Footage from space station shows Hurricane Isaac

Pictures from the International Space Station show Hurricane Isaac covering a vast area of the Gulf of Mexico as it pummels New Orleans with strong winds and heavy rain.

The storm made landfall in Louisiana just before 19:00 local time (00:00 GMT), then headed back out to sea before returning to land further west several hours later.

BBC meteorologist Darren Bett said Isaac's slow movement across Louisiana could result in up to 20 inches (50cm) of rain falling on New Orleans, and warned of possible flood water flowing down the Mississippi River even when the storm has moved north.