Heavy Rain, Potential Flooding For Louisiana Today

(KMDL-FM) Louisiana's "dry spell" is over, at least for this week. Much-needed rainfall has already fallen across portions of parched Louisiana, and more is expected today and later this week. The big question is "how much is more," and will we get all of that additional rainfall at one time? If we do, there could be problems.

The current forecast scenario for Louisiana's I-10 corridor this week shapes up like this. Today, there will be a significant threat of heavy downpours and perhaps flooding rains. Tuesday and Wednesday should be okay, then we'll reopen the faucets on Thursday with another heavy rain threat moving in just in time for the weekend.

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Will There Be Freezing Rain or Snow in Louisiana This Week?

In addition to the abundant rainfall, temperatures will be quite cool this week as well. It won't be freezing cold, but overnight low temperatures will get close to the freezing mark. The daytime temperatures will be in the lower 50s to start the week. If you couple those temperatures with cold rain and a bit of a breeze, it will feel much colder than the reading on your thermometer suggests.

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The graphic above from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles gives you an idea of where the heaviest rain is most likely to fall. Most of the model projections have rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches right along I-10 from Lake Charles through Lafayette, with heavier amounts across the Atchafalaya Basin eastward to Baton Rouge.

The other side of the graphic, the one with all of the orange coloring, shows the worst-case scenario for rainfall over the area today. In some of those scenarios, it is possible that some locales could see up to four inches of rain before it comes to an end later tonight.

When Will the Next Storm System Move Into Louisiana?

Forecasters do predict a break in the rainfall later this evening. That break should last through Tuesday and Wednesday, with the threat of more showers and storms moving back into the area by Thursday. Again, there could be potential for heavy downpours and flooding rains. We will have a much better handle on what Thursday's storm system will bring a little later in the week.