Louisiana Swamp Pop and Blues legend Tony Joe White has a song in his illustrious repertoire entitled Louisiana Rain. Growing up in West Carroll Parish in the town of Oak Grove, Tony Joe learned a thing or two about how weather affects life in Louisiana. The weather will certainly have an effect on your plans across Louisiana today.

That song, Louisiana Rain, is an homage to feelings that are inspired by the sound of falling water on the tin roofs of our memory along the bayou. It might make for a great soundtrack to today's weather forecast, assuming today's weather doesn't cause your power to go out. Because we are in for more than just a sprinkle today and tonight.

spc.noaa.gov
spc.noaa.gov
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The yellow-shaded area you see on the graphic from the Storm Prediction Center is the area of greatest concern for strong to severe storms and possible tornadoes in Louisiana today. Lafayette, Lake Charles, Leesville, Alexandria, New Iberia, and many other communities have been placed at a "Slight Risk" for severe storms today. Practically the entire rest of the state is at a "Marginal Risk" for severe storms.

What Does Slight Risk Of Severe Thunderstorms Mean?

spc.noaa.gov
spc.noaa.gov
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Forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles have outlined not only when we can expect the worst of the weather but just how much rainfall we could experience as this storm system moves through.

As of now, forecasters are telling us a cold front will push across Louisiana beginning later this afternoon and into the evening hours. Ahead of the frontal boundary there will be widespread showers and thunderstorms. There is enough instability in the atmosphere that forecasters can't rule out the threat of wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, possible tornadoes and there could be hail as large as one inch in diameter.

Tetova News via YouTube
Tetova News via YouTube
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When Will Storms Start in Louisiana Today?

Naturally, the answer to that question is dependent on where you happen to be in Louisiana. The northwestern section of the state is already feeling some of the effects of the approaching frontal system. Those effects, in the form of showers, should begin to manifest across central and southern Louisiana after lunch today.

11Alive via YouTube
11Alive via YouTube
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We can't rule out a shower interrupting your bus ride or carpool ride home from school this afternoon but it does appear that for cities east of I-49/US 90 the worst of the weather will begin to move in after the sun goes down.

There is a threat of Excessive Rainfall with some of the storms forecast for the area today and tonight. That simply means the amount of water falling could inundate a municipal storm drainage system. This could lead to street flooding and in some cases, water getting into buildings and structures in low-lying areas.

How Much Rain Will Louisiana Get Today?

weather.gov/lch
weather.gov/lch
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Actually not that much as far as total amounts go. The issue with the storms later today and tonight will be how much water falls over a short period of time. As you can see from the graphic above provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lake Charles, we aren't anticipating a major flood event.

weather.gov/lch
weather.gov/lch
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But do anticipate some heavy downpours if you have to be on the roads late tonight or early on Friday morning. By Friday afternoon things should begin to improve greatly across the region. Skies should begin to clear by lunchtime on Friday and the forecast for the weekend is shaping up to be sunny and seasonable.

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