Hurricane Harvey Wallop A-Comin'? What's In Store For Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Tropical Storm Harvey is crawling toward the coastline, dumping catastrophic rains over southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana - reportedly centered this afternoon about 75 miles southwest of Camera, LA, weather trackers said.

On the forecast, the broad circulation center of Harvey is expected to move inland over the northwestern Gulf Coast within the tropical storm warning area by early Wednesday. Winds may be near 50 mph, with higher gusts. No significant change in strength is anticipated before the center crosses the coast, but gradual weakening could begin after that, according to the National Weather Service.

A "storm surge warning" is in effect from Holly Beach to Morgan City, and a "storm surge watch" is in effect from Port Bolivar to west of Holly Beach, weather officials said.

• Here's the latest on what you need to know about the storm: (For more information on Harvey and other Louisiana stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from north of Port O'Connor to Morgan City, Louisiana, and a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from east of Morgan City to Grand Isle. Tropical storm conditions are occurring over portions of the warning area along the coast and are likely to persist during the next day or so," the agency repoted. "A few tornadoes are possible today from extreme southeast Texas across parts of southern Louisiana, coastal Mississippi and coastal Alabama."

Harvey could result in rainfall of six to 12 inches to the north and east of Houston, from far east Texas into southwestern Louisiana, with isolated storm totals reaching 50 inches over the upper Texas coast, including the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area, NWS said.

The rains are catastrophic and life-threatening with flooding over large portions of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.

The NWS service advised: "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL IN THE AFFECTED AREA IF YOU ARE IN A SAFE PLACE. DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOODED ROADWAYS. Please see warnings and products issued by your local National Weather Service office for additional information on this life-threatening situation."

Get the latest on Harvey at www.hurricanes.gov.

ALSO SEE:

• Hurricane Harvey: Animals Flown Out Of State To Make Shelter Room For Displaced Pets

• Hurricane Harvey At A Glance: Latest Must-Know Facts For Louisiana

• Cruises Diverted To New Orleans Due To Hurricane Harvey

• Flying During Hurricane Harvey? New Orleans Airport Reports No Major Woes ... So Far

Here's the latest on what you need to know about the storm: (For more information on Harvey and other Louisiana stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

--Images via NWS