Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS New Orleans, LA

November 16, 1987Ascension Parish, Louisiana

NWS New Orleans, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 16, 1987, 2:52 PM CST for Ascension Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 53 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 16, 1987, 2:52 PM CST (20:52 UTC)
Expired
Nov 16, 1987, 3:45 PM CST
In force
53 min
Issued by
NWS New Orleans, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Ascension Parish, LA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Boothville, LA (KBVE), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 175 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Boothville, LA at 12:00Z on 1987-11-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1082 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Boothville, LA at 12:00Z on 1987-11-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 229 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1082 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
535 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
229 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
384 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
7.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KBTR 162056 COR
SVRBTR
LAC001-005-063-091-162245-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
252 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 345 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING PARISHES...

IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA
    ...ASCENSION...LIVINGSTON...ST HELENA

RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF NUMEROUS VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTH OF
GREENSBURG IN ST HELENA PARISH SOUTH ACROSS LIVINGSTON AND ASCENSION
PARISHES.  THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE  WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Nov 16, 11:35 AM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1145 AM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ASSUMPTION LOWER ST MARTIN ST MARY
AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA UNTIL 2 PM CST...

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING FROM ATCHAFALAYA BAY NORTHEAST
ACROSS HAMMOND TO BOGALUSA LOUISIANA.

SCATTERED STGRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM JUST EAST OF
VICKSBURG SOUTHWESAT ACROSS ALEXANDRIA LOUISIANA INTO EAST TEXAS.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 12:11 PM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
1215 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

....A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA
UNTIL 8 PM THIS MONDAY EVENING...

RADAR SHOWED THE THUNDERSTORMS ACROS EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA HAS
DECREASED DURING THE PAST HOUR.  HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING
WEST OF THE AREA AND WILL MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS ALL OF EAST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OVER ALL
OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND GUST TO 46
MPH WAS RECORDED AT RYAN AIRPORT DURING THE PAST HOUR.  PEOPLE IN EAST
CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVnERE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR A LARGE PART OF LOUISIANA
INCLUDING AVOYELLES...CATAHOULA...CONCORDIA...AND ST LANDRY PARISHES...
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 12:47 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1245 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR ASSUMPTION LOWER ST MARTIN ST MARY
TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
THE FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY.

ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI
EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHCENTRAL LOUISIANA AND THE COASTAL AREA OF
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.

A SOLID LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM MONROE LOUISIANA
SOUTH ACROSS ALEXANDRIA TO JENNINGS LOUISIANA. THE LINE WAS MOVING
EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 1:55 PM CST, 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
145 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR IBERIA LOWER ST MARTIN UPPER ST MARTIN
ST MARY TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY UNTIL 8 PM CST.

A SOLID LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM VICKSBURG
MISSISSIPPI SOUTH ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO NATCHEZ AND CONTINUED
SOUTH ACROSS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA TO LAFAYETTE TO THE COASTAL WATERS
SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN
SMALL HAIL..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES AS THEY
MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT
AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED GO TO A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 2:04 PM CST, 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BATON ROUGE LA
205 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

....A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA
UNTIL 8 PM THIS MONDAY EVENING...

RADAR SHOWED A VERY STRONG LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE LOUISIANA-
MISSISSIPPI BORDER NORTH OF BATON ROUGE...SOUTHWEST ACROSS EAST AND
WEST FELICIANA PARISHES...INTO POINTE COUPEE AND IBERVILLE PARISHES.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER A
LARGE PART OF EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS.
PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SEVERE WEATHER
UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORMS PASS YOUR AREA.

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR A LARGE PART OF LOUISIANA
INCLUDING AVOYELLES...CATAHOULA...CONCORDIA...AND ST LANDRY PARISHES...
Special weather statement, Nov 16, 2:47 PM CST, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
245 PM CST MON NOV 16 1987

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR IBERIA LOWER ST MARTIN UPPER ST MARTIN
ST MARY TANGIPAHOA AND WASHINGTON AND ADJOINING COASTAL WATERS OF THE
FOLLOWING PARISHES IBERIA AND ST MARY UNTIL 8 PM CST.

A SOLID LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST WEST OF
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI SOUTH TO JUST WEST OF MC COMB MISSISSIPPI TO
BATON ROUGE TO MORGAN CITY TO VERMILION BAY. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN SMALL HAIL..DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES AS THEY MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED GO TO A SAFE
IMMEDIATELY.

ELSEWHERE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED ACROSS SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA.

The office that day

Everything else NWS New Orleans, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 15, 10:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAvoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia60 min
Nov 16, 12:00 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXCatahoula, Concordia60 min
Nov 16, 8:15 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLIXCatahoula4 hr
Nov 16, 12:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAvoyelles, Saint Landry70 min
Nov 16, 12:40 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLIXCatahoula, Concordia4 hr
Nov 16, 12:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXConcordia, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana65 min
Nov 16, 12:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXIberville65 min
Nov 16, 2:15 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXEast Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, West Baton Rouge60 min
Nov 16, 2:52 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXLivingston, Saint Helena53 min
Nov 16, 3:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAssumption, Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary58 min
Nov 16, 3:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLIXAscension, Livingston40 min
Nov 16, 4:37 PM CSTTornado WarningLIXWashington68 min
Nov 16, 5:52 PM CSTTornado WarningLIXLafourche, Saint Charles68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.