Storm Lee could unleash torrential rains and floods in Gulf coast states

Mississippi and Louisiana declare state of emergency, and New Orleans put on alert as tropical storm gathers strength Mississippi declared a state of emergency in seven counties on Friday as it prepares for tropical storm Lee. The storm has formed in the waters off Louisiana and is expected to unleash torrential rains along the Gulf coast over the Labor Day weekend. Some areas could receive up to 20 inches of rainfall. Louisiana has also declared a state of emergency, expecting flash flooding. In New Orleans, mayor Mitch Landrieu has taken similar measures for the city. The US national weather service has warned of “torrential tropical rains” for several days. The US army corps of engineers in New Orleans is monitoring developments but does not plan on closing any flood control structures yet, a spokesman said. Tropical storm warnings are in effect from Mississippi to Texas, including New Orleans, and flash flood warnings have been extended along the Alabama coast into the Florida Panhandle. The storm has halved the normal oil production from the Gulf of Mexico. The federal energy agency said it has evacuated 169 of the 617 manned production platforms and 16 of the 62 drilling rigs. The storm is also tantalisingly close to Texas but not close enough to alleviate the state’s worst drought since the 1950s. Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Storm watchers were also monitoring hurricane Katia, spinning in open waters 705 miles (1,134kms) east of the Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest at 14mph. It regained hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 75mph on Friday. The storm is expected to grow in strength but it is too early to say it will hit the US. There was also a slow-moving low pressure system about 450 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, that could turn into a tropical cyclone in the next two days. The new storm warnings come days after the US east coast was hit by hurricane Irene, which caused major damage from North Carolina to New England. Natural disasters and extreme weather United States Louisiana Mississippi Hurricane Irene guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 2, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.