Flooding swamps Baton Rouge as torrential rain falls over Louisiana impacting roads, voting across region
A rare Flash Flood Emergency was issued for portions of East Baton Rouge Parish after the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said between 3.5 and 4.5 inches of rain had fallen by Saturday evening, and an additional 1-2 inches of rain was possible.
Severe weather, flooding, ice slam communities across US
It’s been a wild weekend for weather as communities across the U.S. experienced severe weather, disruptive ice and flooding. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne has all the details on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana residents were on high alert for flash flooding over the weekend, as forecasters were concerned about heavy rainfall from showers and thunderstorms that could dump several inches of rain across the region.
Flood Watches had been issued for millions of residents, while NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) highlighted a level 3 out of 4 risk of flooding around New Orleans and surrounding parishes.
Baton Rouge, LA flooding on 3/29/2025
(@LoloPlauche / FOX Weather)
A rare Flash Flood Emergency was issued for portions of East Baton Rouge Parish after the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said between 3.5 and 4.5 inches of rain had fallen by Saturday evening, and an additional 1-2 inches of rain was possible.
Forecasters said communities across the area were at risk of experiencing flooding, like Baton Rouge, Westminster and Shenandoah, as well as portions of Interstate 10 between mile markers 162 and 164 and Interstate 12 between mile markers 2 and 6.
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The city of Rayne had warned its residents that some power was being cut off for safety reasons, and the police department issued a stern warning to stay off the roads and stay home.
"If you're out driving around in this just to sightsee or ‘go checking things out,’ STOP," the Rayne Police Department said in a Facebook post. "Your vehicle is pushing water into homes and businesses that are already struggling to keep it out."
Police said that the additional water being pushed into homes and businesses was adding to the damage.
"It's ruined floors, lost property, and thousands of dollars people don't have to throw away because some couldn't stay put," police added.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOUSE FLOODS?
Voting also took place in Louisiana over the weekend, and the flooding had an impact on those who were trying to make their voices heard at the polls.
"Due to flash flooding in Acadia Parish, the polling place at the North Crowley Middle school is closed," Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said. "Any voter who votes at North Crowley Middle School or who cannot access their polling place due to flooded roads should vote at the Acadia Parish Registrar of Voters office."
Deadly flooding reported in Texas last week
Watch: Deep flooding on I-2 in McAllen, Texas, leaves cars abandoned
Parts of southern Texas were unrecognizable Thursday after severe flooding has invaded the area. The city of McAllen is under a Flood Watch until Friday morning.
At least three people died in Texas last week as record flooding impacted border towns west of Brownsville, where 10-15 inches of rain fell.
Local authorities in McAllen, Texas, performed hundreds of rescues as vehicles and some structures became submerged in water.
The New Orleans NWS office is warning that flooding could have a significant impact on urban areas, particularly those with poor-drainage systems.
Some Flood Watches remain in effect for portions of the region, including New Orleans and Gulfport, Mississippi, but those are set to expire later Sunday morning.