A number of all-time records were set in New Orleans during the year 2000.

     1. On Sunday night, January 23rd, parts of New Orleans saw and felt the effects of the largest hail ever observed in the area.  A 5 mile long and 1 mile wide strip of hail 1.75 inches (4.45 centimeters) in diameter did rare damage for this area.  Cars and roofs suffered extensive damage.  Numerous windows were knocked out in homes, schools, and businesses.

     2. This was the driest year on record dating back to the late 1800's with just over 36 inches (about 92 centimeters) of rainfall.  What made the record more impressive is that nearly 2/3 of the rain fell in the months of June and November alone!!!  The record dry 2000 followed a very dry 1999 as well.

     3. July, August and early September were very hot.  New all-time record highest temperatures ever observed occurred at the two official reporting locations.  One hit 104°F (40°C) and the other 103°F (39°C).  Instead of occurring in July or August when one would expect the hottest temperatures, it happened in early September at the peak of the intense heat wave.  There were quite a few days at or above 100° and many more in the upper 90's.  The heat index often ranged between 110°F and 120°F.  It was extremely oppressive to say the least.

     In spite of the heat and dry weather, there were some impressive and spectacular thunderstorms, especially on August 31 and September 1.

     New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana a bit inland from the Gulf of Mexico, a major source for low level moisture that helps produce plenty of thunderstorms in late spring and summer.  Lake Pontchartrain borders the city to the north.  It is oval shaped with a maximum length of about 47 miles (75 kilometers) east-west and maximum width of the about 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the north.  The lake has a major effect on the distribution of the storms during May-September.
 

     In a typical summer the surface level Atlantic Ridge (Bermuda High Pressure Area) extends west over the southeast US and Gulf of Mexico.  When it is very strong storms are hard to come by.  When it is weak, storms flourish.  In an average summer there is usually one extended stormy period and one extended dry period.

     My vantage point for taping storms is at or near the Lakefront Airport located northeast of the city at the edge of the southeast side of the lake.  When the strength of the Bermuda high is moderate to strong light northerly winds drift onto the south shore from the lake.  Since the air over the lake is less warm than the hot air over the land, very few clouds form in my area.  Storms that do develop form several miles to the south or to the west during the late afternoon or evening.  If the winds are light enough I may get a storm close enough to tape.  There are an average of 2 to 3 good storms just after dark each summer that form on the north shore of the lake and try to drift south or southwest to the south shore.  Most die out before they make it across the less warm waters of the lake.  The night storms can produce some spectacular lightning shows out over the lake.

     When the Bermuda High is weak or displaced elsewhere, storms form easily from late morning until evening and move northward over the city, my area and into the lake.  This is my best time for storms.

     Storms can produce strong gusty winds (up to 100 mph - 160 km/hr on rare occasions), small hail, waterspouts over the lake, once in a while a small tornado (F0 or F1 on the Fujita scale), and very heavy rains.  Individual summer storms can last for up to an hour or so, except the night storms which can last longer.  The storms associated with slow moving cold fronts in the spring can move very slowly and produce enormous rainfall totals of as much as 15 to 20 inches (380 to 500 mm) in 6 to 12 hours time, causing massive flooding problems.  The more typical thunderstorm rains are 1 to 4 inches (25 to100 mm).

     The average number of thunderstorms per year ranges from about 60 in my area near the Lakefront Airport to about 75 in the city and other more favorable areas away from the lake.  They occur year round and range from and average of 2 in the winter months to 10-15 in the summer months.  The average annual rainfall ranges from 64 inches (1625 mm) away from the Lake and down to 56 inches (1425 mm) along the southshore of the Lake, including my area.  The difference occurs entirely in the warm months of May-September.

     The average temperatures are:  January - High 64°F (18°C), Low 48°F (9°C); and July/August - High 91°F (33°C), Low 76°F (24°C).  The extremes in temperatures for the city are 104°F (40°C) and +7°F (-14°C).  100° weather usually only comes in dry, hot spells.  Frosts and light freezes occur several times in most winters.  The last major freeze was in 1989, a few days before Christmas.  First it rained.  The temperatures dropped during the day.  The roads turned into an icy nightmare.  Then a little light snow before clearing.  Temperatures dropped to as low as +8°F (-13°C) on two nights, and stayed well below freezing during the day.  Water pipes froze and many tropical plants and trees were lost.

     Snow occurs once every few years, but seldom accumulates.  The last significant snow was in 1963 when up to 3 inches (almost 8 cm) fell.  The record amount was 8.2 inches (21 cm) in 1899.

     New Orleans is also located on a primary path for major hurricanes.  Being at or several feet below sea level, the city is a sitting duck for a catastrophe when a Category 4 or 5 (Saffir-Simpson scale) hurricane hits from a direction that will bring in very high storm surges.  Estimates are that much of the city will be flooded with up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) of standing water which would take several weeks to dry up.  There are an average of 3 to 4 major hurricane direct hits per century here.  People don't want to evacuate unless it is a certainty we will get the worst.  Unfortunately, by the time it is certain, it will be too late for many to leave on the limited evacuation routes out of the city.  The National Hurricane Center has warned the city year after year of this.  The levee system around the city can't hold back the waters from "the big one."  A major part of the funding to raise the massive levee system needed comes from the State.  Voters away from the city don't want their taxes increased to pay for it.  Someday.....

     New Orleans major hurricanes in the 20th century occurred in 1915, 1947 and 1965 (Hurricane "Betsy).  The city is overdue for a major strike!  Because it has been so long since the last big hurricane people forget or have become complacent.  Many were not born yet and are unprepared.  We had a scare with Hurricane "Georges" in 1998.  Those who did evacuate found long slow lines of traffic.  Had more tried to leave, many would not have made it out before conditions got too bad if the storm had struck here.  Escape routes go across Lake Pontchartrain and must be closed when winds and weather get bad enough.