Tropical Storm Lee lurches ashore in Louisiana

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MARY FOSTER

JEAN LAFITTE, La. (AP) - The center of Tropical Storm Lee stretched across the central Gulf Coast early Sunday, dumping torrential rains that threatened flooding in low-lying communities in a foreshadowing of what cities further inland could face in coming days.

Lee's center crawled ashore in Louisiana before dawn after the vast, soggy storm system spent hours during the weekend hovering in the northernmost Gulf of Mexico. The storm's slow crawl to the north gave more time for its drenching rain bands to pelt a wide swath of vulnerable coastline, raising the flood threat.

By Sunday, at least 6 to 10 inches of rain had fallen in some spots along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, and the National Weather Service warned there was a threat of extensive flooding and flash floods because of the storm's slow, meandering jog inland.

The drenching rain bands were expected to head northward into the Tennessee Valley later in the week as forecasters warned that 10 to 15 inches of rain were possible along the central Gulf Coast and up to 20 inches in isolated spots.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110904/D9PHN5200.html

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Beachgoers run for shelter as the rain starts pouring down Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 in Dauphin Island, Ala. As Tropical Storm Lee continues advancing toward the Louisiana coast, the storm dumps sporadic heavy rain along the coasts. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

[bluedigger]

1. Strong pre-dawn storms the last two days, then bands of rain.

I'm in the Bywater in New Orleans. I woke up to thunder and lightning the last two mornings (and my dog trying to become one with me, lol). During the day yesterday it was just periodic showers. The sun was even out for a while. It looks like today will be more of the same. A few branches down, but little wind damage overall. Lights flickered once. The big problem here is ponding of water, but mostly the pumps have kept up, thanks to the intermittent rain.

Out of the city, the problem is storm surge. Both the southern parishes like Plaquemines and the areas around Lake Pontchartrain have a lot of localized flooding and roads over topped.

I hear the storm has picked up speed and is moving 50% faster, from 2 to 3 mph...

[Mojorabbit]

2. What a great photo!

I am hoping for a nice rain shower from one of the bands but it doesn't seem to stretch quite to central FL.

[Baclava]

3. Rain, drizzle, rain - I kinda like it - and my crispy grass does, for sure.

Northern gulf coast, rain, drizzle, a few heavier rain bands coming through every now and then... a cool fall-like 75 degrees.

...stay outta the water and off the beaches or you'll get sand blown in your hair!

sorry - you weather disaster porn junkies will have to find another fix elsewhere

[uppityperson]

4. Link to nola.com's hurricane page.

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/

TS Lee photos from Sat http://photos.nola.com/4500/gallery/tropical_storm_lee_saturday_september_3/index.html

[Baclava]

5. 'Lee' was never a hurricane

just sayin'

[uppityperson]

6. True, edited to TS.

[Baclava]

8. new predicted precip map

barely a raindrop in TX

[OnlinePoker]

9. All of that rain should help with some of the drought in the east.

They really needed it in Texas.

[DallasNE]

7. So How Much Oil From The BP Disaster

Did the storm surge dump in the marshlands? I'm sure the churning waters stirred up a toxic mess. I'm just not sure how much evaporation diluted the potential problems from a storm such as this.