Parts of New Orleans are underwater after severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall hit the popular tourist destination.
Images posted to social media show how the city's historic Bourbon Street area was hit by flash flooding this morning.
Around 10,000 homes have been left without electricity as tornadoes and water spouts wreak havoc across southern Louisiana.
Dramatic footage shows a man swimming through the deluge as parked cars nearby are left unable to move.
Another clip shows a local homeowner wading through two feet of water as heavy winds batter the residential neighbourhood.
Public transport has been held to a standstill due to the flooding and many public buildings, including City Hall, have been closed for the day.
Authorities have asked tourists and residents to not drive through the downtown area.
A flood warning is now in place until 10.45am Wednesday, local news reported .
Around four to six inches of rain have been reported with the National Weather Service warning that a further three inches are expected later today in southern Louisiana.
Rich Rainey for the city's Sewerage & Water Board said: "We’re fully staffed and responding to this rain.
"It is an intense thunderstorm, with rain briefly falling at a rate of around six inches an hour in some areas.
"Please warn folks to stay off the roads as much as possible, avoid underpasses and high water."
The service said it "will be keeping a VERY close eye on this storm. Flooding appears to be the biggest concern now in the metro area."
New Orleans was battered by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and heavy rainfall left 80% of the city underwater.
Over 1,800 people were killed and many more displaced in what is considered one of America's worst ever natural disasters.
