Lake Charles, Louisiana – Residents across southwest Louisiana are facing a prolonged flood threat this week as multiple rounds of heavy rainfall bring the potential for flash flooding, flooded roadways and rapidly rising water levels through at least Friday.
According to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, a surge of Gulf moisture interacting with a stalled frontal boundary will produce repeated waves of showers and thunderstorms across the region. The first round is already underway and is expected to continue through Tuesday night, followed by a second round Thursday into Friday as another surge of tropical moisture moves north from the Gulf.
Forecast rainfall totals through Tuesday night are expected to average between 3 and 5 inches across much of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Communities including Lake Charles, Leesville, Opelousas, Alexandria, Beaumont and Port Arthur could see localized totals significantly higher. Forecasters indicate a reasonable high-end scenario could produce 8 to 10 inches of rain in isolated locations.
The National Weather Service highlights a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall across portions of the region Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Torrential downpours may produce rainfall rates high enough to overwhelm drainage systems, especially in urban areas and low-lying locations.
Across Louisiana – Texas Gulf Coast communities, flood concerns will increase with each successive round of rain. Areas that receive heavy rainfall early in the week will be particularly vulnerable when the second storm system arrives later this week.
Wednesday may provide a brief reduction in rainfall coverage, but forecasters emphasize that scattered heavy showers remain possible before conditions deteriorate again Thursday and Friday.
Motorists should be prepared for flooded roads, especially during periods of intense rainfall. Residents in flood-prone neighborhoods should closely monitor forecasts and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.
The flood threat is expected to continue through the end of the workweek, with additional Flood Watches and Flash Flood Warnings possible as rainfall accumulates across southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas.
