Metro New Orleans, southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi are under a flash flood watch through at least 3 p.m. Monday as we brace for 2 to 5 inches of rain.
The rain is being produced by a strong low pressure system that will draw extensive moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters advise that thunderstorms will produce total accumulations of between 2 and 5 inches by Monday afternoon. Some locally higher amounts may be possible from storms that pass over the same locations repeatedly.
If rain rates exceed 2 inches per hour, the rapid ponding of water may result in urban areas in or areas that drain slowly. Some minor river flooding may also occur.
A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. A flash flood warning means that those conditions have occurred.