Ex-tropical disturbance could still unleash flooding rains over Louisiana's coast
The system, previously called Invest 93L, is already causing thunderstorms and scattered showers just southwest of New Orleans, the Storm Prediction Center said.
Flood watches blanket much of the southern half of Louisiana through midday July 19, according to the National Weather Service. The risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding from this system is highest along the I-10/12 corridor and south of it, the weather service office in New Orleans said. Flooding concerns extend along the coastal plain from Houston, Texas, to Pensacola, Florida, forecasters said.
Downpours with rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour could lead to ponding of water in areas that are low-lying and have poor drainage, leading to flooding of some roads, the weather service said. In areas with the heaviest rainfall, some structures could also become flooded. The risk of rain continues through the weekend, but the flash flooding threat over the weekend will depend on how much total rain falls between July 17 and 18, the weather service in New Orleans said.
"Even a poorly organized tropical rainstorm can still produce localized torrential downpours that can lead to incidents of dangerous flash flooding," AccuWeather said.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October.
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