A deadly storm system that tore through parts of the Midwest and northern Mississippi overnight has already produced at least 23 tornadoes, as National Weather Service forecasters warn southeast Louisiana to prepare for dangerous severe weather, including possible “violent” tornadoes and hurricane-force winds.
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette are all under wind advisories Saturday, and other watches and warnings could follow. Parts of north Louisiana have already felt the effects of the system, with hail, severe winds, power outages and a possible tornado reported in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area.
By Saturday morning, nearly two dozen tornadoes had been recorded across Missouri, Mississippi, Illinois and Arkansas, according to The Weather Channel. At least three deaths were reported in Missouri, according to CNN.
Here’s what you need to know about risks and timing in your city.
When will the weather get bad in southeast Louisiana?
New Orleans, Slidell and Baton Rouge could start feeling the effects by late morning, with the most severe threat occurring Saturday afternoon into the early evening. The time frames include:
Lafayette: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Baton Rouge and Houma: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Orleans, the northshore: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mississippi Coast: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Which area is at most risk for tornadoes?
New Orleans, Slidell and Baton Rouge are under an moderate risk of severe weather (4 out of 5), according to the NWS. Lafayette faces an enhanced risk (3 out of 5).
Areas in the enhanced or rare high risk cones, which include New Orleans and Baton Rouge metros, are all at risk for tornadoes on Saturday, said NWS Storm Prediction Center forecaster Evan Bentley.
“The worst tornado of the day can really be anywhere in the whole risk area,” he said. “You need to make sure you’re paying attention to the weather.”
National Weather Service
- Tornadoes, some of them being long-track storms that could last for miles
- High wind gusts of up to 80 mph
- Hail greater than 2 inches in diameter
- Severe thunderstorms