather setup from late Tuesday through Thursday looks breezy because a low-pressure area will drop in just to our west. A strong high-pressure area is already in place just to our east. Winds should increase as air rushes between the two features on either side of us. That should keep winds up a bit in the mornings and should limit dense fog formation.
Morning drivers should still be cautious and keep up with forecasts this week, since fog may still be able to form in spots.
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