Another bout of severe weather and heavy rainfall awaits Southwest Louisiana today.

National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist Donald Jones said multiple rounds of rain will roll through the area through Friday night, possibly Saturday morning.

“The good news is I think we’re going to get all of the activity out of here by Saturday so Saturday and Sunday are looking pretty nice,” Jones said. “And as we look into next week we’re actually going to set up into a much drier pattern so no rainfall to speak of all next week.”

But, unfortunately, the area has to get through a lot of rainfall first, Jones said.

“Some of these disturbances have the chance to be severe,” he said.

Jones said a rare, high-risk area for flash flooding exists across parts of the region this afternoon and tonight. Two to six inches of rain is expected with up to 12 possibles in some areas.

“We cannot really afford that in this part of the world right now because all of our area waterways are already full and ground and soil is already saturated so it’s not going to take a lot of rainfall to start flash flooding occurring and, unfortunately, that’s what we’re expecting here today, tonight and tomorrow.”

He said there is a significant risk for flash flooding overnight.

Vernon Parish is considered a high risk for flash flooding, Calcasieu has a moderate risk.

Damaging, straight-line winds are the biggest threat, but tornadoes and hail are also possible.

Rainfall should start at about 3 p.m. today and could continue through 3 a.m. Friday.

He said there will be a lull in rainfall around sunrise Friday morning but by Friday afternoon, another round of rain will hit the area.