New Orleans, Louisiana – Residents across southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast face a continued tornado threat through 5 a.m. CST as strong storms track across the region overnight.
According to the National Weather Service in New Orleans, Tornado Watch 7 remains in effect for Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes in Louisiana, along with Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties in southern Mississippi.
Cities under the watch include New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Chalmette, Thibodaux, Raceland and Galliano, as well as Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis. The watch also covers adjacent coastal waters, including Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound and nearshore Gulf waters out 20 nautical miles.
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts. Storms moving through the area overnight could rotate quickly, giving little advance notice before warnings are issued.
Residents should keep weather alerts enabled on their phones, identify a safe interior room away from windows and be prepared to move quickly if a Tornado Warning is issued. The watch remains active until 5 a.m., with additional warnings possible if storms intensify before daybreak.
