Gulf Coast targeted by flooding as tropical turbulence continues near Texas
A low pressure system has formed along the Texas coast. With water this warm, it wouldn’t take much for the system to become a tropical depression, but time is against it, said the FOX Forecast Center.
NEW ORLEANS – The Gulf Coast along the Interstate 10 corridor is bracing for days of heavy rain and flash flooding as a tropical disturbance and a stationary front converge to bring widespread storms to the region.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring this tropical disturbance for development along the coast of Texas and Louisiana. Although the NHC gives the system a low probability of development, it is designated Invest 90L.
An “investment” is simply a naming convention used by the NHC to identify areas the agency is examining for possible developments.
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The FOX Forecast Center said the low pressure system and low pressure front will be the focus of repeated waves of storms moving ashore along the central Gulf Coast.
The very humid air in the Gulf continues to produce very heavy rainfall during these storms, in some cases reaching up to 5 to 8 centimeters per hour, increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
(FOX Weather)
The rains of the past few days have led to very wet ground and locally brought with them a higher risk of numerous flash floods, especially in the urban areas around the greater New Orleans area, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Flooding was reported Wednesday from Jacksonville, Florida, along the I-10 corridor through parishes in southern Louisiana and southeast Texas. More than 5 million people, including residents of the New Orleans metropolitan area, were affected by flood warnings.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has warned communities from southern Louisiana to Georgia and Florida of the risk of further flooding on Friday. A Level 3 of 4 flash flood risk is primarily in southeast Louisiana, including the New Orleans metropolitan area.
(FOX Weather)
Weather forecasters predict that another 5 to 11 inches of rain could fall by early next week as floodwaters build up in cities like New Orleans. An influx of tropical moisture from the Caribbean has made matters worse.
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This year, there were 11 flash flood warnings for New Orleans between June and August alone.
At New Orleans International Airport, the official place for records, 57.04 inches of rain have fallen so far this year, a whopping 8 inches above average. Just 10 miles east, downtown New Orleans has received over 8 inches more rain than the airport – more than 65 inches.
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Frequent flooding places a financial burden on residents and business owners who must prepare for flooding during almost every storm.
