More rain is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, and a flash flood watch has been issued for much of South Louisiana through Saturday morning.
This comes after an already record-breaking wet spring. March broke previous Louisiana rainfall records, according to the National Weather Service, and April is off to a similar start. Normal rainfall for the month is around 4 inches, and the NWS said more than 9 inches have already fallen.
NWS meteorologist Megan Williams said that with the ground already fully saturated, there’s a high risk of flooding going into the weekend.
“The banks and ditches are already full,” Williams said. “So any rainfall that we do receive is going to result in flash flooding much more quickly than usual.”
At least 4 to 6 inches of rain have fallen on southern Louisiana this week, with up to 8 inches in some areas. Another 2 to 3 inches are possible through Saturday.
Williams said low-lying areas along the coast and between Baton Rouge and New Orleans will see the most flooding.
Several rivers are already at flood stage in southern Louisiana, including the Pearl, Tangipahoa and Bogue Falaya. The Mississippi has reached 18 feet in Baton Rouge, which is technically flood stage, but the Army Corps of Engineers has not announced plans to open any flood control structures at this time.
A Corps spokesman said they have continued to inspect the levees twice weekly since flood fighting efforts began on March 11.
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