Why Everyone Is Talking About New Orleans Right Now: Breaking News, Live Updates & Must-See Highlights

New Orleans Braces for Invest 93L: What Residents and Visitors Need to Know Right Now New Orleans is on alert as Invest 93L, a disorganized tropical disturbance now crossing Florida, is forecast to slide into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and drift toward Louisiana late this week. Forecasters give the system a 40 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical depression before it nears the coast, but city officials stress that torrential rain ‑ not wind ‑ is the primary threat. Key forecast highlights • Rainfall: 3–6 inches are likely across Orleans Parish, with isolated pockets approaching 10 inches, especially on Thursday and Friday. • Timing: Showers could start as early as Wednesday afternoon; the heaviest bands are expected Thursday–Friday. • Flood potential: A Flood Watch is in effect through early Saturday. Even a weak system could trigger dangerous street flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. • Heat index: A concurrent Heat Advisory remains in place Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., pushing “feels-like” values above 105 °F. Citywide preparations • Emergency Operations Center will activate at Level III to coordinate drainage, pumping and first-responder resources. • Council districts B, C, D and E are distributing free self-serve sandbags Wednesday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., while supplies last. • Sewerage & Water Board reports all 99 drainage pumps operational and staff on 24-hour shifts. Safety tips for residents and travelers 1. Park vehicles on higher ground; never attempt to drive through water covering the curb. 2. Clear leaves from catch basins and gutters to speed street drainage. Call 311 for clogged basins. 3. Download the NOLA Ready app or text NOLAREADY to 77295 for push alerts, shelter info and pump station status. 4. Monitor real-time flooding on Streetwise.nola.gov, now enhanced with HyFi sensors that report actual water depths. 5. Stay hydrated and limit outdoor activity during midday heat. Travel and events Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport remains open, but airlines have issued weather-related change waivers; check flight status frequently. Popular attractions in the French Quarter and Garden District plan to operate on normal schedules Wednesday but may close early if street flooding develops. Festival organizers advise out-of-town guests to pack rain gear and allow extra transit time. What’s next? While some computer models keep Invest 93L weak, others hint at short-lived tropical-storm strength over the central Gulf. Either outcome funnels deep tropical moisture directly into Southeast Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center’s next update arrives at 2 p.m. CT; any upgrade to Tropical Depression Five would trigger additional advisories and possible flash-flood warnings. Bottom line For New Orleans, rainfall totals — not storm category — drive flood risk. Have a plan, secure sandbags, and keep your devices charged. By acting today, residents and visitors can ride out Invest 93L safely and keep the Crescent City moving even under sheets of summer rain.