Louisiana weather: One dead as heavy rains move through state

Severe weather that swept across south Louisiana Wednesday and Thursday caused flooding, potential tornadoes and at least one death.

Flash floods started Wednesday night and continued Thursday. Warnings were in places through Friday.

In Baton Rouge, there was one death associated with the severe weather, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said at a press conference Thursday morning. The man, who has not yet been identified, was rescued from a flooded car, said Baton Rouge Fire Chief Ed Smith. The man died on the way to the hospital.

Most of the rain in Baton Rouge came during rush-hour traffic and more than three inches fell in about an hour, Broome said.

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The Baton Rouge and Livingston Parish areas received between four and six inches of rain within the last two days, said National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Tim Destri.

Damage to buildings and cars were reported in the NWS preliminary storm report. It also included three unconfirmed tornados in St. James, Assumption and Ascension parishes.

Between Lake Charles and Lafayette Parishes, the largest threat has been heavy rains, which primarily fell overnight, said NWS Lake Charles Meteorologist Stephen Carboni. The area mostly saw about two to four inches of rain with some areas receiving nine to 12 inches of rain.

Several tornado warnings also were issued in the early morning hours Thursday. Carboni said NWS is working to confirm whether damage in Acadiana was tornado related.

Lafayette received more than six inches of rain. It caused flooding in some areas, including downtown. The Lafayette Fire Department had to rescue a woman from her SUV when it stalled out after she tried to pass through standing water on Jefferson Street beneath the overpass.

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Firefighters broke the rear glass on the SUV and removed her as water began to fill the car up, LFD spokesman Alton Trahan said. She was taken to higher ground. 

Motorists should avoid driving through flooded areas, Trahan said.

The severe thunderstorms and rain are in part being caused by a disturbance from the Gulf of Mexico, which had the potential to form a tropical depression but didn't. 

"There were some other factors at play," Carboni said, "but that had a big role." 

Heavy rains are expected to continue for the next several hours, but rain chances will drop Thursday evening. An additional one to two inches of rain may fall in the area, according to the NWS. There is a marginal chance for severe thunderstorms Friday, but things should start to dry out by the weekend, Carboni said. 

NWS also is watching river levels, Destri said. The recent dry spell allowed the levels to drop back down so there is capacity, but it’s still a possibility, he said.

A flood warning has been issued for The Vermilion River at Lafayette, Surrey Street Gage, until 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.

According to The National Weather Service, the river is expected to rise above the flood stage to 11.5 feet. The flood stage is 10 feet. 

Minor flooding in areas surrounding the Vermilion River is expected.

Reporting damage

The St. Landry Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is asking anyone in the area who has flood damage at their home to call Louisiana 211 at 337-232-HELP. 

Anyone in the Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Parks, Cecilia or St. Martinville areas of upper St. Martin Parish who has flood damage at their home should report it to the St. Martin Parish Office Of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 337-394-2808.