Image courtesy of Photos.com Mar 12, 2012; 9:47 PM ET
Heavy thunderstorms are currently pummeling Louisiana. These storms are capable of producing damaging winds and flash flooding.
"Warm, moist air is coming up from the Gulf Coast. It's colliding with a frontal boundary and is producing these thunderstorms," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Mike Pigott said.
A funnel cloud was spotted by emergency management in Des Allemands, La. Winds blew a shed about 50 feet from its foundation and down multiple power lines near Lutcher, La.
There have been more than 10 reports of flash flooding. Schools have been flooded, buildings have been damaged, roads have been closed and rescue efforts have been made to save people trapped in multiple locations. The flooding rains have been produced by a slow-moving storm system that has stalled out over Louisiana.
"There are a lot of slow-moving thunderstorms developing at the tail end of a frontal boundary," said Pigott. "Because the frontal boundary isn't moving, and wind flow that's directing these storms isn't moving very fast, we have thunderstorms that are moving over the same area over and over again."
Relief should be on the way overnight.
"The frontal boundary will continue to wash out tonight," said Pigott. "You'll still see thunderstorms, but they should get less severe as the night goes on. By tomorrow, there should just be spotty thunderstorm activity. There will definitely continue to be heavy rain through this evening, though."
Several rivers in Louisiana currently have flood warnings. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for the following parishes: northeastern Acadia, northern Lafayette, northwestern St. Martin and southern St. Landry.
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