Two states of America declared a state of emergency at once due to extreme weather

Tropical storm warnings are in force on the Gulf Coast. They are relevant from Intracoastal City (Louisiana) to the Alabama-Florida border due to the shift of the tropical cyclone towards the United States. Writes about it CNN.

Photo: Shutterstock

Although landfall is expected on Saturday, June 19, the effects of the storm will show long before that.

Louisiana was hit by four hurricanes in 2020 and extensive flooding from severe storms this spring.

Flood warnings are already in effect along the Louisiana coast until Saturday, and flash flood warnings in more remote areas, Mississippi and Florida, will continue until Sunday, June 20.

Additional flood warnings are likely to be issued by the National Weather Service after the weekend.

Forecast

The third potential tropical storm is located in the Gulf of Mexico north of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) uses the designation Tropical Cyclone Potential when a tropical cyclone is expected to reach the coast within 48 hours, even though it does not currently have strong tropical storm winds.

Screenshot: NHC

The storm will strengthen as it moves north toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Saturday. If it develops into a tropical storm, as models predict, with winds ranging from 39 (62 km) to 73 miles (117 km) per hour, it will be named Claudette.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide the necessary thermal energy to fuel the accelerated development of storms as they travel over open waters.

It is too early to say how much the storm will intensify at this time, but it is unlikely that it will develop into a hurricane.

If Tropical Storm Claudette forms, it will be the third named storm in the 2021 tropical season and the first to hit the United States.

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The first storm of the season formed on May 19 near Bermuda, then it moved to the northeast of the island and turned into tropical storm Ana. Tropical Storm Bill formed off the coast of North Carolina earlier this week, but with little impact on the United States, it went to sea and dissipated.

Rains on the Gulf Coast

Heavy rainfall is expected east of where the center of the storm will land. Current models show the storm is advancing on land near the Texas-Louisiana border.

“The area of ​​greatest threat for heavy rain and severe weather will be shifted to the right of any center of circulation,” the National Weather Service (NWS) in New Orleans said.

Screenshot: NHC

Total rainfall on the central Gulf Coast, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, can exceed one foot in certain areas. The model currently shows the heaviest rainfall on the Mississippi coast and around New Orleans.

“With May rainfall well above average, soil moisture levels remain high. Consequently, precipitation may cause flooding throughout our area, especially in southern parishes,” warns the NWS in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

There is also a moderate risk of excessive rainfall for the southeast coast of Louisiana, the Mississippi and Alabama coasts on Saturday, June 19. There is a small risk of spreading further to the north.

The total amount of rain will depend on how quickly the storm leaves the region.

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Most of the rain is predicted to fall on Alabama and northern Georgia before diminishing significantly at the Carolina border.

Threats from high winds are still uncertain, but forecasts show that the wind will intensify up to 50 miles (80 km) per hour before reaching the US coast. On Saturday, June 19, several short tornadoes are possible.

State of emergency in Louisiana

Louisiana Governor John Edwards declared a state of emergency on June 18 ahead of heavy rain and other possible consequences of an approaching tropical storm. NBC News.

The National Weather Service said the New Orleans area could experience 8 inches (20 cm) of rain and wind speeds reaching 30 miles (48 km) per hour with stronger gusts. But all of southern Louisiana is expected to suffer.

“Everyone needs to be ready,” he said. A state of emergency authorizes the use of state resources to respond to hurricane damage.

Screenshot: NHC

Two hurricanes hit southwest Louisiana within weeks of each other - first Category 4 Laura in August and then Category 2 Delta about six weeks later.

Then a heavy winter storm hit in February, and last month more than 30cm of rain fell in some areas, flooding hundreds of homes and other structures.

“The next hurricane season is here. Not even a month later and we're already talking about a storm somewhere south of Lake Charles,” Edwards said.

Lake Charles has been hit hard by last year's hurricanes and flooding this year.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has called on residents to be vigilant and said it has sent more than 90 sandbags to the coast. The Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama warned of very heavy rain, coastal flooding and winds.

Hurricane season last year was the most intense on record, with 30 hurricanes, 11 of which hit the continental United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that this year's season will be more active than usual, but unlikely to be at last year's historical levels.

Extreme heat in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on June 18 as a heat wave looms over the state. Fox News.

Parts of California and several regions in other western states recorded record daily highs this week as temperatures climbed to 118 degrees (47,7 Celsius).

The move will ease restrictions on standby generators, auxiliary engines and other sources of carbon-based electricity.

Newsom and the state's utility leaders faced widespread criticism during last summer's heat wave, when more than 200 Californians suffered two days of power outages, the first time residents had to deal with such problems in nearly 000 years.

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Fuel consumption and air quality restrictions for utilities are also lifted during an emergency.

“The order suspends certain requirements to allow the use of backup generation and free up additional energy capacity to help reduce electricity demand on the state's grid,” the governor said in a statement.

Officials in this regard urge Californians to try to reduce energy consumption in the evenings, at least until Friday, June 18.

Most of the decree expires shortly before midnight Saturday, June 19.

Earlier in the day, California's main grid operator issued a statewide Flex Alert asking residents to do whatever it takes to conserve electricity, such as setting thermostats above 78 degrees and avoiding washing machines, dishwashers and other high-powered household appliances.

The National Weather Service warned of "dangerously high, potentially life-threatening temperatures" until Saturday, June 19, in the San Joaquin Valley.

Much of the San Francisco Bay Area is reported to be hitting a heat wave on Friday, June 18, and several counties have announced the opening of refrigeration centers.

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