Severe Weather Threat For South Louisiana Today

It's going to be a dark and stormy day leading into a dark and stormy Halloween night for most of South Louisiana. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for much of South Louisiana until 2pm this afternoon.

There is a possibility that this watch could be extended not only through time but to include more areas. In fact this system has already produced tornado warnings in portions of Southeast Texas and West Central Louisiana during the early morning hours.

Parishes included in the tornado watch :

ACADIA                 ALLEN                 AVOYELLES
BEAUREGARD             CALCASIEU             CAMERON
EVANGELINE             IBERIA                JEFFERSON DAVIS
LAFAYETTE              RAPIDES               ST. LANDRY
ST. MARTIN             ST. MARY              VERMILION
VERNON

Based on the current radar scan from the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles a large area of heavy rain and thunderstorms will be moving through the watch area over the next six hours.

The watch area could be expanded to the east by later this morning. There is also a strong potential for flooding rains, high winds, and small hail associated with some of the heavier thunderstorm cells as they  move through the area.

There is also a strong potential for flash flooding in the low lying areas around the state. Motorist are advised to drive with caution during heavy downpours. You are also reminded that it is a state law that your headlights must be on if your windshield wipers are on. Chances are you will be needing both of those if you have to be out and about anytime today.

Rainfall amounts of up to four inches could be common over the next 24 hours with some locations seeing amounts in excess of six inches.  The threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms should begin to subside by late in the day Sunday.