The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch that includes New Orleans and Baton Rouge metro areas until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The threat of severe weather prompted New Orleans Mardi Gras parades to roll early Fat Tuesday and attention is now turning what is in the forecast this afternoon and evening.

A dangerous line of severe thunderstorms continues to move east after causing damage across parts of Texas and Oklahoma. FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen explains the tornado threat for Louisiana,

Power outages skyrocketed as damage reports continued to come in Tuesday from several states as severe weather raced across portions of Texas and Oklahoma early in the day, and now the line of tornado-producing storms is charging east through Mississippi and Louisiana,

Officials rushed to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations and warned revelers as powerful storms were expected to strike Louisiana.

The celebrations this year were dampened due to weather concerns, but people still came out in New Orleans to party.

Thousands of revelers in outlandish costumes filled the streets of New Orleans as the city celebrated Mardi Gras Day despite the threat of storms.