Tropical Depression Headed for Louisiana
A tropical depression that the National Hurricane Center says may intensify into a tropical storm is currently headed for the Louisiana coast. The tropical weather system may bring as much as 20 inches of rain to southern Louisiana, the NHC said.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Pascagoula, Miss., westward to Sabine Pass, Texas. It includes the city of New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. The center of the system is expected to approach the coast of southern Louisiana during the weekend.
The depression is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 15 inches over southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southern Alabama through the weekend, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches.
A storm surge will raise water levels by as much as two to four feet above ground level in some areas along the northern Gulf Coast.
The Associated Press reported that forecasters say the coming rains could dampen or even extinguish a marsh fire that has at times pushed thick smoke over the New Orleans area.