Flash flood watch remains in effect; Lake Charles, Baton Rouge get soaked

The Tri-City area is looking skyward again as heavy rain threatens another round of street flooding in this monsoon of a spring season.
A flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday. The Lake Charles National Weather Service Office gives St. Mary Parish an 80% chance of storms Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Some of the storms may bring heavy rain with them.
That was the case Monday, but mostly to our west and north.
In Lafayette, more than 6 inches of rain fell, causing widespread street flooding across the area.
There were also reports of tornadoes near Crowley and in St. Landry Parish.
Lake Charles, still recovering from last year’s hurricanes, got even more rain. More than 11 inches of rain fell Monday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to the gauge at Lake Charles Memorial Airport.
At a press conference at midday Tuesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said up to 15 inches rain fell in parts of Lake Charles.
In a statement released early Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said at least 80 people were rescued from flash flooding in Lake Charles as a result of 8 to 15 inches of rain across that area. In Baton Rouge, more than 250 people were rescued after the city got more than 13 inches of rain. As of Tuesday morning, at least 20,000 homes and business were without power in East Baton Rouge Parish, he said.
Also Tuesday, Edwards said one weather-related death has been confirmed, a 33-year-old man found in a flooded vehicle on Bluebonnet Driver in Baton Rouge. At least one other death is suspected to be related to flooding, and two more deaths may turn out to be related to the widespread power outags.
Edwards has issued a state of emergency declaration because of the flooding and other severe weather in southwest Louisiana.
“Water rescues and other emergency actions have been necessary this afternoon as heavy rainfall fell across Southwest Louisiana,” said Edwards. “The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness stands ready to support our local partners with any emergency resources needed beyond their capabilities. We are only a few weeks away from the start of hurricane season, but this threat is the latest in a string of recent weather threats that remind us of the importance of preparedness and staying informed.”
A state of emergency is an administrative step that authorizes the use of state resources to aid in storm response efforts.