Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 97, NWS Lake Charles, LA

March 7, 1998Cameron Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 7, 1998, 6:24 AM CST for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 61 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 7, 1998, 6:24 AM CST (12:24 UTC)
Expired
Mar 7, 1998, 7:25 AM CST
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Cameron Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:25 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 7, 3:45 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 0.4 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 1998-03-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 666 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 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 1998-03-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 201 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 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
666 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-108 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
549 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
285 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

154 
WUUS1 KLCH 071226 RRA
SVRLCH
LAC023-071325-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
624 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES LA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 725 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA

   ...CAMERON PARISH

AT 620 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTH OF ORANGE MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH.

THE COMMUNITIES OF HACKBERRY AND GRAND LAKE ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
STORM.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. EXPECT GOLFBALL TO BASEBALL SIZED HAIL
WITH THIS STORM.

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. IF A TORNADO APPROACHES YOUR
AREA...REMAIN CALM...MOVE TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS...SUCH AS A BATHROOM OR CLOSET.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH BLANKETS OR PILLOWS.

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 Mar 7, 1:55 AM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 7, 1:55 AM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS..SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
155 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

STRONGEST ACTIVITY NOW PUSHING NORTHEAST OF FA WITH ACTIVITY
REDEVELOPING ALONG COASTAL SECTIONS WHERE JET SUPPORT CONTINUES. NEXT
BOUT OF SEVERE WEATHER STILL ON TAP BEGINNING LATE THIS MORNING...
CONTINUING INTO THIS EVENING WHEN SURFACE COLD FRONT SWEEPS EAST
ACROSS FA. MODELS STILL SHOWING IMPRESSIVE DIRECTIONAL DIVERGENCE
UPSTREAM DEVELOPING/DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL LOW. FLASH FLOOD WATCH
THROUGH THIS EVENING STILL LOOKS GOOD DUE TO RECENT RAINS...00Z LCH
SOUNDING SHOWED PW VALUES AROUND 1.7 INCHES. PATCHY FOG REDEVELOPING
ALONG COASTAL SECTIONS THIS MORNING...HOWEVER NOT EXPECTING WIDESPREAD
DENSE FOG. LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPERTURES EXPECTED TODAY AS THICKNESSES
CHANGE LITTLE.
09

BPT 76/57/65 850
LCH 75/59/65 850  LFT 74/60/66 860  AEX 70/56/64 870

TX ZONES...

LA ZONES...

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 7, 5:46 AM CST, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
546 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

525 AM     PORT NECHES            TX      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Mar 7, 5:46 AM CST, 38 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
546 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

525 AM     PORT NECHES            TX      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORTED BY SKYWARN

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Mar 7, 6:03 AM CST, 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
603 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

545 AM     5 W NEW IBERIA         LA      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   IBERIA

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Mar 7, 6:03 AM CST, 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
603 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

545 AM     5 W NEW IBERIA         LA      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   IBERIA

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Mar 7, 6:19 AM CST, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
619 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

555 AM     LUMBERTON              TX      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   HARDIN

605 AM     PORT ARTHUR            TX      58 MPH WIND GUST
03/07/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORT BY TUGBOAT OPERATOR

605 AM     BRIDGE CITY            TX     0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   ORANGE                        ALSO REPORTS OF SEVERAL STREETS
                                         UNDER WATER DUE TO STREET
                                         FLOODING

ERICKSON
Local storm report, Mar 7, 6:19 AM CST, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
619 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998

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

555 AM     LUMBERTON              TX      0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   HARDIN

605 AM     PORT ARTHUR            TX      58 MPH WIND GUST
03/07/98   JEFFERSON                      REPORT BY TUGBOAT OPERATOR

605 AM     BRIDGE CITY            TX     0.75 INCH HAIL
03/07/98   ORANGE                        ALSO REPORTS OF SEVERAL STREETS
                                         UNDER WATER DUE TO STREET
                                         FLOODING

ERICKSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 6, 11:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson Davis
Mar 7, 2:42 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCameron63 min
Mar 7, 3:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen59 min
Mar 7, 3:51 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCameron34 min
Mar 7, 3:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVermilion58 min
Mar 7, 4:36 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHRapides59 min
Mar 7, 4:40 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHVermilion65 min
Mar 7, 4:55 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia45 min
Mar 7, 5:11 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard44 min
Mar 7, 5:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia63 min
Mar 7, 5:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu43 min
Mar 7, 6:36 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu49 min
Mar 7, 6:45 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu2 hr
Mar 7, 7:50 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson Davis40 min
Mar 7, 1:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard44 min
Mar 7, 1:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen45 min
Mar 7, 2:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHRapides56 min
Mar 7, 2:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry60 min
Mar 7, 2:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard34 min
Mar 7, 2:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon47 min
Mar 7, 3:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon46 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.