NWS Update Concerning Heavy Rain/Severe Weather March 4-5 Sunday March 03, 2024 03:33 pm - 646 Views - Posted By Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

Here is an update from the National Weather Service in New Orleans concerning the heavy rain and severe weather Monday and Tuesday (March 4 and 5).

Overview:

WHAT: Locally Heavy Rain that could lead to flash flooding (main threat. A few severe thunderstorms also possible (secondary threat).

WHEN: Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon.

WHERE: All of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, with the greatest threat currently expected across areas near and south of the Interstate 10/12 corridor.

CONFIDENCE·

We have high confidence in the occurrence of widespread showers and thunderstorms, and that some will produce heavy rainfall.
We have low to medium confidence in details such as the exact rainfall amounts and the area of greatest risk. This lower confidence could lead to additional changes in future forecasts.
We have low confidence that any storms will become severe.

Impacts:

Potential impacts from heavy rain:

3 to 6 inches of rain is currently forecast for areas along/south of the I-10/12 corridor, with short-term rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour possible
Ponding of water in low lying areas and areas of poor drainage can be expected from the heaviest rainfall
Localized flash flooding will be possible in areas that receive the heaviest rain, and some roads may become impassable
If the heaviest rain occurs farther north, area rivers and streams across the north shore and Mississippi Coast may experience rises

Potential impacts from any severe thunderstorms: