Louisiana, 2023

Flash Flooding in Louisiana, September 4, 2023

September 4, 2023 · NWS LIX · 14 events in 2 counties and zones

Fueled by an abundance of moisture, a thunderstorm complex developed during peak heating over the Pearl River basin. Aided by a very weak steering flow, the complex moved very slowly over portions of urbanized areas such as Slidell and eventually metro New Orleans, where flash flooding occurred during the afternoon and evening.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LIX wrote it up.

Fueled by an abundance of moisture, a thunderstorm complex developed during peak heating over the Pearl River basin. Aided by a very weak steering flow, the complex moved very slowly over portions of urbanized areas such as Slidell and eventually metro New Orleans, where flash flooding occurred during the afternoon and evening. The complex finally weakened during the evening as it became cold-pool dominant.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, St. Tammany

When
September 4, 11:02 AM CST to 1:02 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany County, 0.91 mi NE of Slidell to 0.76 mi NE of Slidell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
30.280, -89.770

Street flooding verified by photo on social media at Gause and Ninth in Slidell.

Flash Flood, St. Tammany

When
September 4, 11:36 AM CST to 1:36 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany County, 1.51 mi SSW of Slidell Arpt to 1.38 mi S of Slidell Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
30.330, -89.830

Northbound lane of Airport Road partially impassable from flooding rain.

Flash Flood, St. Tammany

When
September 4, 11:49 AM CST to 1:49 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany County, 0.91 mi NE of Slidell to 0.8 mi NE of Slidell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
30.280, -89.770

Photo relayed of flooded roadways and report of people moving vehicles due to ongoing flooding.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:00 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 2.74 mi NW of Vieux Carre to 2.61 mi NW of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
30.000, -90.110

Report of flooded underpass at Canal Blvd with roads impassable in areas.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:06 PM CST to 2:06 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 0.6 mi W of Vieux Carre to 0.84 mi W of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.970, -90.090

Flooded street report at N Norman C Francis Parkway at Canal Street.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:13 PM CST to 2:13 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 1.51 mi NNE of Vieux Carre to 1.65 mi NNE of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.990, -90.070

Gentilly and 610 Underpass closed due to flood waters.

Flash Flood, St. Tammany

When
September 4, 12:14 PM CST to 2:14 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany County, 0.91 mi SW of Slidell Arpt to 0.64 mi WSW of Slidell Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
30.340, -89.830

Photo via social media of flooded roadways and a car halfway submerged on Alisa Drive in the Belair Subdivision in Slidell.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:15 PM CST to 2:15 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 1.92 mi WNW of Vieux Carre to 2.17 mi WNW of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.980, -90.110

I-10 in both directions closed due to high water at Metairie Road.

Flash Flood, St. Tammany

When
September 4, 12:30 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where
St. Tammany County, 1.38 mi ENE of Slidell to 1.13 mi SE of North Slidell
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
30.280, -89.760

Photo of water covered roads on Gause Blvd. Water up to car doors.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:35 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 1.51 mi NNW of New Orleans to 1.36 mi NNW of New Orleans
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.970, -90.110

Report of street flooding at S Carrolton Avenue and Tulane Avenue.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:35 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 0.6 mi E of Vieux Carre to 0.4 mi ESE of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.970, -90.070

Flooded street report at Ursulines Avenue and N Claiborne Avenue.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:38 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 2.74 mi NW of Vieux Carre to 2.86 mi NW of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
30.000, -90.110

Flooded street report at Polk Street and West End Blvd.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 12:45 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 3.01 mi NNW of Vieux Carre to 3.21 mi NNW of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
30.010, -90.100

Video of deep water covering roads on Memphis and Chapelle in Lakeview.

Flash Flood, Orleans

When
September 4, 1:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where
Orleans County, 2.27 mi NW of Vieux Carre to 2.22 mi NW of Vieux Carre
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.990, -90.110

Photo of water up to the top of a fully submerged car on Canal Blvd near the Railroad Trussel.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, September 2023

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1142716, 1142718, 1142719, 1142720, 1142725, 1142722, 1142727, 1142728, 1142802, 1142729, 1142731, 1142730, 1142803, 1142804.