The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a flood warning for Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana through 9:45 p.m. Thursday.

At 9:45 a.m. NWS Doppler Radar showed an area of moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms across the area with rainfall totals of one to two inches in many locations during the past 24 hours. With the ground already saturated from recent rains, flooding is likely. An additional two to three inches of rain are still possible in the advisory area.

Numerous showers and a few thunderstorms will continue to move west Thursday morning at 30 mph and affect an area mainly to the northwest of a line from Port Arthur to Ville Platte, La.

The flood warning is for Jefferson, Orange, Hardin, Jasper, Newton and Tyler counties in Southeast Texas. Louisiana parishes in the warning area include northwestern Calcasieu, Beauregard and Vernon.

Areas already affected by the rains include Beaumont, Visor, Orange, Lumberton and well as Woodville, Jasper, Newton, Kountze, Buna and Kirbyville.

Heavy rains flood low-lying roads rapidly so motorists are warned not to drive their vehicles where waters of an unknown depth covers the roads. Residents living along streams, creeks and drainage ditches should be ready to take immediate action if flooding is observed.