weather

A tropical disturbance in the Gulf is forecast to bring heavy rain to Louisiana and Mississippi through the weekend.

Some parishes have opened sandbag sites in preparation for the heavy rain.

New Orleans is preparing for heavy rainfall this week as a tropical disturbance moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Louisiana coast.

Two bills to ban weather modification in Louisiana have quietly moved their way through the state legislature this session, as a cohort of other states have moved to do the same with technology that purports to encourage rain or alter temperature.

A flash flood watch was issued for much of south Louisiana as the region braces for multiple days of heavy rain that could cause street and flash flooding.

Multiple St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in South Louisiana have been postponed due to the threat of strong winds and possible tornadoes this weekend.

Much of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi remain under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. with severe weather in the forecast Wednesday.

“ Anytime we get an Arctic air blast down this far south, this is an artifact of the polar vortex rearing its ugly head,” said climatologist Barry Keim .

The arctic weather set new records for snowfall amounts and low temperatures this week. State Climatologist Jay Grymes said it’s the most snowfall and lowest temperatures Louisiana has experienced in the last century.

Sun and warmer temperatures are helping crews in New Orleans as they continue to clear roads following this week’s winter storm.