Tropical Storm Bill neared landfall on the Louisiana coast Monday afternoon, bringing with it torrential rains and gusty winds.
The National Weather Service said Bill is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It formed quickly Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico and barreled toward the Louisiana coast Sunday night.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, NWS meteorologists said Bill was centered about 20 miles south of Morgan City, La., with sustained winds of 60 mph. Morgan City is located about 45 miles south of Baton Rouge. Tropical storm force winds extended 145 miles from the center of the storm.
Although additional strengthening was possible late Monday, forecasters did not expect Bill to become a hurricane.
Weather conditions deteriorated early Monday in Baton Rouge, with rains and gusty winds occurring late Monday morning. Forecasters expected the center of the storm to near Baton Rouge early Monday evening.
The weather also caused minor damage on campus Monday afternoon when a tree limb near Thomas Boyd Hall fell as a result of the rains.
“It was the result of a weak and damaged crotch,” said Fred Fellner, Landscape Services director.
Fellner said workers expected to see similar damage as the storm neared Baton Rouge.
The National Weather Service said Bill was expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain to parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Isolated tornadoes also are a possibility with the storm.
University officials met with members of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Monday morning to discuss the proper course of action. Early Monday afternoon, University officials announced the University would close at 3 p.m. Monday.
Officials planned to resume business as usual, including classes and freshman orientation programs, on Tuesday.