During the time frame from12 to 14 August 2016, the boot area of the state of Louisiana, northwest of New Orleans, was subject to over 30 inches of rainfall. Heavy rains produced major flooding that, as of 20 August, had killed 13 people and inflicted over $1 billion of damage to thousands of homes and businesses in the area. The slow, westward-moving weather system responsible for this devastation will be shown to have both tropical and nontropical characteristics, along with huge amounts of precipitable water drawn up from the 87° water of the Gulf of Mexico. The difficulties involved with forecasting the system will be discussed.
For additional information, please contact Ashton G. Peyrefitte Jr. ([email protected]).