Heavy rains in western Louisiana flooded streets, left cars stranded and heightened worries in a region hammered by two hurricanes last year and a deep freeze this winter.
The National Weather Service said between five and 12 inches (12-30 centimeters) of rain had already fallen in parts of Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes in western Louisiana, according to The Advocate. The American Press reported that some isolated areas could see as much as 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain.
Parts of southeastern Texas and western Louisiana were under flash flood warnings on Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Lake Charles office. Several inches (centimeters) of rain also feel on parts of Arkansas.
The sheriff’s office for Calcasieu parish was asking residents to stay off the roads and said they had already deployed high water vehicles and boats to assist residents, KPLC reported.
Photos on local media showed water up to the doorsteps in one subdivision of Lake Charles while vehicles sought to navigate flooded streets in another part of town.
The rainy weather is expected to continue in southern Louisiana through the middle of the week.
Western Louisiana is still recovering from back-to-back hurricanes Laura and then Delta last year. And then, in February, frigid temperatures froze pipes and led to problems getting drinking water to area residents.
The National Weather Service’s Little Rock office said on their Twitter feed, that parts of central Arkansas also had seen two to more than four inches (5-10 centimeters) of rain as of Monday morning. More rainfall is expected this week, the agency said.
