Texas and Louisiana residents should brace for active weather as a cold front approaches, bringing potential storms and heavy rain. Conditions are expected to intensify from Monday evening through Tuesday. Key safety advisories include elevated winds and flood risks that could impact traffic, especially along major highways like I-10.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Lake Charles, gusty southerly winds reaching 25-35 mph will prevail, posing a hazard to high-profile vehicles and unsecured objects. A Wind Advisory remains in effect until late Tuesday. Meanwhile, coastal areas from Orange County, Texas, to lower St. Mary Parishes in Louisiana are under a Coastal Flood Warning due to high tides and storm surges. This warning will be effective from Monday afternoon until early Tuesday.
Forecasters emphasize the risk of severe thunderstorms developing overnight in southeast Texas and spreading to central Louisiana by Tuesday morning. These storms could lead to damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, and localized flooding, impacting poorly drained urban areas. A Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 4) for excessive rainfall persists, urging residents to avoid travel on flood-prone roads.
Looking ahead, Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 looms over the western Caribbean Sea and may strengthen as it heads toward the Gulf of Mexico later this week. Residents should monitor updates as this system could escalate into a more severe threat mid-week.