Heavy rains in Southeast Louisiana prompted MASSIVE flooding over the weekend. Early figures estimate 40,000 homes have sustained some type of damage, while 30 parishes have been declared disaster areas and at least 30,000 water rescues have been made. Sadly, at least eleven deaths are being attributed to the flooding as well. Over 20 inches of rain has fallen in and around Baton Rouge in the past week, and unfortunately more is on the way.
Meanwhile in the Atlantic… TD 6 formed yesterday evening and the National Hurricane Center is predicting it will become Tropical Storm Fiona sometime today. Steering currents will move the system northwesterly, eliminating U.S. landfall threat. There is a potential threat for Bermuda but if the European forecast models are correct, the system may dissipate altogether by the weekend.
We are hitting the peak of hurricane season, and right on cue there are a number of waves set to emerge off the coast of Africa in the near term. In fact, as of this morning two of the more reliable model forecasts (GFS and European) anticipate a tropical wave coming off of Africa on Saturday that might develop by early next week. Historically speaking, the five most intense hurricanes have occurred between August 17- September 2; including Andrew on August 24th and Katrina on August 29th. All of the ten costliest hurricanes occurred between August and October.
No doubt we will be watching the Atlantic in anxious suspense for the next few weeks!
