After an unpredictable week that saw Tropical Storm Lee lose strength and dramatically stall out, only to change direction and head for Louisiana, it began to bring the anticipated rain to the Gulf Coast. On Saturday, the storm poured an estimated 10 to 15 inches of rain onto southern Louisiana, swiftly causing street floods in some parts of New Orleans, although levees and pumps held.
Additional communities across the South were under storm warnings, including parts of Alabama, Texas and Florida. Tornado warnings related to Lee were issued to southern Mississippi and Louisiana through Saturday. Flood warnings and watches covered much of the Eastern U.S. on Sunday.
Here is some of the information regarding Tropical Storm Lee's impact so far.
* As of early Sunday morning, the center of the storm was located over central Louisiana and had caused water levels along the coast to rise some 3 to 5 feet.
* Lee was expected to move along the Gulf Coast, dropping 10 to 15 inches of rain as it goes, and as many as 20 inches in some spots, before heading up through the Northeast. Flooding is anticipated along its path as it is predicted to continue to drop some 6 to10 inches of rain everywhere it travels, with as much as 15 inches in sporadic pockets.
* The good news is that as it travels from the Gulf to the Northeast it is expected to gradually lose strength. By Monday, although rain is predicted to remain heavy, wind speed will have decreased.
* Lee is the 12th storm of the Atlantic's hurricane season to be large enough to earn a name. Katia is still being monitored off the coast of the U.S.
* Some 38,000 people lost power in Louisiana on Saturday, although energy companies worked quickly to try and restore it, eventually reducing that number down to approximately 12,000.
* Flood watches were expanded on Sunday to include northern Georgia up through the Appalachians.
* The threat of flood is thought to be higher, with potentially more severe consequences, up in the Appalachian region. Already rain-soaked, experts say that the water from Lee simply has nowhere left to go but into the already-swollen creeks and rivers.
* Some 6,000 New Orleans residents were evacuated on Saturday, mostly from low-lying parishes. Other low-lying towns, such as Jean Lafitte, were also evacuated.
* Those not in immediate danger from the effects of Lee are still lamenting the financial losses they've incurred from having the storm hit on a holiday weekend. Many vacation spots and businesses have seen potential tourists choose to simply stay home during the Labor Day weekend, in response to rain and higher wind reports on beaches and in coastal cities.
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