Historic Flooding Swamps Louisiana: More Than 20,000 Rescued From Cars and Homes

An unusually wet tropical storm, fed by above average sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, has dumped record amounts of rain in Louisiana since Friday, flooding homes, killing at least six and forcing 20,000 people to flee the rapidly rising waters.

During storms that normally occur only once every 500 years, five cities received rainfall totaling more than two feet while nine river gauges reported record flooding. Gov. John Bel Edwards called the situation “truly historic” and President Obama issued a disaster declaration for the state.

Historic flooding underway in parts of Louisiana right now. This picture was taken just north of Baton Rouge. pic.twitter.com/Ux6AMrR3kR

— Eric Snitil (@EricSnitilWx) August 12, 2016

The torrential rainfall, which has moved on to Texas, fits with the observed increase in extreme rainfall events linked to climate change. As the world warms, storms are able to feed on warmer ocean water and the air is able to hold and dump more water.

GOES-14 rapid-scan imagery showing the storms over the Gulf Coast on 8/12. See more at https://t.co/9jpr1J4Ids pic.twitter.com/P50kypdBev

— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) August 12, 2016

For a deeper dive:

News: ABC News, CBS News, CNN, LA Times, Reuters, New York Times, NBC News, KATU, Washington Post, Reuters, Houston Chronicle, AP, Mashable, VICE, USA Today

Commentary: Pacific Standard, Eric Holthaus column

Background: Climate Signals

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