JEAN LAFITTE, La. — Tropical Storm Lee slowly lumbered ever nearer to Louisiana's Gulf Coast on Sunday, dumping torrential rains that threatened low-lying communities in a foreshadowing of what cities further inland could face in coming days.
Lee's center drifted very near to the coast before dawn after the storm spent hours hovering and spinning nearly in one spot in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Its slow crawl to the north gave more time for its drenching rain bands to pelt a wide swath of vulnerable coastline.
By Sunday, at least 6 to 10 inches of rain had fallen in some places along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, and the National Weather Service warned there was a rising threat of floods and flash floods because of the storm's slow slog inland. The heavy rainbands were expected to head northward into the Tennessee Valley later in the week as forecasters warned up to 20 inches of rain could fall in some isolated spots.
No injuries were reported so far from the storm. But there were scattered instances of water entering low-lying homes and businesses in Louisiana. The storm prompted evacuations in bayou towns such as Jean Lafitte. Thousands were without power.
Late Saturday, lifelong Jean Lafitte resident Brad Zinet was riding out the approaching storm in his mobile home mounted on pilings. He was hoping it wouldn't take on water.
"We got nowhere to go. We're just getting everything put up out of the way and hope for the best," said the 31-year-old plumber.
"This is a way of life around here," he added. "You just do the best you can and ride it out."
To the east, coastal businesses were suffering. Alabama beaches that would normally be packed for the Labor Day holiday were largely empty, and rough seas closed the Port of Mobile. Mississippi's coastal casinos, however, were open and reporting brisk business.
The center of the slow-moving storm was about 60 miles (95 kilometers) southwest of Lafayette, La., at 2 a.m. EDT Sunday. Its position had barely changed over several hours as the stormed crawled toward the north at 4 mph (6 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.
The center said Lee was forecast to drive ashore in coming hours and move during the day and night across southern Louisiana, dropping 10 to 15 inches of rain from the central Gulf coast northward into the Tennessee Valley. It warned that raised the risk of flooding with 20 inches possible in isolated spots.
Lee's maximum sustained winds have dropped to 45 mph (75 kph) as the storm weakened slightly. Gradual weakening was expected in coming days. Tropical storm warnings stretched from the Louisiana-Texas state line to Destin, Fla.
The National Weather Service in Slidell said parts of New Orleans received between 6 and 8 inches of rain between Thursday morning and Saturday afternoon, and that coastal Mississippi points reported more than 6 inches. Officials in some suburban and rural areas of southeast Louisiana reported more than 10 inches.
In New Orleans, sporadic downpours caused some street flooding Saturday, but pumps were sucking up the water and sending it into Lake Pontchartrain. Officials said the levees were doing their job.
Still, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu warned residents not to let their guard down, saying: "We're not out of the woods. Don't go to sleep on this storm."
To the east, coastal Mississippi officials were bracing for the storm to move further into the state.
"We've been getting some pretty good onshore rains," said Jackson County emergency director Donald Langham.
Harrison County officials said travel on U.S. Highway 90 had become hazardous because winds from Lee have pushed sand from beach onto the eastbound lanes and the rain has created a situation where drivers cannot see the roadway.
"This layer of sand has gotten up on the highway and you can't determine if you're on the road, up on the median or the curb," said emergency director Rupert Lacy.
Flooding in Hancock County left several roadways impassable, and the rain on parts of Interstate 10 at times has been so heavy that visibility was down to only a few feet.
Casinos along the coast remained open and reported brisk business despite the storm. At the Beau Rivage in Biloxi resort spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo-Spain said business was going on as usual.
"We're open for business and we are safe and secure," she said.
In Alabama, rough seas forced the closure of the Port of Mobile. Pockets of heavy rain pounded the beaches Saturday, and strong winds whipped up the surf and bowed palm trees. But just a couple miles inland, wind and rain dropped significantly.
Wet and windy conditions hovered over Dauphin Island, a barrier island in the Gulf, but conditions weren't too threatening, Mayor Jeff Collier said. High surf caused some roads to flood, but all were still passable Saturday afternoon.
Precautions were taken to secure anything that could be swept away by wind or waves, and Labor Day concerts and other festivities were canceled.
"The weekend is literally a wash," Collier said. "It's really a shame that it happened on a holiday weekend."
Beaches that would normally be packed were nearly empty. Melinda Fondren, who moved to Gulf Shores about three months ago, visited the beach to experience her first tropical storm.
"I'm excited but a little afraid of the storm surge," she said, adding that her middle name is Lee. "I've been telling my family that I hit Gulf Shores twice."
Associated Press writers contributing to this report were Kevin McGill and Brian Schwaner in New Orleans; Jack Elliott Jr. in Jackson, Miss.; Jim Van Anglen in Gulf Shores, Ala.; and Kate Brumback in Atlanta.