The National Weather Service out of New Orleans/Baton Rouge issued a 6 a.m. forecast update that predicts severe weather and heavy rainfall.

Mike Efferson of the NWS said that strong and severe storms will move across the area today, tornadoes and damaging winds are possible, the threat of heavy rain with flash flooding continues and that the system should reach Washington Parish by late morning.

His 6 a.m. report to Washington Parish Director of Emergency Preparedness Tommy Thiebaud reads that, “A tornado watch is in effect through noon for portions of southeast Louisiana west of McComb, Hammond and Houma. It does include the Baton Rouge metro area. A line of strong thunderstorms is finally moving eastward across the Atchafalaya basin. It should reach the Baton Rouge area within the next hour or so. There are stronger cells embedded along this line that have been showing signs of rotation at times. The main severe threats with this activity will be tornadoes, damaging winds and frequent lightning. In addition, heavy rainfall with flash flooding can be expected as the bulk of rain moves through. Expect intense rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. This activity will move into the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf coast areas later this morning and early afternoon. The same threats apply to those areas and its possible for a new tornado watch to be issued.”