10 p.m. update: Tropical Storm Claudette moves out of MS but more wet weather ahead
Live updates for South Mississippi as Tropical Storm Claudette moves across the Gulf Coast on Saturday:
Find the latest updates from Sunday here.
10 p.m. — Claudette totals
The National Weather Service released Claudette’s maximum totals for rain, storm surge and wind across the Gulf Coast. In Mississippi:
- “2.26 inches of rain 6.2 miles east of Pearl River in Hancock County
- 4.43ft MHHW peak water level at Waveland Yacht Club in Hancock County
- 59 mph gust in Gulfport in Harrison County
- 2 EF-0 tornadoes confirmed in Harrison County.”
7 p.m. — More wet weather ahead
Conditions are improving, and Claudette is now over Alabama moving northeast.
Winds will remain gusty near the Coast and over water, and spotty showers and thunderstorms are still possible.
More normal summer weather should return Sunday, the National Weather Service in New Orleans said Saturday evening. Temperatures are expected to return to highs in the 90s and lows in the 70s.
But after about 12 hours of drier weather, rain is forecast to return Sunday to the Mississippi Coast.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop throughout the day, the weather service said.
“These showers and storms will have the potential to produce heavy rainfall especially along and south of the I-10 corridor on Sunday,” the weather service forecast discussion said.
Wet weather also is expected through most of next week. A cool front is expected Monday night with severe weather possible through Tuesday.
River flood warnings are in place in Harrison, Hancock and Pearl River counties.
4:30 p.m. — Biloxi gets drenched
Biloxi Emergency Manager Nick Geiser reports 14.99 inches of rain fell in Biloxi in the past 24 hours from Tropical Storm Claudette.
The forecast had called for up to 10 inches through Sunday.
Sand removal crews continue to work in the westbound lanes of U.S. 90, west of the Coast Coliseum. A clogged storm drain has left standing water in the left lanes at Broadwater.
4 p.m. — Possible tornado on the Coast
A team from the National Weather Service is coming to South Mississippi to investigate a possible tornado associated with Tropical Storm Claudette.
NWS in New Orleans posted on Facebook Saturday afternoon the team would survey possible tornado damage in Harrison County.
No updates have posted since then.
The wind damage is in the west part of the county, in the Pass Christian and Long Beach areas.
At the 4 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Claudette’s center is located over southwestern Alabama and the system has weakened to a tropical depression. It is expected to produce heavy rain and flash flooding across the Florida Panhandle, eastern Alabama and Georgia through Saturday night and into the Carolinas on Sunday.
The heavy rain from Claudette is leading to more flooding on the rivers than expected, with crest coming Sunday morning. In Harrison County:
- Biloxi River is forecast to crest at 18 feet, 6 feet above flood stage.
- Wolf River is forecast to crest at 14 feet, 6 feet above flood stage
- Tchoutacabouffa River is forecast to crest at 15.5 feet, 7.5 feet above flood stage
Harrison County reports 43 roads are still closed because of the storm.
Agencies in Harrison County are beginning to collect damage assessment information today, using the Crisis Track app or online at https://www.crisistrack.com, according to Rob Dambrino, deputy director of emergency management.
1 p.m. — Coast cleanup
South Mississippi is no longer under a tropical storm warning as Claudette moves away from the Coast.
The 1 p.m. report from the National Hurricane Center shows the storm warning now is in effect from the Mississippi and Alabama state line east to the Okaloosa/Walton County line. A tropical storm watch is up for parts of the North Carolina Coast.
The center of Claudette at 1 p.m. was inland about 80 miles north-northwest of Mobile, and the system is moving north-northeast near 14 mph. It is expected to reach the Atlantic Coast Sunday night or early Monday and become a tropical storm again.
Spotty rain is mixed with patches of blue skies across the three Coast counties as the road flooding eases but the rivers continue to rise. The chance of tornadoes has moved east with the storm.
Buoy observations offshore of Mississippi to the western Florida Panhandle indicate seas as high as 13 feet are still occurring.
National Weather Service in New Orleans reports 8 to 10 inches of rain fell, mostly overnight, across across portions of the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Coast with pockets of more than 10 inches near Slidell.
11:15 a.m. — Sandy Saturday
Crews are working overtime in South Mississippi Saturday clearing sand off the roads.
Tropical Storm Claudette blew and washed tons of sand on South Beach Boulevard in Waveland.
Biloxi sent out a notice Saturday morning that crews from Mississippi Department of Transportation are expected to be removing sand from U.S. 90 through the day. Intermittent land closures could back up traffic along the beach.
Coast Transit Authority will not operate Beachcomber bus service along 90 Saturday. Normal service will resume Monday.
Views from the Biloxi Lighthouse webcam show traffic is light along that part of the beach.
10:30 a.m. — Drying out for Father’s Day
A tropical storm warning is still in place for South Mississippi, which means sustained winds of at least 39 mph. The warning has been canceled for Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans and areas west in Louisiana.
As patches of blue sky are seen over South Mississippi, residents are heading out to clear any debris left by the storm and making plans for Father’s Day on Sunday.
Many of Saturday’s activities were canceled, but the Mississippi Aquarium will reopen at noon Saturday and be open until 5 p.m. for those eager to get out.
10 a.m. — Claudette is over South MS
The 10 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center puts Claudette over South Mississippi, with the heavy rains pushing north and east over Alabama and the Florida Panhandle Saturday afternoon.
The system is expected to produce heavy rainfall and considerable flash, urban and small stream flooding. Tropical storm conditions are still occurring along portions of the Gulf Coast from the Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Okaloosa/Walton County line, Florida, the report said.
South Mississippi is drying out and the water that closed roads is beginning to recede. Minimal storm damage was reported across the Coast from the first tropical system of the 2021 Hurricane Season.
8:30 a.m. — Water rescues
It was a busy night for emergency crews on the Coast as Tropical Claudette flooded streets and some homes.
Brian Adam, emergency management director in Hancock County, describes conditions there Saturday as “pretty rough.”
He reports, “We have a lot of flooded streets,” and did some rescues overnight. Most of those rescues were people driving through flooded areas, he aid, but they also had to rescue a few people from flooded homes.
With all the rain, Adam said they continue to watch the rivers for flooding.
In Jackson County, about 3,000 people lost power overnight, said Earl Etheridge, county emergency director.
Singing River Electric still has about 200 customers without power. Mississippi Power has 32 customer outages in South Mississippi.
Several roads still are flooded in Jackson County, Etheridge said, but he expects the water to drain off now that the heavy rain is over.
Harrison County Fire Rescue, along with Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, rescued a driver whose car flipped overnight on East Wortham Road, said Fire Chief Pat Sullivan.
The car landed upside down, just feet from a creek, Sullivan said. The driver had minor injuries.
“This was one of numerous accidents that first responders went to as heavy rain and gusty winds pushed on shore from the tropical system that passed through the area Friday and into Saturday morning,” he said.
8 a.m. — Flooding and closed roads
Seven to 10 inches of rain fell from Tropical Storm Claudette, with an additional half to 2 inches of rain possible Saturday, reports Matt Stratton, Harrison County director of emergency management.
Many roads are closed throughout South Mississippi and the rivers continue to rise.
Biloxi River measured 12.8 ft at 6:45 a.m. It is forecast to crest at 16 feet on Sunday morning, 4 feet above flood stage
Wolf River measured 7.6 feet at 6:45 a.m, and is forecast to crest at 10 feet on Sunday morning, 2 feet over flood stage
Tchoutacabouffa River measured 7.5 ft at 6:30 a.m. It is forecast to crest at 13.5 feet on Sunday morning/ flood stage is 5.5 feet over flood stage.
U.S. 90 is flooded near Courthouse Road in Gulfport, near market Street and Church Avenue in Pass Christian and in downtown Biloxi from Caillavet to Main Street.
7:15 a.m. — Storm has a name
Tropical Storm Claudette became a named storm as the system came ashore in Louisiana overnight and brought heavy rain and flash flooding to South Mississippi.
The sound of weather alerts from cell phones notified residents of tornado and flash flood warnings throughout the night. The flash flood warnings are in effect until 7:30 a.m. and a tornado watch is in effect until 11 a.m. as the storm moves north and east.
Radar shows the heavy rain that brought 1.5 inches to 2 inches an hour of rain cleared South Mississippi by 6 a.m. and was over Mobile and Alabama.
7 a.m. report from Hurricane Center
“Claudette is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by tonight,” according to the National Hurricane Center, ”and become a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday. The system is forecast to re-develop over the western Atlantic Ocean on Monday.”
The 7 a.m. report from the National Hurricane Center put the center of the storm about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans or about 110 miles west-southwest of Gulfport.
Claudette is moving north-northeast at 12 mph and tropical force winds are at 30 to 40 mph with gusts over 50 mph as the storm moves across South Mississippi in the morning hours.
A few tornadoes can be expected as the storm passes through the area, the NHC said.
Saturday’s weather
Tropical storm conditions, with possible showers and thunderstorms, are possible, mainly before 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in New Orleans
“Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain, with an additional 1 to 2 inches possible,
Minor coastal flooding is expected to continue.
Many roads are closed in Harrison County and across the Coast, including portions of U.S. 90 in Biloxi at Rodenburg, between Caillavet Street and Main Street in Downtown Biloxi and between Pine and Kuhn Street in East Biloxi.
In Harrison County, river flood warnings are in effect for the Biloxi River, Tchoutacabouffa River, and Wolf River and the water continues to rise.
The Sun Herald will update this article through the day.
This story was originally published June 19, 2021 at 7:27 AM.
