Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, New Orleans LA
- Areas
- Jefferson, LA
- Places
- Metairie
- In effect
- until 9:00 PM CDT, Oct 31, 2026
- Damage threat
- Considerable
- Detection
- Radar indicated
What the National Weather Service says
“Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads.”
NWS New Orleans LA, Flash Flood Warning, 6:15 PM CDT Oct 31, 2026 · official alert
“Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
NWS New Orleans LA, Flash Flood Warning, 6:15 PM CDT Oct 31, 2026 · official alert
“Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”
NWS New Orleans LA, Flash Flood Warning, 6:15 PM CDT Oct 31, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Stay off flooded roads. Turn around, don't drown. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, and the National Weather Service says just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down.
Move to higher ground if water is rising around you. Never drive around barricades or into flooded roads. Just 1 foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
Avoid underpasses, streets and low-lying areas with poor drainage. The warning lists these as places where flash flooding can occur. Keep checking National Weather Service updates until the warning ends at 9:00 PM CDT.
Context
FEMA flood-insurance records show 135,830 claims in Jefferson Parish between 1978 and 2026, as of September 9, 2026. These counts cover only insured properties, so they understate total flood losses.
FEMA has made several disaster declarations for the parish, including Hurricane Francine in 2024, Hurricane Ida in 2021 and Hurricane Delta in 2020. They show the area has a history of serious storm impacts.
Updates
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 9:00 PM CDT.
- NWS New Orleans LA issued the flash flood warning until 9:00 PM CDT.
History here
Jefferson County: 135830 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2026.
Jefferson County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4817 (2024): hurricane francine
- DR-4611 (2021): hurricane ida
- DR-4590 (2021): severe winter storms
- DR-4577 (2021): hurricane zeta
- DR-4570 (2020): hurricane delta
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Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Metairie, Louisiana?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in New Orleans issued a Flash Flood Warning at 5:57 PM CDT that includes Metairie. It runs until 9:00 PM CDT on October 31.
- How much rain has fallen in Jefferson Parish?
- Doppler radar indicated that between 2 and 4 inches of rain had fallen across the warned area at 5:57 PM CDT. Flash flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
- What should I do if I come to a flooded road?
- Turn around, don't drown. The National Weather Service says most flood deaths occur in vehicles, and you should never drive around barricades or into flooded roads.
Sources
- NWS New Orleans LA: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 31, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.