Cristobal Slows as it Approaches Louisiana Coast

Tropical Storm Cristobal is seen on a northern track over the Gulf of Mexico in a satellite image taken June 7, 2020. NOAA/Handout via REUTERS

HOUSTON, June 7 (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Cristobal on Sunday slowed its advance through the Gulf of Mexico, bringing a coastal storm surge, high winds and rain to southeast Louisiana, where it is expected make landfall later today. The storm was about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana, at 1 p.m. on Sunday and moving at north at about 5 miles per hour. It is not expected to become a hurricane but will drop up to 12 inches (30 cm) of rain in some areas as bands move through the central and eastern Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday he had approved Louisiana’s request for an emergency declaration to “help with all aspects of the big storm that is currently hitting your shores.” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Thursday declared a state of emergency and called for a federal declaration.

Tropical Storm #Cristobal Advisory 24A: Cristobal Slows Down as it Approaches the Coast of Louisiana. Heavy Rainfall and Storm Surge Expected From Southeastern Louisiana Eastward to the Florida Panhandle. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 7, 2020

Oil companies on Sunday had evacuated 188 Gulf of Mexico offshore facilities and shut-in some 635,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil and 878 million cubic feet per day of natural gas output, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said.

The nine Louisiana oil refineries in the path of Cristobal plan to keep operating, according to people familiar with the matter. Combined processing capacity of the nine is about 12% of the U.S. national total of 18.8 million bpd of oil.

Noon, Sun Jun 7th: Marine Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Cristobal . Peak seas of 25 ft south of Louisiana with a large area of 12 ft seas. Winds and seas over the Gulf of Mexico will diminish on Monday. pic.twitter.com/uVnTllPxca

— NHC_TAFB (@NHC_TAFB) June 7, 2020

After landfall later Sunday, the storm is expected to travel north and pelt Arkansas, Missouri and the mid- to upper Mississippi Valley with wind and rain. Flooding was reported by Louisiana state police on some roads.

Here are the last 20 hours of #Cristobal.
Dangerous storm surge is ongoing with this storm. In addition, today brings the threat of tornadoes and heavy, flooding rains.

Keep up with the latest by following @NHC_Atlantic and your local forecast office: https://t.co/GWrG0hTRHN pic.twitter.com/0k81TioOHI

— National Weather Service (@NWS) June 7, 2020

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

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