Louisiana under state of emergency as severe weather moves in: 'We all need to take this very, very seriously' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

States of emergency were declared in New Orleans and Louisiana overall on Wednesday as a hurricane watch threatens the state's southern coast.

The tropical moisture, which already triggered heavy rain and flash flood warnings in New Orleans Wednesday, is expected to intensify into a tropical depression by Thursday morning as the storm moves in from the Gulf of Mexico.

PHOTO: A woman carries two children through rising waters in New Orleans, July 10, 2019, during flooding from a storm in the Gulf Mexico. (Matthew Hinton/AP) More

PHOTO: Cars sit in floodwaters in New Orleans, July 10, 2019. (Lexie_Gruber/Twitter) More

PHOTO: A person crosses a flooded road as heavy rain falls, July 10, 2019, in New Orleans. (Times-Picayune and New Orleans Advocate via AP) More

The storm is then forecast to develop into Tropical Storm Barry by Thursday afternoon.

It may even strengthen to a category 1 hurricane by the weekend.

PHOTO: Forecast track for potential tropical cyclone. (ABC News) More

(MORE: NOAA forecasts near-normal 2019 Atlantic hurricane season)

"This is going to be a Louisiana event with coastal flooding and widespread, heavy rainfall potentially impacting every part of the state," Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement. "No one should take this storm lightly. As we know all too well in Louisiana, low intensity does not necessarily mean low impact."

"Now is the time to check your emergency supplies and get a game-plan for your family and pets," Edwards said.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell added, "New Orleans may experience more widespread localized severe flooding and gale force winds that could result in the endangerment and threat of life, injury and possible property damage."

High water in the New Orleans Area. This is Pontchartrain Expressway as of 10 AM. Be sure to checke https://t.co/XMr3BW67By before you travel. pic.twitter.com/Nf3CCrUUdy — Louisiana DOTD (@La_DOTD) July 10, 2019

(MORE: Tropical depression 101: With hurricane season in full swing, here's everything you need to know about this tropical cyclone)

The system is expected to make landfall in western Louisiana on Saturday, with the worst of the conditions hitting Friday night through Sunday morning.

Tornadoes are possible when the storm reaches Louisiana.

"We all need to take this very, very seriously," Edwards said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

Now is the time to prepare. Please have a plan. #mswx #lawx pic.twitter.com/rKObkxzWsW — NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) July 10, 2019

PHOTO: Traffic backs up as rain come down at Airline Drive and S. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans, as severe thunderstorms cause street flooding, July 10, 2019. (Max Becherer/Times-Picayune & The Advocate via AP) More

Regardless of how intense the storm may become, heavy rain is expected from the Florida Panhandle to the upper Texas coast and is forecast to extend inland into Louisiana, eastern Texas and the the lower Mississippi Valley.

Edwards warned that Louisiana could see as much as 10 to 15 inches of rain over a 24-hour period.

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