What was once Tropical Storm Arthur is moving out of Louisiana but is still leaving its mark on the state, after already leaving behind widespread damage.
Right now, the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur are prompting flash flood warnings as rivers swell to flood stage. The National Weather Service has already confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes from Wednesday late evening into early Thursday.
“Later this morning into the midday today, things will settle down,” State Climatologist Jay Grymes said. “Over the short-medium term, our attention will then turn to the rivers, particularly the rivers in the Florida parishes, which look like they’re all in flood stage now.”
Rivers at flood stage
“The Tchefuncte River is already at major flood stage,” he continued. “One or two others may get to major flood stage, given all the runoff that we’re getting, particularly from last night’s and early this morning’s rains, and the fact that there’s still the potential for some locally heavy downpours as we get into Friday.”
The National Water Prediction Service observed moderate flooding in the Tangipahoa River at Robert, at just over 18 feet. UWK crews at the river captured the high water levels.
Tangipahoa River at Robert
Flooding in parts of Pointe Coupee Parish prompted evacuations on Thursday as water rose over highways. Grymes told UWK rainfall totals in neighboring Avoyelles Parish could be more than 20 inches, especially in Simmesport and Plaucheville.
“We’ve got water in some homes in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes on the south side of the lake already,” Grymes said. “When those north shore rivers start to get into flood stages like this, especially those higher levels, they start to impact residents and camps along those rivers as well. Some properties will take one water, if they’re not already taking water, and we’re going to see that happen over the next 24 to 48 hours.”
“When the rivers go into minor and even major flood stages, most of those homes are still above the water line,” said Grymes. “But as that water line keeps going up, the threat for some of those properties that are marginally safe starts to rise. But we’re not talking about thousands of homes here, but we could be talking about dozens.”
Local damage
While the aftermath of Arthur makes its way north and east, crews are getting a better look at what the storm left behind. “Last night got very busy across the southeastern part of the state, but St. Tammany probably took the brunt of the punch,” Grymes said.
St. Tammany officials said there are downed trees, power outages, and water on the roads. Crews have been responding to storm-related issues, and urge anyone who encounters a road closure sign or barricade to not drive around them.
Moving forward
Grymes is tracking the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur out of the Bayou State today. “The good news is most of the storm energy is lifted out of the state, at least for the time being,” he said. “The main effects of Arthur will go away later today. Some lingering disturbance will mean chances of rain Friday, but more of a summer-like, hit or miss pattern.”
“Friday it’s back to June. Humidity and heat with the potential for more thunderstorms and thundershowers,” he said. “The problem with Friday’s rains are that any heavy downpours on these saturated soils and high rivers will just mean rivers rebounding once again.”
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