What Is WDSU and Why It Matters for New Orleans Weather

WDSU Channel 6 is the NBC affiliate for New Orleans, Louisiana, serving the greater metro area and the broader Gulf Coast region. The station's Storm Team has covered local weather for decades, providing daily forecasts, hurricane tracking, and severe weather coverage across southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Unlike national weather apps that pull generic regional data, WDSU employs local meteorologists who understand the micro-geography of the New Orleans area — the way Lake Pontchartrain affects convective storms, how sea breezes move inland during summer afternoons, and how the city's below-sea-level topography shapes flood risk during heavy rain events. That local knowledge makes WDSU forecasts more actionable than a national weather service alone, particularly during Louisiana's long and active hurricane season from June through November.

The station maintains its own Doppler radar equipment, giving it the ability to produce local weather coverage independent of national network feeds. During major weather events, WDSU is one of the primary sources New Orleans residents and emergency managers rely on for real-time storm information.

How to Watch WDSU Weather on TV

The most straightforward way to access WDSU weather is by watching the station on television. Weather forecasts air during the morning, midday, evening, and late-night newscasts, and the Storm Team provides live cut-ins during any significant weather event.

• Over-the-air antenna: WDSU broadcasts on VHF Channel 6. A standard indoor antenna will receive the signal free of charge throughout most of the metro area. Position the antenna near a window facing toward the city center for the best reception.
• Cox Cable: Find WDSU on channel 6 in standard definition or channel 1006 in high definition across the New Orleans service area.
• DirecTV: WDSU is available on channel 6 for local New Orleans subscribers.
• Dish Network: Carried on channel 6 for local market subscribers.
• YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, FuboTV: All three streaming services include WDSU as part of their local-channel package in the New Orleans market. After subscribing, look under the Local Channels section in the guide to find Channel 6.

During severe weather, WDSU's Storm Team will break into any programming — including network shows and sports — for continuous live coverage. No special action is needed to receive these cut-ins; they air automatically on the same channel.

Using the WDSU Website for Radar and Forecasts

WDSU.com provides a complete weather section with current conditions, interactive radar, and extended forecasts — all free, with no account required.

1. Open your browser and go to https://www.wdsu.com/weather. The top of the page shows current temperature, sky condition, humidity, and wind speed for New Orleans.
2. Click Radar to open the interactive map. You can zoom in to your neighborhood, animate the last hour of radar frames by pressing play on the timeline, and switch between standard, velocity, and other radar modes using the layer controls.
3. Select 10-Day Forecast to see the extended outlook, including daily high and low temperatures, precipitation probability, and wind conditions for each day.
4. Check the Alerts section for any active National Weather Service watches, warnings, or advisories affecting Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, or surrounding parishes.
5. Browse the Weather Videos section for on-demand forecast segments recorded by WDSU meteorologists — useful if you missed the morning or evening newscast.

The radar on WDSU.com is particularly useful during slow-moving convective events in summer, when you can watch a storm cell develop and track its movement toward your neighborhood in near real-time.

How to Download and Set Up the WDSU News App

The WDSU News app is the fastest way to receive weather alerts and access radar on your phone. It is free and available for both iPhone and Android.

Download the app

1. On iPhone: Open the App Store, search for WDSU News, and tap Get. The app is published by Hearst Television, Inc.
2. On Android: Open Google Play, search for WDSU News, and tap Install.

Enable weather notifications

1. After installing, open the app and tap the menu icon in the top corner.
2. Go to Settings, then Notifications.
3. Enable Weather Alerts. When the system asks whether to allow notifications, tap Allow.
4. Select the parishes you want alerts for. You can pick more than one — useful if you commute between the city and suburbs or travel frequently in the region.

Using the in-app radar

Tap the Weather tab at the bottom of the screen, then select Radar. Pinch to zoom in to your area and use the playback scrubber at the bottom to animate recent radar frames. This lets you see where precipitation is moving and estimate when it will reach your location.

Tracking Hurricanes and Tropical Storms with WDSU

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity in August and September. WDSU Storm Team provides dedicated tropical weather coverage throughout the season. Here is how to use WDSU effectively when a storm threatens the Gulf Coast:

1. Check the Hurricane Tracker page: When a named storm forms in the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean, WDSU.com adds a Hurricane Center section. This page shows the official National Hurricane Center forecast track overlaid with local impact maps specific to Louisiana parishes.
2. Watch for storm surge graphics: WDSU meteorologists produce storm surge flood maps tailored to New Orleans neighborhoods. These maps are broadcast on air and posted to WDSU's website and social media accounts when a watch or warning is in effect. They show flooding depth by area, which is more useful for evacuation decisions than a generic wind speed map.
3. Monitor for programming cut-ins: When a hurricane warning is issued for the area, WDSU suspends regular programming for continuous live coverage. This typically begins 24 to 48 hours before projected landfall and continues until conditions improve.
4. Enable phone emergency alerts: In addition to the WDSU app, verify that Wireless Emergency Alerts are active on your phone. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, and scroll to Emergency Alerts. On Android, go to Settings, then Safety and Emergency. These alerts come directly from the NWS and do not depend on any app being installed.
5. Prepare a backup information source: A direct hurricane hit can disrupt WDSU's broadcast signal. Keep a battery-powered NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio programmed to 162.400 MHz, the New Orleans NWS transmitter, so you have access to official alerts even if power and internet fail.

Following WDSU Meteorologists on Social Media

WDSU meteorologists post weather updates between newscasts on social media, often faster than waiting for a scheduled broadcast. During severe weather, these accounts provide radar snapshots, storm photos, and real-time updates throughout the day and night.

• Facebook: Search for WDSU News on Facebook. The station page publishes radar images, video forecast clips, and live streams during significant weather events. Individual meteorologists often have their own pages and post more frequently than the main station account.
• Twitter / X: Follow @WDSU for breaking weather updates. During a severe weather outbreak, the station and its meteorologists post multiple times per hour with storm location, movement, and warnings in effect.
• YouTube: WDSU's YouTube channel hosts live streams during major storms and archives previous coverage. Subscribe and enable notifications so you are alerted when a live stream begins.
• Instagram: Weather graphics, radar animations, and short forecast videos are posted regularly, making it easy to check conditions at a glance.

During a hurricane, cross-reference WDSU social media posts with the official National Weather Service New Orleans office at https://www.weather.gov/lix. WDSU reports are reliable, but the NWS office is the authoritative source for official watches, warnings, and advisories.

Understanding WDSU Weather Alerts and Taking Action

WDSU relays National Weather Service alerts and issues its own on-air warnings for the local market. Understanding the difference between alert levels helps you respond correctly rather than either overreacting or underreacting.

• Watch: Atmospheric conditions are favorable for a hazardous event — tornado, severe thunderstorm, or flash flood — to develop. A watch covers a wide area for several hours. Stay aware, review your shelter plan, and monitor WDSU or the NWS for updates.
• Warning: A hazardous event is occurring or imminent. Take protective action immediately. Warnings cover smaller, more specific areas and shorter time windows than watches.
• Advisory: Conditions are less severe than a warning but still hazardous enough to require caution — for example, a Dense Fog Advisory or High Wind Advisory. Slow down while driving and avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.

When a tornado warning is issued for your location, go immediately to the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Move to an interior room or hallway away from windows. If there is no basement, get under a heavy piece of furniture such as a staircase. Do not wait until you can see or hear the tornado before moving — tornadoes in the Gulf Coast region are often embedded in rain and difficult to see.

For flash flood warnings in New Orleans, move to higher ground immediately. The city sits below sea level in many areas, and water can rise faster than expected during intense rain events. Never attempt to drive through flooded roads — six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and two feet of water can carry away most passenger vehicles.