Tropical Storm Claudette brings rain, floods to US Gulf Coast

Flooding had already begun overnight on Friday with reports of high water over roads and stranded vehicles.

Tropical Storm Claudette formed along the US Gulf Coast on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rains and flooding to coastal states including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 4am (08:00 GMT) advisory that the storm was located 45 miles (75km) southwest of New Orleans with maximum sustained winds of 45mph (75km/h). Flooding had already begun overnight on Friday with reports of high water over roads and stranded vehicles. Flash flood warnings dotted the coast while flood watches were in effect well inland for parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and central and northern Georgia.