rainfall

People have lived along the river for millennia, the benefits competing with the risks. Modern levee systems built in response to past disasters like the Floods of 1927 or 1993 aren't designed for the newest risk: increased rainfall caused by climate change.

Staying put in the face of flooding can be dangerous and is growing increasingly costly. Property taxes are the largest source of tax revenue for local governments in most states, but property value declines as flood risk increases. Local governments have doubled their infrastructure spending while federal funding remains relatively flat. The federal government covers about 40% of water and transportation construction, but states are left to maintain it.

The shifting trends and escalating flood risk raises urgent questions about society’s readiness to cope with the change, as spiraling and once-unheard-of rainfall extremes become more frequent.

Widespread showers are expected through Thursday morning in Baton Rouge and parts of metro New Orleans.

South Louisiana is preparing for severe weather into the evening today, and New Orleans is no exception.

The latest projected rainfall and tropical storm-force windspeed maps from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.Maps will be…

The story of Hurricane Isaac will likely be about flooding. The storm is expected to dump many inches of rain across a wide swath of the country.

Rainfall probability graphics from the National Weather Service.Stay tuned for updated information as it's provided by the NWS.