Tropical Storm Lee

While the east coast is still cleaning up from Irene, areas of the Gulf coast are now getting hammered by Tropical Storm Lee. 

Originating in the Gulf of Mexico, moving north at 2 mph, and with sustained winds of 45 mph, Lee is now being termed a "Super Soaker".  Up to 20 inches of rain is expected to fall in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, and both states have declared States of Emergency.  Tornado warnings were issued for New Orleans, and according to Federal authorities, 169 of the 617 staffed production platforms have been evacuated, along with 16 of the 62 drilling rigs located along the Gulf coast.

Although it's been called "nothing compared to Katrina," and although city officials have declared otherwise, for New Orleans, this will be a substantial test for their rebuilt levees and pumping system, so ordered after the catastrophic flooding Katrina caused in the Big Easy. 

We normally wouldn't include such a storm in this blog, as it may turn out to be less significant, historically.  But, lest we forget the flooding damage caused by Irene, even after it had downgraded to tropical storm, and considering the susceptibility of New Orleans to flooding, and considering hurricane Katia still gathers strength out in the Atlantic, as it rolls in the direction of Florida, we nonetheless considered worthy of mention here, as the summer of 2011 may soon be known as the Summer of Storms.