A weather system moving across the Florida Panhandle is raising concerns for the northern Gulf Coast, with the National Hurricane Center indicating a 40% chance that it could develop into a tropical depression by Thursday.
The system, currently tracking westward, poses a significant threat as it approaches southeastern Louisiana, and its potential severity will largely depend on how far it moves offshore before making landfall.
This tropical weather event is anticipated not only to affect Louisiana but will also bring impacts to Alabama and Mississippi.
Officials have warned citizens to prepare for heavy downpours that could lead to flooding regardless of whether the system intensifies into a named storm.
The National Weather Service has projected that New Orleans could experience between 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) of rain through Saturday.
However, certain coastal areas may see significantly higher totals, with estimates possibly reaching as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters).
The warning emphasizes, “While a tropical depression cannot be ruled out near the coast on Thursday, the main focus remains the heavy rain threat,” as stated by the National Weather Service on X.
In anticipation of the storm, proactive measures are being taken across the region. Volunteers joined local elected officials at the Dryades YMCA in New Orleans to fill sandbags for distribution to residents who might be affected.
New Orleans resident Alex Trapps expressed his concerns, stating, “My street flooded just the other day when we got a little bit of rain, and so I want to just make sure that I’m proactive” as he loaded sandbags into his vehicle.
This impending weather threat follows a summer marked by destructive floods. Earlier this week, flash floods in New York City and parts of New Jersey resulted in two fatalities.
Moreover, catastrophic floods in Texas Hill Country on July 4 claimed at least 132 lives as torrents of water overwhelmed the area.
If the Florida weather system evolves into a named storm, it will be referred to as Dexter.
As of now, the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has seen three named storms—Andrea, Barry, and Chantal—but no hurricanes have formed.
Chantal’s remnants recently impacted North Carolina, where an 83-year-old woman tragically lost her life when her vehicle was swept off a rural road.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted a 60% chance of an above-average number of named storms this hurricane season.
As the developing weather system approaches, Southern Louisiana—known for its vulnerability to devastating floods—is expected to bear the brunt of this storm starting Thursday.
Erika Mann, CEO of the Dryades YMCA, reported that local officials and volunteers were able to organize storm supply distributions quickly in response to the growing threat.
Mann stated, “We open our doors and help the community when the community is in need.”
The community spirit was evident as residents who came for supplies also offered their assistance, encapsulating the heart of New Orleans: “We come together in crisis,” she remarked.
image source from：npr
