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The outer bands still forming for what could become Tropical Storm Claudette began drenching the New Orleans area with rain Friday evening as the center of clear circulation heads toward land near Port Fortune.
The system, which the National Hurricane Center has been calling a possible third tropical cyclone, was expected to turn into a depression or be called Claudette late Friday night. Sustained winds of up to 46 mph, tropical storm strength, were reported by at least one oil rig south of Grand Isle by midday, and Blackwomans Parish officials reported gusts of more than 40 mph in several locations and more than two inches of Rain at Pointè a la Hache.
At 4 p.m., the disturbance was 125 miles south of Morgan, with maximum winds of 45 mph, although no tropical storm had been declared. He was heading north at 16 mph.
Hurricane expert John Kangelosi said that meteorologists did not expect the storm to increase significantly before landfall, due to its wide, uneven structure, and because upper-level winds are expected to cut its cloud tops during the short period remaining before landfall.
“Although the turbulence has wind speeds of the intensity of a tropical storm, it has not been named a tropical storm yet because its epicenter is ill-defined and widespread, as evidenced by Air Force Hurricane Hunter data and surface observations,” Kangalusi said at 4 p.m. .
On the forecast track on Friday afternoon, the center of the storm will be over Lake Pontchartrain West by Saturday at 7 a.m.
Its biggest threat remained its ability to dump up to 8 inches of weekend rain in the New Orleans area, with some locations seeing up to 12 inches. Minor shifts to the east in the storm’s path reduced the total estimated precipitation in Jefferson Parish and the Parish River to no more than 6 inches, and to less than 4 inches in Baton Rouge and locations west of the state capital.
However, meteorologists at the National Weather Service’s Slidell office warned that precipitation totals could be much greater in areas captured under heavy rain ranges, and even moderate rainfall could trigger evacuations or rescues at some locations. Some rivers and tributaries can also pose threats by occupying the forefront of their banks.
At midday, meteorologists at the Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warned that as the storm moved ashore, areas under rain bands could see rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour, increasing the risk of flash floods.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect from just east of Morgan to the eastern border of Walton County, Florida.
A flood watch remained in effect for much of southeastern Louisiana through Sunday 7 a.m., although the clock was raised Friday at 3 p.m. for the parishes of Baton Rouge, Ascension, Assumption, Livingston and St. James.
Minor coastal flooding was also expected, with a coastal flood warning of 2 to 3 feet of water in effect from southern Homa to the Pearl River Estuary and as far east as the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama. The warning extends until Saturday at 7 pm
Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet reported sporadic episodes of light rain Friday afternoon in Laffitte but no evidence of tidal surge or flooding.
This is a visible episode of Gulf Storm as it moves toward the northern coast of the Gulf at 3 PM on Friday, June 18, 2021.
NOAA GOES East Satellite
A coastal flood warning of 1 to 2 feet of high tides and high water was in effect for areas around Lakes Moribas and Pontchartrain until Saturday at 7 p.m.
Forecasters also warned that a hurricane or two could also form as the storm moved ashore.
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Areas west of Baton Rouge were expected to see less effects from the storm, with rainfall totaling just half an inch in Lafayette and just an inch in Lake Charles.
New Orleans remained on alert for rain that could overwhelm the Sewer and Water Board’s uncertain drainage capabilities. On Friday, the agency said 98 of the 99 sewage pumps are ready for service, along with two turbines and all five standby diesel generators. In recent months, agency leaders have warned that the power supply for its drainage system is in a “fragile state,” and last week announced that repairing two turbines would take longer than previously expected.
However, the facility said it had enough power to run all the necessary pumps.
New Orleans officials urged drivers to move vehicles to neutral areas and other elevated locations by noon Friday due to the risk of street flooding. Crews worked throughout the day to remove leaves and debris from fishing ponds and required contractors to secure construction sites.
“This is a reminder that we’re at the start of hurricane season, and now is the time to review contingency plans, gather emergency supplies, and stay informed,” City Hall said.
Jefferson Parish officials said there will be no garbage collection or recycling on Saturday; No makeup day has been set. Residents are urged to avoid placing bulky items for collection until after the storm threat has passed.
Diocese dump sites will also be closed on Saturday but will reopen on Sunday.
Tammany Parish has been typical of suburban parishes opening sandbag packing sites to the public on Fridays. Residents were asked to bring their own shovels to fill the baggage limit of 15 per vehicle.
Michael Vinsanao, a government spokesman, said the parish also closed several entertainment sites at 5 p.m. “just as a precaution.”
“We’re kind of in a waiting game,” Vinsanao said. “We think this is just going to be a torrential downpour, and we’re prepared for that.”
Scott Lee, a spokesman for the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office, said the water-rising vehicles were strategically placed around the parish before the possibility of “floods, winds, or whatever the case.”
This map shows the results of empirical modeling of the effects of a combination of precipitation, storm surge, and waves on water heights above the ground. Yellow indicates up to 1 foot, orange up to 3 feet, and purple up to three feet. The blue areas are the existing ponds and waterways. (LSU Coastal Emergency Risk Assessment)
LSU الساحلية Coastal Emergency Risk Assessment
An experimental mapping program run for state emergency managers by the Louisiana State University Coastal Emergency Risk Assessment Laboratory indicated that based on the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track Friday morning, a combination of precipitation and tides is likely to cause some flooding in typical hotspots. Over the next few days, including the intersection of US Highway 12 190 north of Mandeville and at several locations along the Air Lines Highway at St. John’s Baptist Parish.
Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency before the storm Thursday, a formality that gives him extraordinary authority and leads to potential action by FEMA and other federal agencies if immediate assistance or funding for recovery is needed.
By early Friday, Edwards had activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center and five coastal parishes had also issued emergency declarations.
The FEMA was also monitoring the weather system and prepared to activate different response teams if needed.
As a precaution against contamination, the state health department has closed all Louisiana oyster ponds until harvest begins at sunset. The closure was to remain in place until health officials determined that the water complied with sanitation rules for shellfish.
Jessica Williams, Mary Fazio, and Vimon A. Roberts III contributed to this report.
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