WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Severe Flooding Hits New Orleans Region

Travis Lux
/
WWNO
Street flooding at the intersection of Cortez and Banks in Mid City on the morning of July 10, 2019

 

Strong storms passed through the New Orleans metro area Wednesday morning, dropping between 5 and 7 inches of rain in about an hour and a half, causing widespread street flooding and power outages.

Flooded streets have been reported across the Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, calling back images of the devastating floods of August 2017. Many roads and underpasses have been closed in the City of New Orleans. For an updated list of those locations, check the city’s Streetwise website: http://streetwise.nola.gov/

 

Entergy New Orleans is reporting power outages across the region. At 10:30am, 7,601 were without power in Jefferson Parish. In Orleans Parish, 10,939 were without power.

 

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans said 118 of its 120 pumps were operating as of 9:00am.

 

 

 

A tornado was reported near the campus of the University of New Orleans around 8:20am Wednesday morning.

 

 

 

The tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service expired at 9:00am. 

More rain is on the horizon. Megan Williams, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Slidell says another three inches are possible over the next 48 hours. Totals through Monday could dump another 12 inches of rain on the region, as the tropical weather system moving into the Gulf of Mexico picks up steam.

 

That system, which is currently labeled Potential Tropical Cyclone Two, is expected to become Tropical Storm Barry.

This post will be regularly updated.

As Coastal Reporter, Travis Lux covers flood protection, coastal restoration, infrastructure, the energy and seafood industries, and the environment. In this role he's reported on everything from pipeline protests in the Atchafalaya swamp, to how shrimpers cope with low prices. He had a big hand in producing the series, New Orleans: Ready Or Not?, which examined how prepared New Orleans is for a future with more extreme weather. In 2017, Travis co-produced two episodes of TriPod: New Orleans at 300 examining New Orleans' historic efforts at flood protection. One episode, NOLA vs Nature: The Other Biggest Flood in New Orleans History, was recognized with awards from the Public Radio News Directors and the New Orleans Press Club. His stories often find a wider audience on national programs, too, like NPR's Morning Edition, WBUR's Here and Now, and WHYY's The Pulse.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info