Jay Grymes

Chief Meteorologist

Baton Rouge, La.

Jay Grymes joined the WAFB 9News team in August 1996 and was named Chief Meteorologist in May 2003.

Jay was born in Arlington, Virginia and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, He moved to Baton Rouge in 1985 by invitation from LSU.

Awards:

Louisiana State Climatologist, 1991-2003, President of the American Association of State Climatologists (2001-2002)
2004 "Weathercast of the Year." Louisiana Association of Broadcasters
2009 "Outstanding Achievement Award: News Media." National Hurricane Conference
2010 "Golden Mike Award." Louisiana Association of Broadcasters
2014 "Outstanding Service Award." Baton Rouge Fire Prevention Committee

Books:

Louisiana Weather and Climate, Jones & Bartlett Publishers

Education:

University of Delaware
Louisiana State University: 30+ graduate hours focusing on climatology, meteorology and hydrology

Recent Articles by Jay

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Scattered storms throughout the weekend

Friday’s weather story was mainly about temperatures in the 90°s and the heat index running at 100° or more for several hours during the afternoon. There were a couple of blips within the area on the afternoon radar, but very few WAFB neighborhoods got a rain-break from the afternoon heat.

Jay Grymes

Published July 31, 2020 at 9:47 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Hanna makes landfall; rain likely for La. through Wednesday

‘Category 1’ Hanna made landfall on Padre Island south of Corpus Christi at 5 p.m. on Saturday with estimated maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Hanna’s official second landfall on the Texas mainland was at approximately 6:15 p.m.

Jay Grymes

Published July 25, 2020 at 9:33 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Hanna headed to Texas, will bring some rain to Louisiana coast

Rain is likely both Saturday and Sunday while we watch Hanna roll into Texas.

Jay Grymes

Published July 24, 2020 at 10:36 PM

TD #8 upgraded to TS Hanna, takes aim at Texas

There is a lot of attention directed at the Gulf as Tropical Depression #8 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Hanna.

Jay Grymes

Published July 23, 2020 at 10:39 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Tropical depression in Gulf to bring some rain to coast before likely Texas landfall

Although the system is not especially well organized, it has been taking on a configuration that suggests it could become Tropical Depression #8 as early as Wednesday afternoon or evening.

Jay Grymes

Published July 22, 2020 at 10:30 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Dry conditions Tuesday night, rain picks up Wednesday afternoon

Rains moved into many WAFB neighborhoods earlier than expected on Tuesday, but they did provide a payoff for much of the Baton Rouge metro area.

Jay Grymes

Published July 21, 2020 at 5:53 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Tuesday looks dry, but rain chances increase for the following days

Monday’s rains were a product of an easterly wave, a tropical disturbance moving from east-to-west across the northern Gulf. While development chances remain very low, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has dubbed this feature as Invest 90L

Jay Grymes

Published July 20, 2020 at 10:42 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Humidity and low rain chances heading into the weekend

Friday started off with pockets of dense early morning fog, but most of the WAFB area stayed dry throughout the day.

Jay Grymes

Published July 17, 2020 at 3:34 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Friday will be drier after Thursday’s storms

After a mild and dry start to Thursday for most WAFB neighborhoods, showers and thunderstorms rolled in from the east as the First Alert Storm Team had anticipated.

Jay Grymes

Published July 16, 2020 at 10:57 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Expect heat to continue, rain chances increase Thursday

Even with the scattered afternoon rains and more widespread cloud, cover Wednesday highs still managed to reach the low to mid 90°s for most WAFB neighborhoods.

Jay Grymes

Published July 15, 2020 at 4:40 PM

The heat index briefly hit 110° at Baton Rouge’s Metro Airport for the second day in a row as oppressive heat continues around the area, validating the string of 5 straight days with Heat Advisories in effect for the WAFB region.

Jay Grymes

Published July 14, 2020 at 4:40 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Rain chances increase this week but heat remains

Monday was another brutally hot day with temperatures climbing into the mid 90′s and the heat index climbing to 110° or more for many WAFB neighborhoods. While this may not be record heat, it remains very dangerous.

Jay Grymes

Published July 13, 2020 at 9:37 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Dangerous heat continues through weekend

Prepare for a particularly hot weekend.

Jay Grymes

Published July 10, 2020 at 10:29 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Heat index readings of 100°+ expected over next few days

Mornings will stay muggy, with sunrise temperatures in the mid to upper 70s, followed by oppressively hot afternoons with highs in the mid 90s.

Jay Grymes

Published July 9, 2020 at 10:28 PM

A high-pressure ridge that has been centered over the southwest U.S. will be strengthening and expanding eastward over the next several days. As many of you know, upper-level atmospheric ridging not only can inhibit significant rainfall, but also can result in a considerable warm-up.

Jay Grymes

Published July 8, 2020 at 10:30 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Rain chances taper off Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon

The good news about Tuesday’s rains was that the day was not a repeat of the widespread monster downpours that we saw in sections of the WAFB viewing area on Monday.

Jay Grymes

Published July 7, 2020 at 9:46 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: More rain expected Tues. and Wed., but heavy downpours unlikely

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the WAFB area through Tuesday evening, with more rain on the way Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jay Grymes

Published July 6, 2020 at 10:26 PM

Rain is back for both Saturday and Sunday with the Storm team setting rain chances at 70% to 80% for both days. But, neither day is expected to be an all-day washout.

Jay Grymes

Published July 3, 2020 at 8:58 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Fourth of July weekend looking somewhat rainy

Set Friday rain chances at 70% and keep the daily percentages around 70% Saturday and Sunday too.

Jay Grymes

Published July 2, 2020 at 10:28 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Heat advisory issued for second day in a row; one likely Thurs. too

The First Alert forecast calls for a near repeat of Wednesday’s weather Thursday, and it seems likely the NWS will issue another Heat Advisory Thursday too.

Jay Grymes

Published July 1, 2020 at 10:28 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: More days feeling like at least 100° on the way

Take extra care if you are expecting to spend time outdoors over the next few days. That’s especially true if you are spending time in the direct sunshine, which can add another 10° or more to the “feels like” temperature.

Jay Grymes

Published June 30, 2020 at 10:28 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Hot, muggy, dry pattern returns

There is absolutely no doubting the return of Gulf humidity over the last few days.

Jay Grymes

Published June 29, 2020 at 10:29 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Rainy weekend expected, but active storms not anticipated

While the Storm Team does not anticipate an active afternoon, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center does have much of the area under a low-end Marginal Risk for severe storms Saturday.

Jay Grymes

Published June 26, 2020 at 7:07 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Rains winding down; Air Quality Alert issued Friday due to Saharan dust

The regional forecasts indicate the dust will be even heavier Friday, and that has prompted the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to issue an Air Quality Action Day for unusually high concentrations of particulates in the air.

Jay Grymes

Published June 25, 2020 at 10:31 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Storms continue to move through; Flash Flood Watch in effect thru Thursday evening

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire WAFB area and will remain in effect into Thursday evening.

Jay Grymes

Published June 24, 2020 at 10:30 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Dry Father’s Day weekend ahead

We enjoyed another hot and mainly dry June day on Friday with hardly a blip to be found on Doppler Radar through the afternoon.

Jay Grymes

Published June 19, 2020 at 7:51 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Humidity slowly on the rise; rain chances increase next week

Unfortunately, Gulf moisture will be returning to the WAFB region in the coming days. However, the rise in humidity will be a slow one, keeping the air relatively dry over the next three days compared to what we might normally expect for mid/late June.

Jay Grymes

Published June 18, 2020 at 6:32 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Wednesday evening feels more like spring than summer

While we did see some spotty showers and flashes of lightning along the coast, most of the area enjoyed mainly clear skies with just a few fair-weather clouds for the afternoon.

Jay Grymes

Published June 17, 2020 at 10:36 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Another few days of low humidity on the way thanks to slight cool front

A “backdoor cool front” will work through the region Tuesday evening and overnight.

Jay Grymes

Published June 16, 2020 at 10:28 PM

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Hot, dry conditions continue for most of week

A fading “backdoor” cool front will slip into the viewing area Tuesday afternoon and evening. As is typical with fronts at this time of year, do not expect a big drop in temperatures behind the front. However, we will get a dose of drier (less humid) air as the front slips in from the northeast.

Jay Grymes

Published June 15, 2020 at 10:29 PM

Currently in
Baton Rouge, LA

Jay Grymes

Chief Meteorologist

Baton Rouge, La.

Awards:

Books:

Education:

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