How Tropical Storm Cindy is threatening the Gulf Coast

Collins Parker,

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The Latest on Tropical Storm Cindy (all times local):

10:40 a.m.

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Cindy are causing flooding in low-lying areas along the Alabama coast.

Some roads are covered with water in the seafood village of Bayou La Batre, and police say streets are flooded on the barrier island of Dauphin Island. Officials there have closed the beaches because of dangerously rough surf.

Double red flags are flying in Gulf Shores to warn people to stay out of the waves. But live video feeds Wednesday showed a few people still on the beach despite rain showers and high winds.

Becca Caldemeyer says business is slow at her bait shop in Bayou La Batre because it’s too windy to fish. She says sea water is washing into marshes, but she can still get to and from work since the roads aren’t completely covered with water.

Megan Scott
@megdscott

Biloxi waterspout. Tropical storm Cindy. Yes I took it. Yes you may use it. Just tell me who is using it https://t.co/7vw6DjZVxP

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10:30 a.m.

Rain has slackened along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast after an overnight drenching, but not before a waterspout came ashore in Biloxi, causing minor damage.

Harrison County Emergency Management Director Rupert Lacy says the waterspout made landfall around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, causing damage to fences, trees and power lines. No one was hurt. One large live oak branch was downed on the grounds of Beauvoir, the historic home that once belonged to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport has reported more than 7 inches (180 mms) of rain since Tuesday morning.

Mississippi officials reported standing water on hundreds of roads after heavy rains, but Lacy says some flash flooding is receding for now, and no buildings have yet been reported as flooding. Coastal rivers are expected to leap their banks, though, as water runs off.

racy Roden
@math_italladdsup

So cool!!! Watched a water spout form and then travel across the water onto the shore!

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9:32 a.m.

Hamilton County, TN—- Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management continues to receive weather updates with the National Weather Service (Morristown, TN) regarding the potential heavy rain arriving in Hamilton County the end of this week. We encourage everyone to stay tuned to their local media outlets for weather updates. Flooding is likely to occur, especially creeks, streams and small rivers. Heavy rains may be so intense that small creeks and streams are unable to accommodate so much water. Storm drains and culverts may turn into raging bodies of water. If you live in “flood prone” area, please be aware of all Flood Warning updates. Here are a few Safety Tips to remember:
• Pay attention to hazard signs and roadblocks. Ignoring them threatens life and property, and can result in enforcement action by police.
• Rain reduces traction and causes tires to hydroplane. Slow your speed accordingly.
• Water on roads may be deeper than it looks. Watch for vehicles traveling too fast. They can throw up blinding sheets of water.
• Don’t cross rain-swollen washes. You can be caught in a flash flood that can sweep your vehicle away or become stranded.
• Control of a vehicle is lost in 6 inches of water. Most vehicles will begin to float in 2 feet of water.
• During a storm, emergency services will be very busy, only call for immediate assistance if there is a risk of life or serious property damage.

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7:25 a.m.

Much of Florida’s Panhandle remains under a tornado watch as Tropical Storm Cindy looms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Officials in Santa Rosa County, which is just east of Pensacola, tweeted that some roads were under water early Wednesday. They urged motorists to use caution if they are driving in the southern end of the county.

News outlets also reported several roads in neighboring Escambia County have been closed due to flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for much of the region until 10 a.m. Wednesday. Forecasters say the area can expect heavy rain through Thursday as the tropical storm moves through Louisiana and Texas.

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7:15 a.m.

Tropical Storm Cindy is creating the threat of tornadoes along the northern Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service says flash flooding from torrential rain is the main problem associated with the storm, but twisters are also possible.

Forecasters issued tornado warnings for the areas around Fort Walton Beach and Indian Pass in Florida after radar indicated possible tornadoes Wednesday morning.

A tornado watch covered the entire coast from southwestern Louisiana to near the Big Bend region of Florida.

Alabama’s main beaches are mostly empty as Cindy blows offshore, and Baldwin and Mobile counties canceled summer classes because of the storm.

David Smitherman
@dsmitherman53

A wind driven Gulf and high tides have covered 2/3s of the beach at Perdido Key, Pensacola, Florida. #loveperdido #cindygoaway
2 hour

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7:10 a.m.

Tropical Storm Cindy is moving closer to the Gulf Coast, where it threatens to bring a storm surge of up to 3 feet (0.91 meters).

As of 7 a.m. CDT Wednesday, the storm was centered about 165 miles (265 kilometers) south-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, and is moving northwest near 8 mph (13 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Cindy is expected to approach the coast of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas late Wednesday or Wednesday night and move inland Thursday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (96 kph).

The National Weather Service said early Wednesday that flash flood watches covered parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

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7 a.m.

Forecasters in Louisiana say Tropical Storm Cindy will bring the potential for a storm surge of up to 3 feet (0.91 meters) along the Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service said early Wednesday that flash flood watches covered parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia as the storm trudged closer to the U.S. mainland.

The weather service has warned that the storm brings the threat of “life-threatening flash flooding.”

Rain bands began pushing ashore Tuesday even before the system reached tropical storm strength. It was stationary much of the day Tuesday but was on a lumbering track that would take its center toward southwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas by Wednesday morning.

But the heavy rains were on its east side, meaning the major rain threat stretched from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

Nikki
@nikkic360

My walk back to the hotel tonight. #nola #soggy #waterbetweenmytoes #butiwaswearingchucks #myumbrellawasuseless #tropicalstormcindycansuckit #rain #everytimeitravelforwork #shrm17 #tropicalstorm #thisissomewetrain
10 hour

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4:20 a.m.

Residents and officials along a stretch of the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle to eastern Texas are keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Cindy.

The storm formed Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to move slowly toward the Louisiana-Texas line. But the heaviest rain bands were to the east. And the National Weather Service says it poses a threat of dangerous flash flooding.

Forecasters say some areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida could see a foot of rain.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency Tuesday because of the threat of torrential dangerous high tides and rip currents. Other state and local officials along the coast were mulling similar declarations.

Catherine Rodgers
@cat.rodgers1
When storm Cindy hits whilst you’re on an open top tour bus 😓😂⛆ #poncho #soggy #louisiana #neworleans

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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