NEW ORLEANS (AP) - As Louisiana moved Friday into its second phase of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, residents now have Cristobal to worry about.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for metropolitan New Orleans as Cristobal moved into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said. A storm surge warning has also been issued for areas outside of the city’s hurricane levee system from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne.
Cristobal has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 kph) and is moving north at 13 mph (21 kph). The storm’s center is located more than 500 miles (805 kilometers) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
In addition, a flood watch is in effect for all of southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi through Tuesday morning.
Grand Isle Mayor David J. Camardelle, in a news release Friday, ordered a mandatory evacuation for boaters and campers staying on the barrier island that sits in the Gulf of Mexico. The order took effect at noon in response to Cristobal and was to remain in effect until Monday. Residents are currently under a voluntary evacuation order but that turns mandatory beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday.
“We are expecting a storm surge of 2-4 feet,” Camardelle said. “Average rainfall totals of 6-10 inches are expected.”
Cristobal weakened to a tropical depression Thursday with sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) after it moved inland. The storm emerged this week in the Bay of Campeche from the remnants of Tropical Storm Amanda, which had formed in the Pacific and pounded El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The earliest time for the arrival in Louisiana of tropical-storm-force winds (40-55+ mph) will be Saturday night, but the most likely time will be early Sunday morning, weather experts have said. Winds will remain elevated through early Monday and will gradually start to back off into early Tuesday.
“The city is monitoring the progression and movement of Cristobal which is moving toward our direction,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said during a news conference. “We are expecting heavy rain throughout the weekend with local totals upwards of 10 inches.”
“We’re talking wet and wind here,” Cantrell said. “Now is the time to start paying attention and getting ourselves ready.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal appeared poised to strike Louisiana. He also urged residents to make plans for this emergency and to include masks and hand sanitizer as the world continues to fight the pandemic.
At a news conference Friday, Edwards said he will ask for a federal emergency declaration from the White House.
He cautioned residents that the greatest threat will be from potential flooding caused by heavy rainfall, forecast to reach up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) in some areas of southeast Louisiana. Sandbags and other flood response equipment were being moved Friday into areas prone to taking on water, Edwards said.
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