Storm System Developing on Gulf Coast
A storm system is forming over the Gulf Coast and is expected to bring significant rainfall to Louisiana and surrounding areas starting Friday, with intensification likely through the weekend.
This time of year, disrupted waters in the Gulf can cause a bit of unease, but it’s worth mentioning that this system isn’t expected to evolve into a tropical storm or depression, as noted by predictions from the FOX Prediction Center.
Despite sea surface temperatures being 3 degrees above average, strong wind shear is preventing any thunderstorms from gaining organization.
While tropical development isn’t on the horizon, the system carries a lot of tropical moisture, which could lead to coastal flooding and rough waves along the shores of Louisiana and Mississippi. For instance, Orange Beach, Alabama, has closed its beaches as of Thursday due to life-threatening rip currents already affecting the Gulf Coast.
The widespread potential for flooding is somewhat limited as storms move through. Yet, it’s important to remember that individual storms can still produce substantial rain, with rates possibly exceeding 2 inches in just an hour.
The metropolitan regions of New Orleans, Biloxi, and Gulfport are anticipated to experience the heaviest rainfall, particularly when the storm peaks on Saturday. If multiple storms strike the same areas, it’s possible to see more than 3 inches of rain, which raises the threat of flooding.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama until Sunday.
As the storm progresses, flooding risks are likely to expand into the Plains and the Midwest, driven by additional tropical moisture moving further north.
Additionally, wind gusts from east-southeast could reach up to 40 mph, which may lead to pooling water along the coast and result in dangerous conditions, including strong rip currents and minor flooding during high tide.
A coastal flood warning has been issued from southeastern Louisiana to the Mississippi coast, with expectations of water levels rising by 1 to 2 feet, possibly affecting low-lying parks and parking areas.
Many regions in the Southeast have already faced multiple flooding events in recent weeks, heightening their risk for further flash flooding. By Sunday, moisture will push inland, intersecting with an upper-level disturbance emerging from the Four Corners area.
This combination could generate numerous thunderstorms across the Lower and Middle Mississippi River region on Sunday afternoon, particularly affecting eastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, and northwest Arkansas.
