NEW ORLEANS, Friday (AAP Reuter) — Floods caused by torrential rain have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in southern Louisiana in the US and more storms have been forecast.

Hundreds of motorists were stranded and thousands of people were trapped in their homes yesterday after floodwaters up to three metres deep swirled through some pans of New Orleans.

Red Cross officials said 40,000 people had been evacuated in Baton Rouge and 20,000 in New Orleans.

Source: The Canberra Times