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The ongoing tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico spawned its first tornado warning and flash flood warning on Wednesday.
Both warnings are in force for New Orleans, announced the National Meteorological Service.
The weather system has not turned into a depression or tropical storm, but it is already pouring heavy rain over New Orleans, where the streets are beginning to be flooded.
[Previous story, published at 6:29 a.m. ET]
A weather system heading towards the Gulf Coast now has a 90% chance of becoming a tropical storm, putting the cities of Houston in Mobile, Alabama, on alert and causing evacuations of oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
The low-pressure system is now over Florida, but is expected to go Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico, where it will encounter warm, open water that will fuel the intensity of the storm, according to CNN weather forecaster Haley Brink.
According to the National Hurricane Center, it has a 90% chance of turning into a tropical storm in the next 48 hours. It's about a 70% chance on Tuesday.
Brink said the location of the storm was not yet known, but models show that the storm would land somewhere between Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mobile on Saturday.
Regardless of the classification in which this system develops, Louisiana and Mississippi should receive very heavy rains – more than a foot in some places, said Brink.
The Gulf Coast region is prepared for bad weather.
"Tropical storms, hurricanes and storm surges may be needed for part of the north coast of the Gulf on Wednesday, and an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is expected to investigate the disturbances tomorrow afternoon," he said. the National Hurricane Service.
Oil producing companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico have also begun to take precautions.
Shell has evacuated all nonessential personnel from the eastern Gulf drilling rigs, with more action to the horizon depending on the changing storm, said CNN spokesperson Cindy Babski.
"Our top priorities are to ensure staff safety, protect the environment and minimize the impact on production and operations," Babski said.
Chevron also evacuated non-essential employees from the Jack St. Malo facility. Ban proceedings were initiated in five other facilities, CNN spokeswoman Veronica Flores-Paniagua told CNN.
A potential storm surge has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning for the Mississippi River, including New Orleans, until Saturday. The NWS said the river could reach a peak at 19 feet, or 2.3 feet below the record. The city is protected at a height of 20 feet.
The Flood Protection Authority announced it would close several gates and flooding structures in the New Orleans area starting Wednesday morning.
CNN's Dave Hennen, Brandon Miller, Monica Garrett, Paul P. Murphy, Joe Sutton and Michelle Lou contributed to this report.
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