Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 1989

Flash Flood Warning 49, NWS Lake Charles, LA

June 30, 1989Cameron Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 30, 1989, 10:16 AM CDT for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 30, 1989, 10:16 AM CDT (15:16 UTC)
Expired
Jun 30, 1989, 1:15 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Cameron 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

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 30 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 1989-06-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1621 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 1989-06-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1621 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
577 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLCH 301518
FFWLCH
LAC011-019-023-301815-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1016 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  115 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING PARISHES...
 
IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
          ...BEAUREGARD...CALCASIEU...CAMERON
 
RADAR INDICATED BANDS OF HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF
THESE PARISHES WITH A WERE SLOW MOVEMENT EASTWARD.
 
IN THE VINTON AREA ROADS WERE REPORTED UNDER WATER ALREADY AND WITH
MORE HEAVY RAIN INDICATED IN THE AREA.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Jun 30, 5:41 AM CDT, 4 hours 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
540 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

AT 525 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN PERSISTED OVER
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FROM MIDWAY BETWEEN WOODVILLE AND KIRBYVILLE
...ACROSS THE BEAUMONT AREA AND INTO THE GULF TO 25 MILES OFFSHORE FROM
GALVESTON.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PART OF AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT COVERED A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE AREA WAS GENERALLY
SOUTH OF A LUFKIN...KIRBYVILLE LINE AND EXTENDED TO LAKE LIVINGSTON...
LIBERTY...GALVESTON...SABINE PASS AND INTO THE COASTAZL WATERS. SCATTERED
SHOWERS WERE SHOWN IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND OVER THE NORTH END OF TOLEDO
BEND RESERVOIR.
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 6:43 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
643 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

AT 625 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN PERSISTED OVER
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS FROM JUST WEST OF KIRBYVILLE...ACROSS THE
BEAUMONT AREA AND INTO THE GULF TO 25 MILES OFFSHORE FROM HIGH ISLAND.
MOVEMENT WAS SLOWLY EAST.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PART OF AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT COVERED A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND IS NOW MOVING INTO
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. HEAVY RAINS WERE OCCURRING ALONG THE SABINE RIVER
AND WILL BE MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BETWEEN THE PRESENT TIME
AND 8 AM THIS MORNING. THE AREA WAS GENERALLY WEST OF A LINE FROM RAYBURN
LAKE TEXAS TO DE QUINCY TO THE COAST JUST EAST OF SABINE PASS. THE RAIN
EXTENDED WESTWARD TO FREEPORT...LIBERTY...AND LAKE LIVINGSTON TEXAS AND
INTO THE COASTAL WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO SABINE PASS.
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 7:47 AM CDT, 2 hours 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
745 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...

AT 725 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWN FROM
JUST NORTH OF KIRBYVILLE TEXAS TO JUST EAST OF ORANGE TEXAS. THE LINE
EXTENDED SOUTHWEST ACROSS SABINE PASS INTO THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL
WATERS SOUTH OF GALVESTON. MOVEMENT WAS SLOWLY EAST.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME CAUSING STREET FLOODING. MOTORIST ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PART OF AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT WAS GENERALLY NORTHWEST OF DE RIDDER...LAKE CHARLES...CAMERON LINE.
THE RAIN EXTENDED INTO TEXAS TO NEAR LUFKIN...LIBERTY AND FREEPORT.
RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS
FROM FREEPORT TO SABINE PASS.

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN LEESVILLE AND
ALEXANDRIA.
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 8:47 AM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
850 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
AND INTO BEAURGEGARD...CALCASIEU...AND CAMERON PARISHES...

AT 829 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWN FROM
WEST OF DERIDDER TO OVER VINTON TO SABINE PASS ON OUT INTO THE GULF TO
45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GALVESTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT ABOUT
8 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME CAUSING STREET FLOODING. MOTORIST ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PART OF AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT EXTENDED TO THE WEST OF A WEST OF A LINE FROM ALEXANDRIALAKE CHARLES
...TO 55 MILES SOUTH OF FREEPORT TEXAS. THE AREA EXTENDED AS FAR WEST
AS LUFKIN...HOUSTON...TO NORTHWEST OF FREEPORT.

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN LEESVILLE AND
ALEXANDRIA.
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 8:52 AM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
850 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN MOVING INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
AND INTO BEAUREGARD...CALCASIEU...AND CAMERON PARISHES...

AT 829 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWN FROM
WEST OF DERIDDER TO OVER VINTON TO SABINE PASS ON OUT INTO THE GULF TO
45 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GALVESTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT ABOUT
8 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME CAUSING STREET FLOODING. MOTORIST ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.

THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS PART OF AN AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS
THAT EXTENDED TO THE WEST OF A LINE FROM ALEXANDRIA...LAKE CHARLES
...TO 55 MILES SOUTH OF FREEPORT TEXAS. THE AREA EXTENDED AS FAR WEST
AS LUFKIN...HOUSTON...TO NORTHWEST OF FREEPORT.

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS HAD DEVELOPED BETWEEN LEESVILLE AND
ALEXANDRIA.
Special weather statement, Jun 30, 9:41 AM CDT, 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
935 AM CDT FRI JUN 30 1989

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
LOUISIANA TODAY...

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA FROM THE WEST AND INTO VERNON...BEAUREGARD...CALCASIEU...AND
AND CAMERON PARISHES...

AT 925 AM...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS SHOWN FROM
WEST OF DEQUINCY TO OVER VINTON TO EAST OF BEAUMONT TO JUST WEST OF
SABINE PASS OUT INTO THE GULF TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF GALVESTON. MOVEMENT
WAS SLOWLY EAST.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME CAUSING STREET FLOODING. MOTORIST ARE URGED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION.
TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES WERE REPORTED IN VINTON LOUISIANA THIS MORNING AND
STREETS WERE FLOODED.

THIS LINE OF RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE PART OF A LARGE AREA THAT
EXTENDED TO THE WEST OF A ELIZABETH...JENNINGS...CAMERON LINE AND AS
FAR WEST AS A LUFKIN TEXAS...HOUSTON...FREEPORT LINE AND CONTINUED
OFF THE UPPER TEXAS COAST TO 40 AND 60 MILES OFFSHORE.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAIN ALSO WERE NOTED FROM DERIDDER TO
OVER TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIRZ AND IN THE GULF 30 MILES SOUTH TO 80 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CAMERON.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 29, 10:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHRapides4 hr
Jun 30, 12:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron2 hr
Jun 30, 10:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 1989Every flash flood warning in 1989

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.