Early report from New Orleans CBD...

#1 Postby **Steve** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:12 am

Everyone's playing it cautious. Fortunately we haven't seen that much rain here in the city, but that's expectd to change as some of the next squalls begin moving over our area. Walking to the CBD from the parking garage in the French Quarter, I noticed a lot of businesses already had sandbags out to prevent water filling up the streets from getting inside their businesses for the 3rd week in a row. There was a steady but light drizzle, and winds were 12-15 gusting to around 20 (nothing to flip the umbrella inside out, but enough that you had to hold onto it tight).

I don't see us getting the kind of rain they've seen over in Jackson County (10-15"), MS, but it could be heavy enough to fill up the streets. I'm guessing we'll get between 4-6" today. As the storm lifts north, I'd expect the Mississippi Gulf Coast to end up on the shortest end of the stick. Portions of the MS GC could easily pick up another 6-10" today. The soil is pretty sandy and well drained over there, but there will be plenty of localized flooding.

John C. is out of town so he can't reset CFHC, so I'm not sure how I can link any photos in case I can get any good photo shoots. I almost wore cotton pants today so I could go to the FQ at lunchtime in case things get bad. But this suit could use a drycleaning anyway, so I might go for it if I get the chance.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/DS.8 ... klix.shtml

There's the rainfall amounts since last night at 6pm. Notice Jackson Co., MS (extreme SE MS). They got caught under a nasty feeder band. There's always the danger with a weak storm that someone to the east of the ciculation center by up to 400 miles can be in for a rude awakening. Take care out there.

Steve

mf_dolphin · #2 Postby **mf_dolphin** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:17 am

Looks like some of the heavier rain is just approaching NO now. May be time to go fishing in the streets by afternoon! ;-)

Stay safe everyone! :-)

#3 Postby **bfez1** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:18 am

We are getting ready to sand bag our bldg. We are on Baronne St. Lots of businesses have already finished. Sure hope we get to go home early.

#4 Postby **wx247** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:20 am

Thanks for the update. Keep us posted on how The Big Easy is doing!

Rainband · #5 Postby **Rainband** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:40 am

Stay safe steve!!!! :wink:

Lindaloo · #6 Postby **Lindaloo** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:47 am

I am in Jackson County (extreme SE MS) and I must say you are right on Steve about the rainfall here. I had to back flush my pool this morning to get some of the water out, then I closed it off with the hurricane shutter I had installed this past winter. Some areas of HWY 90 are closed because of the Escatawpa (es-Ka-taw-puh) River. Even when the rains go North of the coast it will get the run-off and continue above flood stage.

Toni - 574 · #7 Postby **Toni - 574** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:51 am

Steve wrote:Everyone's playing it cautious. Fortunately we haven't seen that much rain here in the city, but that's expectd to change as some of the next squalls begin moving over our area. Walking to the CBD from the parking garage in the French Quarter, I noticed a lot of businesses already had sandbags out to prevent water filling up the streets from getting inside their businesses for the 3rd week in a row. There was a steady but light drizzle, and winds were 12-15 gusting to around 20 (nothing to flip the umbrella inside out, but enough that you had to hold onto it tight).

I don't see us getting the kind of rain they've seen over in Jackson County (10-15"), MS, but it could be heavy enough to fill up the streets. I'm guessing we'll get between 4-6" today. As the storm lifts north, I'd expect the Mississippi Gulf Coast to end up on the shortest end of the stick. Portions of the MS GC could easily pick up another 6-10" today. The soil is pretty sandy and well drained over there, but there will be plenty of localized flooding.

John C. is out of town so he can't reset CFHC, so I'm not sure how I can link any photos in case I can get any good photo shoots. I almost wore cotton pants today so I could go to the FQ at lunchtime in case things get bad. But this suit could use a drycleaning anyway, so I might go for it if I get the chance.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/DS.8 ... klix.shtml

There's the rainfall amounts since last night at 6pm. Notice Jackson Co., MS (extreme SE MS). They got caught under a nasty feeder band. There's always the danger with a weak storm that someone to the east of the ciculation center by up to 400 miles can be in for a rude awakening. Take care out there.

Steve

Thanks for the info. Steve. I was wondering what was going on at CFHC. I enjoy your pictures, but hopefully you will not have to take to many pictures of flooded streets.Stay high and dry,keep us informed!

#8 Postby **Steve** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:59 am

Our push up to 2-3" is now occuring. A feeder band is wrapping in over the city:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/loop/DS.p ... klix.shtml

I'd call the rainfall "moderate", and the winds are gusting up to about 30mph. It's not raining hard enough to flood, but many of the drains around my building are already topping out. What kills us is if there are more than 2" in the first hour. When that happens, the pumps can't catch up for a while.

Steve

#9 Postby **vbhoutex** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 11:11 am

Looks like a ton more rain on the way for you Steve as Bill is making landfall. The turn to the NE appears to have already begun and it looks like Bill will track NNE between NO and BR, closer to NO, meaning you will be getting "pounded" for several hours. I guess that is why you are under a Flash Flood Warning.

Recon has recorded a wind of 58mph at 28.8, 89.8 to your S near Grand Ilse.

Be safe and keep reporting in as you can.

Colin · #10 Postby **Colin** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 12:30 pm

Stay safe man and keep us updated... sounds quite impressive... and the rain doesn't want to go anywhere anytime soon! :o

#11 Postby **Steve** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 12:49 pm

We got let go at 12:00 after the bosses heard City Hall was closing down. Getting to the parking lot on Iberville St. in the French Quarter was an adventure. The streets were flooding (as per all recent pictures) and I had a suit on today. My boss loaned me a pancho which didn't help when someone sped through downtown soaking me. I gave them the thumbs up (possibly the wrong finger?) when I knew it was inevitable. Bah. Anyway, I took Airline Dr. home and there were numerous streets under water in New Orleans. As noted above, our 2-3" push was coming. It came to the tune of 3.5" in an hour in the FQ (right next to the CBD where I work). By the end of the day, we'll shatter our June rainfall record set in 2001 (Allison).

Anyway, now that I'm home, it's time to crack open some of these cold Abita Purple Hazes I have in the refrigerator for this very occasion

. If there's one thing you gotta love about tropical weather, it's those free days off - assuming you don't work in emergency mangaement or medical

.

Peace,

Steve

Toni - 574 · #12 Postby **Toni - 574** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 2:50 pm

I work in medical-NO FREE DAYS OFF! Unless you just happen to be out of town, if you know what I mean :wink:

We have to also help with any shelter opening and help make decisions regarding evacuees, such as if they are ok to stay in a reg. shelter or do they need a special care shelter or hospital. My name is down on the list to be called so I keep my fingers crossed that I don't get called when we have a tropical system approaching.Never the less I have to always be in the stand by mode if our local emergency management comes calling.

STAY SAFE!

flightpath · #13 Postby **flightpath** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:21 pm

hello everyone, new here- It's really coming down now here just west of the city (New Orleans). winds steady at 15, gusting in squalls to about 25. rain guage now at 3 in. and rising. Drainage canals are about already full. Saw tree down in CBD on way out around noon at corner of Julia and I want to say O'keefe but no matter, most of you folks won't know it anyway. Great board! stay safe everyone...flightpath

Lindaloo · #14 Postby **Lindaloo** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:36 pm

Hey flightpath!! Welcome!! I remember you from the weather channel. There are alot of us here from there. You will be among old friends and also some new friends!!

Stay safe over there!!! :wink:

flightpath · #15 Postby **flightpath** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:44 pm

Hey Linda, was just about to give you a shout on your thread, but let me just update my rain guage total- we are in very heavy squall now , guage reading is up to 3.5". How are you making out so far in Miss., fine I hope, stay dry this thing is sliding eastward it appears now..flightpath

#16 Postby **Steve** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:53 pm

If the remote link works from NOLALIVE (Times-Picayune), here are some photos from town earlier today:

That's the federal building on Poydras near the River.

That's Magazine St.

This is what I always talk about with blowing manholes. They called this one "Old Faithful".

Steve

#17 Postby **Steve Cosby** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 5:47 pm

Wow.

Thanks for posting that.

#18 Postby **wx247** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 5:52 pm

Thanks for sharing! And... if that person isn't going to take care of that Mustang I think I should take it off their hands!

PTrackerLA · #19 Postby **PTrackerLA** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 5:53 pm

What are the highest gusts that have been reported in the New Orleans metro area?

southerngale · #20 Postby **southerngale** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:03 pm

LOL Garrett!

Thanks for the pics Steve.

Early report from New Orleans CBD...

Early report from New Orleans CBD...

Re: Early report from New Orleans CBD...

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