What to Know
- Cindy made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a tropical storm early Thursday; it was later downgraded to a tropical system
- The storm has already been blamed for one death in Alabama -- a 10-year-old boy hit by debris on the beach
- The remnants of the storm could impact the tri-state area overnight Friday into Saturday morning;
Tri-state residents are bracing for potential impacts from Tropical Depression Cindy after the weakened but still strong storm churned through parts of the south this week.
After a muggy Friday, the chance for showers and thunderstorms steadily increases overnight, Storm Team 4 says. The system was moving into Pennsylvania and New Jersey shortly before midnight, and heavy thunderstorms are possible in the tri-state through Saturday morning.
Saturday morning's storms bring the potential for heavy downpours and localized street flooding. The heavy rain threat continues through the first part of the day Saturday as a cold front combined with Cindy's remnants works through the tri-state.
Along with blinding downpours, the storms may also come with gusty winds, lightning and hail. The greatest threat of thunderstorms will be early Saturday morning. Flash flooding is most likely south of I-80.
Forecasters say the potential for flooding exists any time tropical moisture is involved. Regardless, skies should clear later in the day Saturday and more comfortable air moves in, paving the way for a gorgeous, less humid Sunday with temperatures in the low 80s under sunny skies.
Cindy, already blamed for one death in Alabama, made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a tropical storm early Thursday. The storm's maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 40 mph (64 kph) Thursday morning. It was later downgraded to a tropical depression and is continuing to weaken.
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Remnants of Tropical Depression Cindy were expected to drench parts of Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia Friday afternoon and evening, bringing heavy rainfall, possible flash flooding and higher river and lake levels through the weekend. The severe weather arrived on the anniversary of torrential rains and flooding that left 23 people dead in West Virginia last year.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast was still suffering from the effects of Cindy, a former tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico that crawled ashore early Thursday near the Louisiana-Texas state line. Downgraded to a tropical depression, Cindy weakened as it crossed Louisiana toward Arkansas but a broad circulation around the system swept moist Gulf air over the South, fueling severe weather and pushing up coastal tides.
