A slow moving outflow boundary from a strong bow echo system that moved across the Northshore region of Southeast Louisiana began to stall over metro New Orleans during the morning hours of April 10th. The west to east orientation of this boundary lined up parallel to the mean storm motion of the day, and this resulted in a series of thunderstorms producing very heavy rainfall in excess of 2 inches per hour passing over the New Orleans metro area for several hours on the morning of April 10th. Rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches were observed across metro New Orleans over a 2 to 3 hour period, and this overwhelmed the local drainage capacity resulting in widespread flash flooding throughout both the city of New Orleans and the surrounding suburban parishes.
The flash flooding event resulted in numerous road closures and a few high water rescues as people became trapped in the flood waters on area roads. Flooding was also reported in businesses and homes in the city of New Orleans.
Radar Loop of Event
Map of Rainfall Totals
Locations Reporting More than 6 inches of Rainfall
Location | Rainfall |
Laplace | 9.89 inches |
Lutcher | 7.64 inches |
Metairie | 7.49 inches |
Gramercy | 6.90 inches |
Vacherie | 6.80 inches |
New Orleans | 6.71 inches |
New Orleans International Airport | 6.24 inches |
Photos of Flooding in New Orleans
(courtesy of New Orleans Police Dept.) |
(courtesy of New Orleans Police Dept.) |
(courtesy of New Orleans Police Dept.) |