Hurricane Harvey Louisiana: 2 PM WEDNESDAY UPDATE — Things You Need To Know

LAKE CHARLES, LA — The tropical storm formerly known as Hurricane Harvey is finally weakening as it inches farther inland, officials said, but not before it flooded streets and prompted rescues.

Here are the latest things you need to know:

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• Harvey is moving northeast at 8 mph, and its maximum sustained winds fell to 40 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
• Interstate 10 West was closed at mile marker 4, before the Louisiana/Texas state line, due to flooding.
• The National Weather Service issued advisories Wednesday afternoon on Harvey and on newly formed Tropical Storm Irma, which is hovering over the Atlantic Ocean.
• Irma could bring additional rainfall to both Texas and Louisiana coasts. A rainfall forecast isn't immediately available.
• A flash flood warning is in effect until 2:15 p.m. Central time for western Beauregard Parish, western Calcasieu Parish and Vernon Parish.
• Calcasieu Parish schools will reopen tomorrow, despite evacuations, rescues and flooding in the area.
• Between 5 and 25 inches of rain were dumped on the area over the past several days. An additional 2 to 4 inches could be dropped through the afternoon.
• A flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday for New Orleans and its surrounding suburbs. Schools reopened Wednesday.
• Places that will experience flooding include Leesville, Vinton, Rosepine, Merryville, Anacoco, Singer, Fort Polk, De Ridder, De Quincy, Slagle, Starks, Fields, Deridder, Dequincy, New Llano, Hornbeck, Lunita, Bivens, Hutton and Edgerly.

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• Roger Erickson, a Lake Charles meteorologist, said Harvey is weakening.
• State offices in 28 parishes and most Baton Rouge area schools closed Wednesday.
• No Harvey-related deaths were immediately reported.

Tropical storm #Harvey is inland, centered over SW Louisiana this morning. #LAwx #MSwx pic.twitter.com/g63vHK5rcw
— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) August 30, 2017

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images News