Life-Threatening Flooding and Tornado Risk Strike Central Gulf Coast

Overview

• Life‑threatening and locally catastrophic flash flooding is ongoing in parts of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi, with MRMS and mesonet reports showing 9–11+ inches of rain and flash flood emergencies in effect on Friday.
• Forecasters say record high precipitable water—measured up to about 2.6 inches—plus strong low‑level inflow are producing training bands and bursts of 3–5 inches per hour that can drop 5–10+ inches where storms stall.
• The Storm Prediction Center maintains Tornado Watch 351 and warns that the tornado and damaging‑wind threat will shift east and inland this afternoon and evening as convective bands progress.
• Separate slow‑moving thunderstorm episodes across the southern Plains, Texas Panhandle and parts of the Upper Midwest are causing localized heavy rain, flash‑flood concerns and scattered severe storms with large hail or damaging gusts.
• WPC, SPC, local NWS offices and River Forecast Centers are coordinating warnings and mesoscale discussions but stress short‑term placement uncertainty, so residents should follow local watches, flash‑flood warnings and safety guidance as renewed rounds of heavy rain are expected into tonight and Saturday.