New Orleans better get prepared

[NewOrleansMeteorologist]

Okay, the likelihood of that trough picking up this storm has decreased as this storm has continued its NNW track. This storm, though weak, has been much further west for every advisory. A strong TS or weak hurricane isn't bad in other areas, but consider the following:

1. New Orleans is below sea level
2. The city is littered with FEMA trailers and trash
3. The main Orleans Parish drainage canals will likely be closed if this approaches, meaning that the amount of rain water that can be pumped out is greatly diminished.
4. June storms have a tendency to meander around the Gulf and dump great amounts of rain where they land.

Not time to panic, but time to get ready and prepare for a possible flood situation.

[mvtrucking]

Lets hope that doesn't happen.

[Opal storm]

Even if it does make landfall in N.O,the heavy rain and wind will still be WELL east of there.

[28_Storms]

This doesn't look very likely.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Truthfully if it stays or moves west the dry air/increasing shear will kill it. Its only chance for it is if it moves northeastward to florida with the shear/moisture. Every second it spends moving slowly or to the west its killing its self. Also I'm not even going to gety into what I think about new orleans under sea level. But I don't think you have to worrie about this storm. Something tells me this will be normal this hurricane season with a stronger subtropical/tutt low this year.

[skysummit]

Truthfully? This would be nothing to worry about, unless DRASTIC changes occur....and I mean DRASTIC.

[NewOrleansMeteorologist]

Except that a three inch rainfall event with reduced pumping capacity will flood parts of the city. Not Katrina flood, but could do some damage to the work that's been done.

[shaggy]

Not to get back onto this topic but if a measly TS poses this much threat to NO then why rebuild it?This system is as about as weak and un-organized as they come if it hits NO it shouldn't be a problem!Most of the weather is displaced to the east of the low and theres no risk of a storm surge NO will be fine!

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Not to get back onto this topic but if a measly TS poses this much threat to NO then why rebuild it?This system is as about as weak and un-organized as they come if it hits NO it shouldn't be a problem!Most of the weather is displaced to the east of the low and theres no risk of a storm surge NO will be fine!

I agree with you...It should not do anything but the truth is its like liven under the hover damn while a 9.0 earth quake is hitting.

[28_Storms]

After Katrina and Rita New Orleans is very vulnerable to even a tropical storm so I understand anything in the gulf is going to be cause for concern. This system however doesn't look like much of a threat.

[28_Storms]

A strong TS or weak hurricane isn't bad in other areas

I have to disagree with this statement 100%! Katrina was a weak 1 when it hit S. Florida last year and caused severe flooding in some spots with 16 inches of rain. In 2001 Allison was retired as a tropical storm.

[cognosco]

Not to get back onto this topic but if a measly TS poses this much threat to NO then why rebuild it?This system is as about as weak and un-organized as they come if it hits NO it shouldn't be a problem!Most of the weather is displaced to the east of the low and theres no risk of a storm surge NO will be fine!

I agree with you...It should not do anything but the truth is its like liven under the hover damn while a 9.0 earth quake is hitting.

I think it is substantially less risky than that.

[NewOrleansMeteorologist]

Once the levee system is brought to the strength needed and pumping capacity is restored, a TS won't be a problem. But as of now, they have put gates on the main drainage canals in Orleans Parish to prevent the catastrophic flooding that was a result of the federal US Army Corps of Engineers admitted design and construction flaws. Those gates reduce drainage capabilities greatly (especially for Old Metairie and Old Jefferson). Also, the gate on the London Ave. Canal is not ready, so the weakened levees along that canal would experience another storm surge (3-4 feet from a TS), which in their current state, could lead to partial collapse.

[Stormtrack]

Except that a three inch rainfall event with reduced pumping capacity will flood parts of the city. Not Katrina flood, but could do some damage to the work that's been done.

As extreme as the drought is in NO, I would think that the 1st 3 inches would just soak in with no flooding.

[NewOrleansMeteorologist]

Thank broken underground water pipes for keeping our city watered. 85,000,000 gallons a day was the last estimate.

[Recurve]

I'm sure NOLA residents realize the general threat, but there's nothing special from this storm, and the title seems a bit alarmist at the start of a season that many dread.

There are good tips in the preparation forum for general readiness. Everyone in the southeast who has two brain cells to rub together gets the idea now that having water and food and/or getting the heck out is important. I wonder if the message hasn't become clear all the way up the east coast too.

[lido]

A 3 inch rain event has always flooded parts of the city. I don't think it's truly an out of the ordinary situation, and we can really use the rain!

[sunny]

Ah, seems we have a new "panic king" on board.

Looking at this system, poor Florida is gonna get most of the rain.

[HURAKAN]

If this makes landfall in Texas or Louisiana and N.O. is inundated, then we should start thinking about how to replace the scientists in the NHC. There's no need to panic or create it!

[zoeyann]

It seems to me that all of the covection is well to the east along with the winds, if anything comes close to us it would only be the naked swirl and I doubt that could make it. I do not remember the name but a naked swirl made it over Terrebonne parish about 8 or nine years ago believe me it caused no problems.

I realize that there is a lot of talk about the problems even a tropical storm could cause, but you also have to look at each storm as an individual entity they are not all created equal and this has nonevent for Louisiana at least written all over it.

Anyway I hope this makes you feel better. The anxiety you feel is to be expected, but this is simply not going to be a problem for us. Try to relax now because this may be a long season and if you get freaked over any and every possibilty you will never make it out emotionally intact. And be glad that those in Florida who have been in drought conditions are getting rain while we are sweating our rears off over here