The Northshore and parts of New Orleans East took on between two and four inches of rain this morning as downpours passed across Southeast Louisiana Monday morning, and forecasters say that's just a preview of what's to come during the next few days.
"This rain is going to come in a series of waves," National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones said, noting that the first wave of rain will continue through Tuesday with the second wave coming in Thursday and Friday. "That is going to produce the potential for some heavy rain."
Already, parts of New Orleans East and Slidell have received around three inches of rain. According to Jones, a tropical wave and stalling rain bands could cause major flooding in parts of the region.
"We could be looking at several inches of rain in an area--a very narrow range--where those bands and that training does set up," Jones said. "Anywhere we get those very heavy rainfalls over a short period of time where we get multiple storms moving over the same area, we can see those rainfall totals accumulate very quickly."
Jones says rainfall totals will vary widely depending on those factors.
"All told, it wouldn't be surprising to see 10-plus inches in a few locations, with the majority of the area seeing two to five inches," Jones said.
There is a silver lining to the forecast. Jones says there is a minimal severe weather threat associated with this system.
"We're not going to be looking at any kind of a significant wind issue even in a worst-case scenario," Jones said.
