Weather Service Raises Flood Risk for Louisiana Tuesday
The National Weather Service Doppler Radar scan out of Lake Charles Louisiana has much of the I-10 corridor in a "dry space". That's not too unexpected for the wee small hours of a July day. But unlike a typical July day in Louisiana that includes a small risk of afternoon showers, today will almost certainly bring the entire region at least some rainfall.
The concerning part about that forecast is this. Some areas will receive small amounts of rain. Some portions of the region will get a pretty good soaking. Then again, some parts of South Louisiana will be looking for sandbags in a hurry. One of the biggest threats of this particular storm system isn't just rainfall. It's a lot of rainfall in a very short period of time.
The graphic above from KATC TV's Breyanna Lewis gives you a good idea of where the worst of the west is expected over the next several days. As you can see much of the I-10 corridor falls in the 2 to 4-inch zone as does much of the area along and generally west of I-49.
An upper-level low-pressure trough is fueling the instability in the atmosphere. This system is actually centered in the Great Lakes region of the country. However, it extends well into the Deep South and the Gulf of Mexico. The circulation and lift surrounding this system are the catalysts for the higher-than-usual rain chances and the higher-than-usual accumulations.
The Weather Prediction Center has expanded its forecast for potential flooding rains in southwestern Louisiana in particular. As you can see in the graphic provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles that part of the state should remain weather-aware at least through Wednesday.
If you're not familiar with the term "excessive rainfall" it has to do with how much rain could fall in a short period of time. The Weather Prediction Center issues these forecasts when there is a risk of heavy downpours overwhelming municipal drainage systems. And that certainly appears to be a possibility for much of southwestern Louisiana later today.
Please remember that the heavy rains from some of the storms expected today could lead to flash flooding and street flooding. Please keep in mind the following tips should you encounter heavy rainfall where you live today.
Unfortunately, Wednesday's forecast isn't much better, and more potential flooding events are possible in some of the localized downpours. Some municipalities are offering sandbags for residents. If you live in a low-lying area and feel you might be at risk for flooding, now would be the time to make and take the needed precautions to protect life and property.
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Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells