tornado new orleans stayed under a Tornado Watch until 6 a.m. as tropical downpours moved across Southeast Louisiana overnight into Thursday morning. Post-tropical cyclone Arthur was dissipating in Texas, but outer bands kept feeding moisture into the region.
The forecast called for torrential rain capable of flash flooding and conditions favorable for tornado development. A Flood Watch was in effect through Friday morning, giving residents little break after the overnight round.
Arthur and Southeast Louisiana
Upper-level winds continued to channel tropical moisture into Southeast Louisiana from Arthur’s remnants, keeping heavy precipitation in the forecast through Thursday. The north shore was expected to see the heaviest rain well into Thursday afternoon.
River parishes, the north shore, and coastal Mississippi were expected to take the most substantial rainfall totals. The reasonable worst-case scenario was 10 to 15 inches, and isolated locations could exceed 15 inches.
Flood Watch Through Friday
The remainder of the south shore was expected to receive 3 to 6 inches, with some isolated south shore areas getting more. Lesser accumulations were expected near the mouth of the river, but the overall setup still carried a flash-flood risk.
Residents along rivers, creeks, or in areas with a history of flooding were urged to remain vigilant. Recent heavy rainfall had saturated the ground, river levels were already elevated, and the anticipated downpours could trigger major flooding in vulnerable locations.
North Shore Rainfall
For people across the north shore, the overnight watch and the flood threat through Friday morning meant the most urgent issue was not the storm’s name but how much water could fall on already wet ground. The heaviest bands were expected to keep moving through the area into Thursday, raising the odds that the worst flooding could arrive before the watch expires.
