Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 29, NWS Lake Charles, LA

January 21, 1998Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 21, 1998, 10:24 PM CST for Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 46 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jan 21, 1998, 10:24 PM CST (04:24 UTC)
Expired
Jan 21, 1998, 11:10 PM CST
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Avoyelles Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:28 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jan 21, 10:50 PM CSTHail 0.75Marksville, LA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 156 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 00:00Z on 1998-01-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1567 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 00:00Z on 1998-01-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 120 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1567 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
6.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

948 
WUUS1 KLCH 220423 RRA
SVRLCH
LAC009-220510-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1024 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES LA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1110 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA

   ...AVOYELLES PARISH

AT 1022 PM DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR
MARKSVILLE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS.


THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. FOR YOUR PROTECTION...SEEK SHELTER
IMMEDIATELY IN A STRONG BUILDING. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH
AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR
BUSINESS. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.

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.

NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jan 21, 7:45 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 21, 7:45 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS..SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
745 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

SEVERE TSRA CONTINUES OVER EAST TEXAS...GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED
EARLIER IN TYLER COUNTY.

00Z LCH SOUNDING SHOWING 2000 CAPES WITH -7 LIS.  WITH CURRENT LOW
LEVEL WIND PROFILE...NE-E MOVING CELLS SHOULD HAVE 0-3KM HELICITIES
RUNNING 180-200 RANGE. PRECIPITATION FILLING IN OVER EAST-CENTRAL TX.
FLASHFLOODING WILL BE A POSSIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER NORTHERN ZONES.
MORE OF A SEVERE THREAT WILL CONTINUE OVER COASTAL SECTIONS WITH THE
BETTER LOW LEVEL INFLOW.

FORECAST LOOKS GOOD AT THIS POINT...KEEP FAA TONIGHT FOR ENTIRE AREA.
MAY WANT TO BUMP UP LOWS FOR TONIGHT GIVEN CURRENT TEMPS AND
FRONTAL POSITION.

12

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 21, 9:28 PM CST, 56 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
928 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

900 PM     DEQUINCY                  LA   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CALCASIEU                      REPORTED BY POLICE DEPT

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Jan 21, 9:28 PM CST, 56 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
928 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

900 PM     DEQUINCY                  LA   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CALCASIEU                      REPORTED BY POLICE DEPT

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Jan 21, 10:00 PM CST, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1000 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

953 PM     FANNETT                   TX   1.00 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   JEFFERSON                      QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN FANNETT BY KFDM-TV.

956 PM     KIRBYVILLE                TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   JASPER                         GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN KIRBYVILLE BY KFDM-TV.
Local storm report, Jan 21, 10:11 PM CST, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1011 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

940 PM     KIRBYVILLE                TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   JASPER                         GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN KIRBYVILLE BY SHERIFFS.

928 PM     2N OF MOSSBLUFF            LA  1.00 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CALCASIEU                      PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED NEAR TOPSY BY
                                          KPLC-TV.
Local storm report, Jan 21, 10:20 PM CST, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1020 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

930 PM     RAGLEY                    LA   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BEAUREGARD

1000 PM    BLEAKWOOD                 TX   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   NEWTON                         ALSO REPORTS OF TREES
                                          BLOWN DOWN AND ROADS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

940 PM     HAMPSHIRE                 TX   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   JEFFERSON

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Jan 21, 10:20 PM CST, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1020 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

930 PM     RAGLEY                    LA   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BEAUREGARD

1000 PM    BLEAKWOOD                 TX   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   NEWTON                         ALSO REPORTS OF TREES
                                          BLOWN DOWN AND ROADS
                                          CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

940 PM     HAMPSHIRE                 TX   0.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   JEFFERSON

ERICKSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 21, 6:08 PM CSTTornado WarningLCHBeauregard, Vernon57 min
Jan 21, 8:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu35 min
Jan 21, 9:23 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard62 min
Jan 21, 9:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen62 min
Jan 21, 9:47 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson Davis63 min
Jan 21, 10:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard65 min
Jan 21, 11:01 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron64 min
Jan 21, 11:14 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHBeauregard2 hr
Jan 21, 11:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Jefferson Davis64 min
Jan 21, 11:50 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu2 hr
Jan 22, 12:06 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron64 min
Jan 22, 1:08 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson Davis47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.