ArkLaTex weather: another sunny, dry Friday with highs in the mid 80s; wildfire risk stays elevated

Update, Oct. 23: An earlier version of this story said 34 Louisiana parishes had burn bans, citing WDSU. It now uses the state’s official burn ban map, which showed 38.

Friday brings more of the same across the ArkLaTex: sunshine, warm afternoons and no rain. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has no watches, warnings or advisories in effect for its area this morning. That office forecasts for all five cities below, including Monroe.

The main concern: wildfire risk

In its forecast discussion early Friday, the weather service said the wildfire risk will likely stay elevated through the next seven days. Its fire weather forecast says afternoon humidity could fall into the upper teens to mid 20s through the weekend. The one good sign: winds should stay light, from the east and northeast at under 10 mph. Forecasters expect the drought to keep getting worse through the end of the month. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s burn ban map showed bans in 38 Louisiana parishes early Friday, Oct. 23, including Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Lincoln and Ouachita. Check with your parish or county before you burn anything outdoors.

Today and tonight

Sunny everywhere today, with light winds around 5 mph. Rain chances are near zero.

• Shreveport: high 84, low tonight 54. Forecast
• Monroe: high 85, low 51. Forecast
• Longview: high 85, low 53. Forecast
• Texarkana: high 84, low 54. Forecast
• El Dorado: high 85, low 49. Forecast

Looking ahead

Saturday looks almost the same, with sunshine and highs of 84 to 85. The weather service expects highs to slip into the mid to upper 70s early to midweek next week, with some clouds possible Monday and Tuesday but no rain expected. Longer range guidance hints at a more active pattern closer to Halloween and into early November.

Current alerts for the region are always listed by the National Weather Service.