NEW ORLEANS: Severe thunderstorms prompted tornado warnings and inundated downtown New Orleans on Wednesday morning, causing travel to be disrupted and forcing the closure of City Hall, media reports said.

The flooding occurred as a brewing tropical system, which may soon, became Tropical Storm Barry, gathered strength over the Gulf of Mexico.

A flash flood emergency was declared in Jefferson Parish, Accuweather reported.

New Orleans city officials and those with the National Weather Service urged residents to stay off the roads and to seek higher ground if they encountered flooding.