Tropical Storm Claudette formed along the Gulf Coast Saturday morning, causing heavy rain and flooding in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The system, which keeps about seven million people on alert in the coastal areas of those three states and Florida and moves north-northeast with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour), according to the National Center of Hurricanes (NHC, in English).
The storm was located inland over southeastern Louisiana, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of New Orleans, according to the latest NHC report.
Experts predict that Claudette will produce 5 to 10-inch rainfall in parts of the central Gulf Coast, with
"life-threatening flash floods"
off the Mississippi and Alabama
coasts
and the far west
of the
Florida
panhandle
in
the afternoon. of Saturday.
It is the
third tropical storm of the
hurricane
season
that began on June 1.
It is expected to weaken to a tropical depression Saturday night, the NHC added.
[How and when to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm]
The system, previously called Tres, has already hit coastal communities with wind and rain starting this Friday, threatening to interfere in the celebrations of Father's Day and the Juneteenth holiday.
Not very encouraging forecasts for this hurricane season
May 31, 202101: 23
The National Hurricane Center has issued a
tropical storm watch for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida,
stretching from eastern Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Okaloosa-Walton County line in the
Florida
panhandle
.
Forecasters warned that the tropical system will bring heavy rain, storm surge and coastal flooding to the central Gulf of Mexico coast starting Friday and throughout the weekend.
This Saturday morning, he was about
45 miles (75 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans,
Louisiana.
Clouds from Tropical Storm Claudette form on Highway 90 Beaches in Pass Christian, Mississippi, Friday, June 18, 2021. Hunter Dawkins / The Gazebo Gazette via AP
The governor of that state
, John Bel Edwards, activated the state of emergency on Thursday night,
an administrative measure that authorizes the use of state resources for response to the storm.
The combination of the storm surge and the tide will cause
normally dry areas near the coast to flood with increased waters moving inland
from the coast, forecasters said.
The water could reach heights of one to three feet (30-91 centimeters).
What areas of the country could be most affected during the 2021 hurricane season?
June 1, 202102: 08
At Tacky Jack's, a popular Alabama coastal restaurant in Orange Beach, "the winds are blowing pretty strong," kitchen manager Greg Paddie said Friday.
"I hope he comes in and goes," he added.
People in Orange Beach were talking about the storm, but without the same concern as Hurricane Sally last year, Paddie said, adding that Tacky Jack's still has sandbags left over from those preparations.
Sally dumped boats ashore and left hundreds of thousands of people without power in Alabama and Florida.
Two people died in the storm: one drowned and another died during cleanup efforts.
Tropical Storm Claudette Threatens Heavy Rain in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida
June 19, 202101: 14
Flood advisories also spread to northern Georgia, including Atlanta.
Up to
six inches (15 centimeters) of rain will be possible in parts of western Georgia
as the storm moves toward the northeast, the National Weather Service said.
There have already been two tropical storms during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which will last until November.
Forecasters expect the season to be intense, but not as strong as the record-breaking 2020 season.