Rain is expected in the Charlotte metro area Thursday as part of a system influenced by Tropical Storm Cindy, according to the National Weather Service.
A 10-year-old boy died Wednesday in Fort Morgan, Alabama, when he was struck by a log that was being carried by a wave, the Baldwin County sheriff's office said.
Cindy, which made landfall on the Louisiana coast, has since been downgraded to a Tropical Depression. The service also warned that the storm could produce a few tornadoes on Thursday in portions of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The storm system is predicted to take a turn east later today hitting the mid-Atlantic coast with heavy rain by the weekend.
Rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are expected to begin and expand across parts of the Tennessee and OH valleys. "You're driving and come across a low place in the road, and it is flooded". Up to 10 inches of rain fell in spots along the Gulf Coast from southern Louisiana to the Florida panhandle Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report.
"It's still far out to say how much we'll get because some models are showing (Cindy) cooling off", said meteorologist Kathleen Carroll.
Humidity crept in Thursday ahead of the rainfall.
Tropical Storm Cindy expected to make landfall Wednesday
The National Weather Service says that the highest rainfall totals will be seen in the Delta region, from El Dorado to Monticello. Those storms will then spread across the southern half of the state with the southeast region predicted to get the most rain.
"Most of us will receive 2-3" of rain Friday night, but some locations may see as little as an inch while others may see as much as 4" of rain.
On Wednesday morning, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state in response to flash flooding and severe weather from the storm.
With the storm now over land, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it's expected to weaken over the next two days.
The storm made landfall in southwestern Louisiana before dawn Thursday, bringing rain and the threat of flash flooding and tornadoes.
Cindy is not the worst storm to hit the US's Gulf Coast, but is the first this year strong enough to threaten major cities, such as Houston.
Cindy is forecast to drop between 3-6 inches (7.5-15 centimeters) of rain, "with isolated maximum amounts up to 12 inches (30 centimeters)" over parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas through Friday.
Gusty winds are also possible with this storm, and the possibility of a weak, short-lived tornado can not be completely ruled out.
Comments