ouachita

Ouachita Parish will vote this weekend on a tax renewal to fund the Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement District. The mosquito abatement scientist monitor dangerous diseases spread by insects such as Zika, West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis, Yellow Fever and others. 

The tax renewal generates nearly 2 million dollars per year that is used in scientific insect control and disease monitoring. The area is sprayed by trucks and airplanes when mosquito numbers meet certain criteria.  The last major mosquito disease outbreak was a West Nile outbreak in 2001. 

The National Weather service is currently a damage survey from Friday and Saturday's storm. Scientist with the Shreveport office have confirmed six tornadoes in their initial reports.

An EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 m.p.h. hit the Grambling area and moved to Ruston. The path of the tornado was 6.66 miles. Trees fell on houses and metal roofs were blown off of houses.

The Choudrant area was pummeled by an EF-1 tornado. NWS Meteorologist say that a tornado was on the ground for 4.77 miles. The path took the twister across I-20 and splintered trees with 105 m.p.h. winds.

Severe weather is expected to move into the area on Friday. The system will bring up to 4" of rainfall and produce flash flooding. The strong storm could also produce hail, damaging winds and dangerous tornadoes. The greatest risk will be Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.

Take time now to clean drains and ditches to prevent flooding. Prepare now by getting a flashlight and battery powered radio and keep it tuned to 90.3 KEDM for alerts. Discuss your storm plan with your family. 

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a

Flood Warning for Urban Areas and Small Streams in...
Southern Union County in south central Arkansas...
Central Jackson Parish in north central Louisiana...
Union Parish in north central Louisiana...
Ouachita Parish in north central Louisiana...
Northeastern Claiborne Parish in northwestern Louisiana...
Lincoln Parish in north central Louisiana...

Until 1115 AM CDT Thursday

Heavy rainfall will move into north Louisiana Tuesday night and stick around until Friday. The National Weather Service says total rainfall may be 4-6" with flash flooding and river flooding possible. 

These storms will develop along a slow moving cold front. In addition to rain, the system could produce damaging winds and hail. 

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 7 a.m.  Thursday and a Flood Warning remains for the Ouachita River until further notice.

The flood warning continues for the Ouachita River in the Northeast Louisiana areas of Monroe and Colombia until further notice.

In Monroe, the river level was at 46.1 feet at 7 p.m. Sunday and in Colombia at 6 a.m. Sunday the Ouachita River was at 66 feet. These levels are expected to rise throughout the week.