A fast-developing tornado warning had parts of St. John the Baptist Parish hunkering down on Sunday afternoon, as emergency officials zeroed in on smaller communities and motorists along the I-55 corridor and urged them to get to shelter immediately. Parish posts reported radar-detected rotation tied to the storms and the potential for small hail, along with a blunt directive to "seek shelter now" and keep an eye on local TV stations for live updates.
The National Weather Service office in New Orleans issued a tornado warning for north-central St. John the Baptist Parish that was slated to remain in effect until 3:45 p.m. CDT. The alert described a storm positioned roughly nine miles north of LaPlace and moving southeast at about 25 mph, according to GovOneStop.
Where The Warning Applied
Parish notifications singled out Killian, Ruddock, Galva and Whitehall, and specifically flagged the I-55 corridor for drivers who might suddenly be facing severe weather. Officials warned that hail up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter was possible and repeated the call to seek shelter, urging residents to tune in to WWL-TV or WWL+ for continuous coverage, as posted by St. John the Baptist Parish.
Storm Hazards And Flooding
The same storm system unloaded heavy rain across the region, prompting flash-flood warnings and flood advisories in low-lying areas. Local alert logs showed multiple flash-flood products and advisories affecting St. John and neighboring parishes on Sunday afternoon, mirroring active National Weather Service bulletins at the time, according to WeatherBug.
How Residents Were Told To Respond
The National Weather Service urges people under a tornado warning to head to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows and well clear of mobile homes. The New Orleans/Baton Rouge office briefing page showed active hazards across southeast Louisiana on Sunday and reminded residents to follow local emergency directions, per the office at National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge.
The tornado warning was allowed to expire in mid-afternoon, according to public alert listings on GovOneStop, though heavy rain and flooding concerns persisted in low-lying neighborhoods. Residents were advised to keep monitoring the parish’s emergency channels and the parish Facebook page for ongoing updates from St. John the Baptist Parish.
