A Tornado Watch remains in effect for Southeast Louisiana until 6 a.m. as the remnants of post-tropical cyclone Arthur keep pushing tropical downpours into the region overnight and into Thursday morning. The same system is also raising the risk of flash flooding as heavy rain continues to pound the area.
The threat is not spread evenly. River parishes, the north shore and coastal Mississippi are expected to take the heaviest rain, with a reasonable worst-case total of 10 to 15 inches and isolated spots potentially going beyond that. Most of the south shore is forecast to see 3 to 6 inches, while areas near the mouth of the river are expected to pick up less.
That is why the keyword is showing up now: the watch is active, the rain is already underway, and the next several hours are the most dangerous stretch for both tornado development and flooding. A Flood Watch is also in effect through Friday morning, giving the region a longer window of concern even after the Tornado Watch expires.
Arthur is dissipating in Texas, but its outer bands are still being steered by upper-level winds into Southeast Louisiana, where the setup is still capable of torrential downpours. The forecast calls for precipitation to continue into Thursday, especially on the north shore, because the system’s moisture trail keeps feeding back into the same part of the region.
That persistence matters because the ground is already saturated and river levels are elevated. Residents along rivers, creeks or other flood-prone areas should stay alert, since the expected downpours could trigger major flooding in vulnerable locations before the rain finally eases. The immediate question is no longer whether the system can cause trouble — it is how much rain falls before the watches run out.
