Forecasters are not expecting flooding rains for most of the area impacted by Tropical Storm Marco.
Dry air getting sucked into Marco before it makes landfall as a hurricane south of New Orleans is helping keep the rainfall estimates down.
The National Hurricane Center is calling for most of the New Orleans area to see up to four inches of rain from Marco.
Forecasters say, however, we could see "isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Central U.S. Gulf coast through Tuesday."
Places that see heavy cells set up over them could deal with some flooding.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND----------------------
STORM SURGE:
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Morgan City LA to Ocean Springs MS including Lake Borgne...4-6 ftSabine Pass to Morgan City LA...2-4 ftOcean Springs MS to the MS/AL Border...2-4 ftLake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...2-4 ftMS/AL Border to AL/FL Border including Mobile Bay...1-3 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
WIND:
Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area by midday Monday, with tropical storm conditions possible by early Monday. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area on Monday, and hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch areas late Monday.
RAINFALL:
Marco is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches across the Central U.S. Gulf coast through Tuesday.
This rainfall may result in isolated areas of flash and urban flooding along the Central U.S. Gulf Coast.
SURF:
Swells generated by Marco are likely to affect portions of the northern Gulf Coast later today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
TORNADOES:
An isolated tornado will be possible early Monday morning near the southeast Louisiana coast.
