Staff report

Heavy showers were blanketing Jefferson County this morning, with rain expected perhaps until the afternoon.

Todd Mogged of the National Weather Service in Lake Charles said rain was falling here at the rate of an inch or more per hour, but the storms were progressing west to east at a good clip. There were no rainfall reports at 8 a.m. from Jefferson County’s airport.

“If it stalls, we could have some issues,” Mogged said.

South winds of 15-20 mph — brisk winds started Wednesday — were expected to continue through the morning with gusts reaching as high as 30 mph.

The chance of precipitation was 100 percent this morning — just look out your window — but may fade to 50 percent or less by afternoon.

Ditches were filling quickly alongside Highway 69 and service roads were pooling water in some low spots.

Expect better weather Friday — the early forecast calls for sun with a high near 66 — but rain will likely return for the weekend, the NWS forecast suggested.