United States: after passing Storm Barry, New Orleans takes a breather

Tropical storm Barry, whose winds blew up to 120 km / h on Sunday, July 14, the US state of Lousiane, moving with it the risk of major floods that have, against all expectations, spared the city very exposed New Orleans.

The day after Louisiana's arrival of the tropical storm, strengthened a few hours in hurricane and then downgraded on Saturday, the main city of this southern state of the United States, located five meters below sea level did not fear more, on Sunday, the torrential plains of Barry. For proof, its department of protection against the floods even began, as of Saturday evening, to withdraw the removable portions of the dykes surrounding a part of the city.

HAPPENING NOW: Crews opening the floodgate at Poydras near the Hilton Riverfront. #Barry pic.twitter.com/PiBzIm5vXg

Persistent risk of sudden floods

The Mississippi River, the largest river in North America, which crosses the city, has begun to decline, however, remaining close to its flood level, which has already been crossed several times since the beginning of the year.

LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans, tweeted a message announcing that warnings of the tropical storm and the risk of coastal submersion would be lifted. The surveillance of any sudden floods, it will remain in place until 19h, she added.

Sunday morning, the coast of Louisiana, traumatized in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina, seemed to be relatively out of business. However, despite invasive waters in some areas, meteorologists warned of the "potentially lethal" risk of flash floods and stream overflows in parts of Louisiana, but also in the neighboring state. Mississippi.

According to them, the threat of floods, "main threat", should continue in the coming week.

As #Barry moves over central Louisiana, the Tropical Storm Warning and the Storm Surge Warning for the New Orleans area have been canceled. Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 7:00 pm tonight. Heavy rain could continue with predicted rainfall totals 2-4 in. @NOLAready pic.twitter.com/GWHm3BZ8MQ

The New Orleans airport was gradually resuming on Sunday after the cancellation of all flights the day before. Entergy, which has mobilized 3,400 employees, said at 6:30 pm Saturday, 63,500 customers were powerless throughout Louisiana.

Demoted downgrading to tropical depression

In just a few hours on Saturday, the tropical storm climbed into category 1 hurricanes - on a scale of five - with winds at 120 km / h. The Atlantic's first hurricane of the season, which runs from June to November, he touched down Saturday at midday.

The storm, whose heart should slide on the Arkansas in the evening of Sunday, then Monday, should be downgraded to Sunday in a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center, in its news bulletin of 12H00 (local time), specifying that it was then blowing at 75 km / h.

With AFP