BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards called for a State of Emergency for several North Louisiana parishes Wednesday afternoon in the wake of Wednesday's severe weather.

The parishes covered by the declaration include Acadia, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, East Carroll, Grant Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Union, Webster and West Carroll.

The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watched in several Louisiana parishes.

A strong storm system has caused thunderstorms across most of the state and is expected to continue through the week with flash flooding and damaging winds.

The order is in effect from Wednesday until Thursday, Apr. 7 unless terminated sooner.