Tropical storm warning issued for Northern Gulf Coast as Cristobal creeps toward U.S.
Rain bands from Tropical Storm Cristobal reached the northern Gulf Coast on Saturday morning as the storm continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. Tropical storm-force winds could arrive as early as Saturday night.
As of Saturday morning, Cristobal was moving north at 12 mph with 50-mph maximum sustained winds, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The center of the storm is expected to make landfall just west of New Orleans, but forecasters warn the worst winds and rain will extend far to the east into the Florida Panhandle.
Residents from southeast Louisiana to the Florida Big Bend should brace for deadly storm surge and flooding this weekend as the slow moving-storm is sure to bring heavy rains and high winds to the region, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory impacts “immediate coastal areas” stretching from the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs.
Forecasters also issued a storm surge warning for portions of coastal Mississippi including Biloxi, Gulfport and Pass Christian. The southeast Louisiana coastline could also see minor to moderate flooding, forecasters say.
“Heavy rainfall will spread onto portions of the Gulf Coast, from East Texas to Florida, this weekend into early next week, with areas of flash flooding and rapid rises on smaller streams and rivers possible,” according to the weather service.
Forecasters say the potential for storm surge flooding could reach more than 3 feet above ground with some areas expecting “total rainfall in excess of 10 inches” this weekend. Local areas could see larger amounts before the storm moves out of the area early next week.
The advisory also includes Intracoastal City, Louisiana, the metro-New Orleans area and the Florida Panhandle.
Strong winds are expected to arrive “well in advance of and extend well east of Cristobal’s center,” the National Hurricane Center said. The Gulf Coast could see gusts as soon as 8 p.m. Saturday with the storm’s center not expected to make landfall in Louisiana until around 1 a.m. Monday, McClatchy News reported, citing forecasts.
Potential impacts include damage to porches, sheds and unanchored mobile homes with the risk of fences and road signs being blown over. Additionally, storm debris from downed trees and branches could make some roads impassable, according to forecasts.
In a Friday news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell urged residents to stay weather aware and make the necessary preparations as the storm moves in.
“We hope it moves fast,” she told reporters, according to local station WWL-TV. “We do not want it to rest over the city of New Orleans for hours and hours.”
The storm has spent the last several days dumping torrential rains over southern Mexico and portions of Central America.
The storm was previously downgraded to a depression but has since strengthened back to a tropical storm.
A flood watch remains in effect for much of the Gulf Coast through 7 a.m. June 9, according to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 3:09 PM.