River Flood Update 1/4/07

Several rivers are once again in flood stage this evening across Louisiana as a storm system dumps between 1.00 and 3.00 inches of rain with some areas recieving up to 6.00 inches of rain.

Rainfall Reports as of 4:00 PM Thursday, January 4, 2007

• New Orleans: 0.05 inches
• Baton Rouge: 1.40 inches --> Breaks record of 0.01 inches from 2004
• Lafayette: 1.99 inches
• Lake Charles: 2.59 inches --> Breaks record of 2.34 inches from 2004
• Alexandria: 2.02 inches --> Breaks record of 1.43 inches from 1939
• Shreveport: 0.85 inches
• Monroe: 1.20 inches

Here are some key river sites:

Vermilion River at Lafayette --> Minor flooding forecast

• Vermilion River peaked at 11.7 feet at 6:00 PM Thursday. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. At stages near 11.5 feet, minor flooding of Vermilionville and Beaver Park near the river will occur.

Calcasieu River at Oberlin --> Major flooding forecast

• The latest stage was 18.8 feet at 6:30 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 19.5 feet at 12:00 AM Saturday. Flood stage is 13.0 feet. At stages near 19.0 feet, major flooding will occur. Secondary roads and homes near the river will be affected.

Calcasieu River at Old Town bay (North Lake Charles) --> Moderate flooding forecast

• The latest stage is 5.6 feet at 6:40 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 7.0 feet. Flood stage is 4.0 feet. At stages near 7.0 feet, the lower end of Pickrel Lane near the river floods. Goos Ferry Road is impassable.

Pearl River at Pearl River (Town) --> Minor flooding forecast

• The latest stage is 15.6 feet at 7:00 PM Thursday. The forecast crest is 16.0 feet. Flood stage is 14.0 feet. At stages near 16.0 feet, lower portions of streets in River Gardens Subdivision begin to flood. Secondary roads near the river and throughout Honey Island Swamp will remain inundated. Property in the vacinity of the gage is flooded threatening about 20 homes along the left bank. The Bogue Chitto Wildlife Refuge will be closed to hunting at the 15.5-foot stage.

Anselm Coulee at Ramblewood Drive, Lafayette, LA