NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A line of severe thunderstorm moved across southern Louisiana and the Mississippi coast late Thursday night, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain.
The system moved across south Louisiana downing power line and trees in Lafayette, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. James, Terrebonne, East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist, Vermilion and Tangipahoa parishes.
In Harrison County, Mississippi, a 40 foot tree snapped behind D’Iberville City Hall.
The Storm Prediction Center’s website showed some minor roof damage to several homes and a mobile home. No injuries were reported.
Forecaster Gavin Phillips at the National Weather Service Officials in Slidell, Louisiana, said wind gust of 70 to 80 mph were reported in the Baton Rouge area. Phillips said a 52 mph wind gust was reported at the Lakefront Airport in New Orleans.
The Baton Rouge area received between 3 to 4 inches of rain, while the New Orleans metro area received between 1½ to 2 1/2 inches, he said.
“The storms put on a lightning show, some of the worst I have ever seen,” Phillips said.
Fire departments in Slidell and Chalmette are investigating two house fires which may have been caused by lightning strikes.
As of 12:15 p.m. CDT, Entergy reported just less than 24,000 power outages in its service area. The most outages were in the Baton Rouge area. CLECO reported 150 outages in St. Mary and St. Tammany parishes.
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