Steve Caparotta, Ph.D.

Chief Meteorologist at @WAFB in Baton Rouge. CBM, CCM, & CDM holder from @ametsoc. Husband. Girl Dad. @UofSouthAlabama & @LSU alum. Instructor at LSU.

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

I normally don't like to overshare on social media but I wanted to let you know why you won't see me on air for at least a couple of weeks. Prayers/good vibes appreciated in advance of my surgery on Friday. See you on the backside!

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

@DavidEFunes @WAFB @JacquesDoucet Thanks, David!

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

Who's this young guy? 😄

Monday marked 23 years for me at @WAFB. What a ride it's been!

I'm thankful to have been at a great station and having worked alongside so many incredibly talented people through the years. Here's to 23 more!

(pic is from 2004, I believe)

[Steve Hartman @SteveHartmanCBS]

I see some of you are discovering our talented friend, Samuel, for the first time :)

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

What happened in Zachary Tuesday night? Several of you submitted pictures and videos of flooding, including the video below at Groom Road and Plaza Drive from Tami Dugas. The immediate assumption is that there must be a drainage problem.

I can't tell you with any confidence if there are drainage issues or not, but what I can tell you is that RAIN RATES were intense and likely to produce at least some flash flooding. The USGS has a gauge on White Bayou at Highway 64. Note in the second graphic below that 1.84" of rain fell in 30 minutes, and more than 2 inches fell in 45 minutes. The third graphic shows 15-minute accumulations, and with nearly an inch in 15 minutes around 7 PM, that equates to a rain rate of ~4 inches per hour.

Finally, in the last graphic, notice that flash flood guidance from the National Weather Service leading into last night's event suggested that 1-hour rains of 2.75"-3.00" would be enough to lead to flash flooding. This rain gauge was close and others may have achieved those values. Either way, it's close enough. We have to also account for a very wet May when considering flash flood risk.

The takeaway -- flooding is complicated and there are often multiple variables in play.

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

@JohnnaCrider1 Oh wow...in Zachary?

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

Copper Mill in Zachary via Daniel Vlosky. Anyone else seeing flooding?

[Dakota Smith @weatherdak]

This is something I have never seen before on satellite.

Clouds perfectly outlining roads.

Just incredibly neat imagery of Houston, Texas this morning.

Massive shoutout to @Emokwx who discovered it.

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

@tigertunesusa Nice!

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for parts of the metro area through 10:30 PM. Intense rains are capable of producing some street flooding. Remember -- turn around, don't drown!

[Mike Moore @tigertunesusa]

@SteveWAFB @SteveWAFB this was a shot from PA with my drone as it was coming in

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

⚠️ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for portions of Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena parishes through 6 PM. Damaging winds are possible with a storm near Hammond as it moves slowly to the northwest.

[Ethan Mok @Emokwx]

Anyone ever seen interstate-induced clouds before? Low level CU developed perfectly along major interstates around Houston this morning. Kind of shocking to see such perfectly lined up clouds. #txwx

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

@CIRA_CSU Nice animation...just a heads up that it looks like you have Idalia (2023) misspelled around the :13 mark

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been posted from Wednesday through Friday morning for the highlighted areas. Persistent east to southeast winds could result in minor coastal flooding, generally on the order of 1-2 feet of water level rise.

The coastal flooding will largely be driven by a weak area of low pressure expected to develop in the Gulf. The primary impact for inland areas from that low will be another surge in rain chances by the weekend.

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

@DSports24 I dunno...I think I'm gonna have to see in person to make a fair judgment

[Steven Miller @DSports24]

@SteveWAFB In Honor of it now officially being #HurricaneSeason let’s make sure the folks know the difference #LAwx 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

We've talked quite a bit in recent weeks about a developing El Niño and how that will likely result in a below average hurricane season. But history tells us that even 'below average' seasons can produce significant hits.

Below are the tropical storms and hurricanes that have struck Louisiana during moderate to strong El Niño events since 1950. A total of 9 named storms have hit the state, including 4 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. Notice that historic storms like Audrey (1957) and Betsy (1965) are included.

So, while storm counts should be down in the Atlantic, let this serve as a reminder that we can never let our guard down.

[For the weather nerds: data via @philklotzbach is for moderate to strong El Niño events defined by the RONI during Aug/Sep/Oct]

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

This is him while the rest of his team looks like this on the right

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

Sports broadcasts have gotten so intrusive at times. West Virginia walks off Kentucky to advance to the Supers. ESPN has the guy with the game winning hit waiting in the dugout for an interview while the rest of his team has an incredible moment on the field with the crowd singing Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Why not wait a couple more minutes and let the kid have that once in a lifetime moment with his team?

[Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. @SteveWAFB]

Hurricane season is officially underway. Fortunately, we don't see any threats developing in the short term. Here are the names AND pronunciations that will be used this year. These pronunciations come straight from the National Hurricane Center, so if you have any issues, take it up with them! 😁