The Reason Behind NOLA’s Summer Showers

Ever wonder why we get summer thunderstorms in the afternoons? A common reason is lake breezes.

Here’s how they form: on hot days, land heats up faster than water. Warm air is lighter, while cool air is heavier. The hotter, lighter air over land has low pressure, and the relatively cooler, heavier air over water has high pressure. Air then rushes from high to low pressure to try to achieve a balance.

This movement of air from water toward land becomes the lake or sea breeze. These breezes act as mini cold fronts along which clouds and thunderstorms often grow.

– Alexandra Cranford, WWL-TV