Southwest Louisiana will continue to have “an active and unstable weather pattern” for the remainder of the week into the weekend as a series of upper-level disturbances mix with a very moist and unstable air mass.

“There will be a potential for severe storms, mainly damaging straight-line winds, and a potential for excessive rainfall that may lead to flash flooding from today into Saturday,” said National Weather Service-Lake Charles Lead Meteorologist Joe Rua said.

Rua said there will be a marginal to slight risk of excessive rainfall with a marginal risk of severe storms this evening.

There is a chance for one to two inches of rainfall in a short period of time tonight over the area’s already wet grounds, which could lead to urban street-type flooding and rises along creeks, bayous, and drainage ditches, Rua said.

He said more thunderstorms are expected to develop and move into the area from the west early Friday morning and into the afternoon.

“Damaging straight line winds will be the main hazard,” Rua said.

From this set of storms, one to three inches of rainfall is expected.

Friday’s storms are expected in the area from 7 a.m. to about 6 p.m.

Rua said scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday afternoon into the evening hours. Up to one inch of rainfall is expected.