Perilous
Times
Tropical storm warnings for US Gulf coast; rain up to 20
inches predicted
By Janet McConnaughey, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press
NEW ORLEANS - A slow-moving tropical system packing walloping
rains is slogging its way to the Gulf coast, which could be
drenched with up to 20 inches (50 centimetres), leading
Louisiana's governor to declare a state of emergency Thursday
because of the threat of flash flooding.
Tropical storm warnings are out from Mississippi to Texas
including New Orleans. The National Hurricane Center said the
system that is now a depression in the Gulf of Mexico will dump 10
to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimetres) of rain over southern areas of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Sunday and as much as
20 inches (50 centimetres) in some spots. By Friday, it could
become Tropical Storm Lee, the 12th named storm of the season.
Early forecasts were for landfall early Saturday afternoon in
south-central Louisiana, though National Weather Service
meteorologist Frank Revitte said it was too early for a firm time
or location. The depression has sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph)
and was moving toward the northwest at only about 2 mph (3.2 kph)
late Thursday.
"Wow. This could be a very heavy, prolific rain-maker," Revitte
said.
According to a hurricane centre chart, maximum sustained winds
could reach 60 mph by Saturday, lower than hurricane strength of
74 mph (119 kph).
As hurricane season is hitting its peak in the Atlantic, storm
watchers were monitoring three disturbances. Besides the Gulf
depression, Tropical Storm Katia is spinning in open waters. It
weakened from a hurricane earlier in the day though forecasters
say it will again grow stronger.
It was about 830 miles (1,336 kilometres) east of the Leeward
Islands and moving west near 16 mph (26 kph) with maximum
sustained winds Thursday evening near 70 mph (113 kph). It could
become a major hurricane this weekend but forecasters said it's
too early to tell if it will hit the U.S. It is expected to pass
north of the Caribbean.
In yet another system, a slow-moving low pressure system about 360
miles (579 kilometres) north of Bermuda stood a 50 per cent chance
in the next two days of becoming a tropical cyclone, the first
step toward a tropical storm.
They all come on the heels of Hurricane Irene that brought
destruction from North Carolina to New England last week.
In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he was concerned about the
serious threat of flash flooding in his state, leading to his
emergency action. After devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
nothing is taken for granted.
Already, the storm has forced two major petroleum producers to
remove crews from a handful of production platforms. Royal Dutch
Shell and ExxonMobil said they would also cut off a small amount
of production. Both moves affect only a fraction of production.
Louisiana's emergency allows Jindal to activate the National Guard
if necessary and generally makes it easier for parishes and the
state to prepare. It also lets parishes ask the state to repay
money spent to prepare and fight floods, and lets the state track
such expenses, said Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin.
It was still unclear where the system would head next, but it
could bring much-needed relief to drought-plagued Texas.
Small craft warnings were issued from northwest Florida to Texas.