Tropical Depression to Drench Gulf Coast

A tropical depression heading toward the Gulf Coast could soak the area in as much as 20 inches of rain, prompting concerns about flash floods in Louisiana, whose governor declared a state of emergency yesterday. What could become Tropical Storm Lee prompted warnings from Mississippi to Texas, the AP reports, with heavy rain expected over southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama through Sunday.

The Weather Channel warned of “significant coastal flooding" and "high surf and rip currents,” which it called “a vastly underrated killer.” The depression was moving northwest at a slow 2mph, MSNBC reports, with a top sustained wind speed of 35 mph—though winds could hit 60mph by tomorrow. “This could be a very heavy, prolific rainmaker,” said a National Weather Service meteorologist. (More tropical depression stories.)