Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Lake Charles, LA

January 27, 1994Grant Parish, Rapides Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at Jan 27, 1994, 12:37 PM CST for Grant Parish, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 27, 1994, 12:37 PM CST (18:37 UTC)
Expired
Jan 27, 1994, 4:00 PM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Grant Parish, LA, Rapides Parish, LA

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 155 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 1994-01-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1081 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 1994-01-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 263 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
1081 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
595 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
263 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
294 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
8.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLCH 271839
FFWLCH
LAC043-079-011-019-115-272200-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1237 PM CST THU JAN 27 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  400 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA
 
   ...GRANT PARISH...RAPIDES PARISH
 
IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
 
   ...BEAUREGARD PARISH...WESTERN CALCASIEU PARISH
   ...VERNON PARISH
 
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THESE
PARISHES. CIVIL DEFENSE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REPORT SEVERAL
ROADS UNDER WATER AND DITCHES AND SMALL STREAMS BANKFULL. THE CIVIL
DEFENSE DIRECTOR IN ALEXANDRIA ADVISES MOTORISTS TO STAY AT HOME AND NOT
TO DRIVE UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
 
LAKE CHARLES WEATHER RADAR SHOWS THAT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS THESE PARISHES DURING THE AFTERNOON.  THIS WILL
AGGRAVATE THE FLOODING SITUATIONS IN THESE PARISHES.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE 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, Jan 27, 8:59 AM CST, 3 hours 38 minutes before
TXZ165-181-152-182-167-166-180-271700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
859 AM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...STRONG STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE EAST TEXAS LAKES AREA...

AT 0845 AM LST...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
THROUGH THE EAST TEXAS LAKES AREA.  THESE STORMS WERE IN A LINE LOCATED
FROM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAKE LIVINGSTON TO THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE
SAM RAYBURN...TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR AND ON INTO LOUISIANA.  THE
STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE SAM
RAYBURN...15 MILES SOUTH OF ZAVALLA.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...PERIODS OF HEAVY
RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF THESE STORMS ARE MOVING INTO YOUR AREA.  STAY
TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 9:01 AM CST, 3 hours 36 minutes before
TXZ165-181-152-182-167-166-180-271700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
859 AM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...STRONG STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE EAST TEXAS LAKES AREA...

AT 0845 AM LST...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
THROUGH THE EAST TEXAS LAKES AREA.  THESE STORMS WERE IN A LINE LOCATED
FROM 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LAKE LIVINGSTON TO THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE
SAM RAYBURN...TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR AND ON INTO LOUISIANA.  THE
STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE SAM
RAYBURN...15 MILES SOUTH OF ZAVALLA.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...PERIODS OF HEAVY
RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.  PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE COVER IF THESE STORMS ARE MOVING INTO YOUR AREA.  STAY
TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 10:51 AM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
TXZ165-201-181-215-152-182-216-167-166-180-511-271900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
1051 AM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS...

AT 1045 AM CST...A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST AND
SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  THIS AREA WAS LOCATED NORTH OF A GALVESTON...SILSBEE
...KIRBYVILLE...NEWTON...MOUNT CARMEL LOUISIANA LINE.  THE STRONGEST OF
THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED IN A LINE FROM FRED TO NEWTON TO THE SOUTHERN
END OF THE TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE WATCH AREA.  TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL
...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE.
PERSONS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 10:52 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
TXZ165-201-181-215-152-182-216-167-166-180-511-271900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
1051 AM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS...

AT 1045 AM CST...A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST AND
SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  THIS AREA WAS LOCATED NORTH OF A GALVESTON...SILSBEE
...KIRBYVILLE...NEWTON...MOUNT CARMEL LOUISIANA LINE.  THE STRONGEST OF
THESE STORMS WAS LOCATED IN A LINE FROM FRED TO NEWTON TO THE SOUTHERN
END OF THE TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE WATCH AREA.  TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL
...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS ARE POSSIBLE.
PERSONS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 12:09 PM CST, 28 minutes before
TXZ201-215-216-511-272015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
1209 PM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST...
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH JEFFERSON COUNTY...

AT 1200 PM CST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING THROUGH JEFFERSON
COUNTY.  RADAR INDICATED AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OVER PORT ARTHUR AND
WAS MOVING OVER SABINE LAKE AND INTO ORANGE COUNTY.

ALSO...AN INTENSE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NORTH OF
LIBERTY TO THE HOUSTON AREA AND WAS BEGINNING TO EFFECT HARDIN AND
JEFFERSON COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE COVER SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER MOVE INTO YOUR AREA.
REMEMBER THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...INTENSE
LIGHTNING AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 12:10 PM CST, 27 minutes before
TXZ201-215-216-511-272015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORT ARTHUR TX
1209 PM CST THU JAN 27 1994

...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST...
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING THROUGH JEFFERSON COUNTY...

AT 1200 PM CST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING THROUGH JEFFERSON
COUNTY.  RADAR INDICATED AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OVER PORT ARTHUR AND
WAS MOVING OVER SABINE LAKE AND INTO ORANGE COUNTY.

ALSO...AN INTENSE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NORTH OF
LIBERTY TO THE HOUSTON AREA AND WAS BEGINNING TO EFFECT HARDIN AND
JEFFERSON COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND BE
PREPARED TO TAKE COVER SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER MOVE INTO YOUR AREA.
REMEMBER THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...INTENSE
LIGHTNING AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 27, 8:30 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHRapides, Vernon2 hr
Jan 27, 10:30 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHRapides, Vernon2 hr
Jan 27, 12:37 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu, Vernon3 hr
Jan 27, 2:51 PM CSTTornado WarningLCHBeauregard39 min
Jan 27, 3:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron59 min
Jan 27, 3:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Beauregard35 min
Jan 27, 3:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis64 min
Jan 27, 3:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron64 min
Jan 27, 4:00 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHGrant, Rapides, Vernon2 hr
Jan 27, 4:00 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 1994Every flash flood warning in 1994

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.