Louisiana Braces For Potential Flooding From Approaching Storms

(KMDL-FM) Over Memorial Day Weekend, there were countless predictions of downpours and deluges from various weather prognosticators. Okay, that happened, but it didn't happen on the grand scale as predicted.

Today, we are telling you that an even more legitimate threat of flooding rains is heading for Louisiana, and based on the radar scans out of Texas, it's going to be bumpy when it arrives in Louisiana.

That strong line of strong storms, complete with heavy rain, high winds, and severe weather warnings, is headed for Louisiana. The scan you see above was made at 3:15 this morning, so if you're reading this with your morning coffee or before you leave the house for work, that's what will be approaching Acadiana. Here is the current NWS Composite Radar Scan.

Why Is Louisiana Getting So Much Rain This Week?

The catalyst for today's showers and storms is an upper-level disturbance and its interaction with a stalled frontal boundary. Add to that atmospheric soup an abundance of Gulf moisture, and you have the recipe for flooding rains, water-filled streets, and the need for a sandbag or two.

This graphic from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles tells the tale quite nicely. The image on the left is the Excessive Rainfall Threat. That's the potential for downpours that could overwhelm drainage systems.

The image on the right-hand side of the graphic is the rainfall model projections. As you can see from Lafayette west to Lake Charles, there is a potential of four to six inches of additional rainfall between 7 this morning and 7 tomorrow morning. Y'all read that correctly, that's a 24-hour rainfall projection.

I love the caveat NWS Forecasters offer at the bottom of the graphic, "Remember there is a 10% chance observed rainfall amounts will be even higher." Okay, so that's your outlook for Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Thursday's forecast isn't that much better, but at least the projected rainfall totals are smaller. The model guidance for Thursday rainfall from 7 in the morning until 7 Friday morning suggests amounts of one to two additional inches will be likely across Southern Louisiana.

As of now, the Storm Prediction Center doesn't have Louisiana in the crosshairs for severe storms with this system. Yesterday, the area experienced tropical funnel clouds, but I think the atmosphere will be too chaotic for that to happen today.

When Will the Heavy Rain Finally Stop in Louisiana?

Rain chances will still be relatively high for Friday's forecast, but they do drop for the weekend. Right now, a 60% probability of rain is in the forecast for Friday. That drops to 40% for Saturday, but Sunday's outlook ramps the rain chances right back up to 60%.

On the bright side, it's not a drought, it's not a snowstorm, it's not hailstones as big as a golf ball, it's just rain. Our concern is how much and how much at one time. Be safe, turn around, don't drown if you come across high water in your car, and today and tomorrow, you probably will.