Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Beta could soak much of south Louisiana over the coming days and put most of the area, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, under a Flash Flood Watch beginning Sunday afternoon.
The Flash Flood Watch is expected to remain in effect through Wednesday as a band of heavy rainfall that detached from Beta — which is forecast to miss Louisiana and hit Texas — moves over Louisiana and dumps potentially significant amounts of rain. The National Weather Service predicted 3 to 5 inches of rain across the area, which extends southwest of a line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, with higher totals possible in some local areas.
The heaviest downpours likely to occur on Tuesday and Tuesday night. This could potentially lead to flash flooding and a rise in river levels, with some potentially reaching flood stage.
🌧️ A prolonged wet period with locally heavy rain could lead to flash flooding through portions of the area.
💧 3-5″ of rain with locally higher amounts is possible through Wednesday in the flash flood watch area#lawx #mswx
(3/4) pic.twitter.com/H6lRJ7aiP4— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) September 20, 2020
“We are becoming more concerned about the threat of heavy rainfall beginning Monday night (and) possibly lasting into Wednesday. A band of heavy rain detached from Beta is expected to develop across the area (with) the heaviest rain likely Tuesday (and) Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service office in Slidell said Sunday morning.
Moderate coastal flooding was already beginning on Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, which said at 2 p.m. that flood gauges at Shell Beach and the Bonnet Carre Spillway had reached moderate flood stage.
As of 4 p.m., Beta was moving at west-northwest at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Beta is expected to make landfall on the central Texas coast late Monday night.
A storm surge warning remains in effect from Port Aransas, Texas to the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, and a tropical storm warning remains in effect from Port Aransas to Morgan City, Louisiana.
Coastal flood warnings — with potential inundation at high tide of 2 to 4 feet — were in effect for Orleans, Upper Jefferson, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. The National Weather Service also issued a coastal flood warning — with potential inundation of 1 to 2 feet — for the North Shore, coastal Acadiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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