Flood threat to shift over eastern Texas after devastating rainfall inundates Louisiana

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

August 16,2016; 10:31PM,EDT

 

 

The threat of flash flooding will continue across parts of Texas and Arkansas through Tuesday, following catastrophic rainfall in Louisiana.
According to the Associated Press, at least 20,000 water rescues have been conducted so far.
The American Red Cross is calling the event the "worst natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy," they said in a statement.
The life-threatening rainfall unfolded after a storm system packing abundant moisture crawled westward along the Gulf Coast this past weekend.
Through Wednesday, the most persistent downpours will focus from central and coastal Texas and western Louisiana to southern and eastern Arkansas. This swath will have the greatest potential for new flash and urban flooding incidents.

The risk area includes Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as well as Shreveport and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rainfall from Monday through Tuesday will average 1-3 inches with the potential for 6 inches or more where downpours persist. While the rainfall and anticipated flooding will be much less extreme, when compared to Louisiana from this past weekend, the situation could become dangerous, damaging and life-threatening in some cases.
The rainfall is part of the same storm system that caused deadly flooding in the central Gulf coast states in recent days. Multi-day rainfall amounts have eclipsed 30 inches in some parts of Louisiana.
In this aerial photo a boat motors between flooded homes after heavy rains inundating the region Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Hammond, La. (AP Photo/Max Becherer)
At least 11 people in the region have lost their lives due to flooding thus far, Gov. John Bel Edwards said.
The deluge quickly sent local rivers to major flood stage and in some cases has shattered records. Record crest levels were surpassed on the Amite, Comite and Tickfaw rivers just east of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Submerged highways made travel nearly impossible across several parishes near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
While the main storm system will roll across the Midwest and Northeast through Tuesday, tropical moisture will stay behind.
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Downpours, though more isolated in nature, will continue farther east in flood-ravaged areas of Louisiana and Mississippi through Tuesday.
Beyond Wednesday, the pattern producing the concentrated area of heavy rain will break down.
"The threat for widespread downpours will decrease following the middle part the week, but very localized drenching thunderstorms will still be a threat," AccuWeather Meteorologist Edward Vallee said.
A member of the St. George Fire Department assists residents as they wade through floodwaters from heavy rains in the Chateau Wein Apartments in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Some of the bayous and secondary rivers will be slow to recede this week after the extreme rainfall.
Not enough rain has fallen upstream on the Mississippi River to be a cause for concern along the major waterway.

Story content contributed by Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.