Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2000

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 82, NWS Lake Charles, LA

April 3, 2000Cameron Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 3, 2000, 5:32 AM CDT for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 58 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Apr 3, 2000, 5:32 AM CDT (10:32 UTC)
Expired
Apr 3, 2000, 6:30 AM CDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Cameron Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:35 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
Apr 3, 4:45 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 26 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 2000-04-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 656 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°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 2000-04-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 95 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
656 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
541 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
95 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
251 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
9.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KLCH 031032
SVRLCH
LAC023-031130-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
532 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CAMERON PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

* UNTIL 630 AM CDT

* AT 515 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL CAMERON PARISH...MOVING EAST
  AT 35 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...DESTRUCTIVE
HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAIN.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT MONDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA.

CALL 337-477-5285 TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3000 9329 2982 9348 2974 9266 3000 9267

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 Apr 3, 2:43 AM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 2:43 AM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
243 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

AT 07Z...QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT WAS LOCATED NEAR A KSHV-KIAH-KVCT
LINE. THE CANADIAN COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM NEAR A KIRK-KTUL-KLBB
LINE. THE CANADIAN COLD FRONT WILL CATCH UP WITH THE STATIONARY
FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND PUSH THROUGH THE ENTIRE FA BY 00Z.
UNTIL THEN WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SEVERAL MORE ROUNDS OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS AS SEVERAL 500MB SHORTWAVES EMBEDDED IN THE
SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE MAIN 500 MB TROF
MOVING THROUGH OVERNIGHT. THE MAIN CONCERN TODAY WILL BE THE HEAVY
RAIN WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA.
HOWEVER...WILL NOT ISSUE A FFA AT THIS TIME. ANY FLOODING PROBLEMS
THAT OCCUR TODAY CAN BE HANDLED BY URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD
ADVISORIES. THERE WILL ALSO BE ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
THE AREA TODAY AS AIRMASS ACROSS THE AREA REMAINS RATHER UNSTABLE.
THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS.

SKIES WILL CLEAR OUT TONIGHT AS THE 500 MB TROF MOVES EAST OF THE
AREA AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT.

.LCH...NONE
TX...NONE
LA...NONE

PRELIMINARY NUMBERS...
LCH 76/46/65/43 +000
BPT 74/46/67/43 +000
LFT 77/47/64/42 +200
AEX 71/45/64/39 +000

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 3, 2:52 AM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
252 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0253 AM    SOUR LAKE                 TX   .75 INCH HAIL
04/03/00   HARDIN

0254 AM    SILSBEE                   TX   .75 INCH HAIL
04/03/00   HARDIN

0254 AM    KOUNTZE                   TEX   .75 INCH HAIL
04/03/00   HARDIN

FN
Local storm report, Apr 3, 4:44 AM CDT, 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
444 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0329 AM    BON WIER                  TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   NEWTON                         TREES DOWN HWY 363
                                          REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DEPT

0329 AM    KIRBYVILLE                TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   JASPER                         POWERLINES DOWN

0329 AM    OLD SALEM                 TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   NEWTON                         POWERLINES DOWN

0401 AM    HAMSHIRE                  TX   TORNADO
04/03/00   JEFFERSON                      PUBLIC REPORTED TORNADO
                                          NEAR HAMSHIRE.
                                          UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF
                                          PEOPLE MISSING FROM THEIR
                                          HEAVILY DAMAGED
                                          HOME. FIRE DEPARTMENT /
                                          POLICE ENROUTE.

FN
Local storm report, Apr 3, 5:04 AM CDT, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
504 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0430 AM    PORT ACRES                TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   JEFFERSON                      60 MPH WINDS AND NICKLE
                                          SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          VINTON POLICE DEPT
Local storm report, Apr 3, 5:07 AM CDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
507 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0452 AM    VINTON                    LA   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   CALCASIEU                      60 MPH WINDS AND NICKLE
                                          SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                                          VINTON POLICE DEPT)

0430 AM    PORT ACRES                LA   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   JEFFERSON                      ROOF BLOWN OFF HOUSE

FN
Local storm report, Apr 3, 5:23 AM CDT, 9 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
523 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0430 AM    HAMSHIRE                  TX   TORNADO
04/03/00   JEFFERSON                      MOBILE HOME DESTROYED
                                          POSSIBLE TORNADO

FN
Local storm report, Apr 3, 5:30 AM CDT, 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
530 AM CDT MON APR 3 2000

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

0513 AM    WESTLAKE                  LA   .75 INCH HAIL
04/03/00   CALCASIEU

0515 AM    LAKE CHARLES              LA   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   CALCASIEU                      49 MPH WINDS AND DRIVING
                                          RAIN AT NWS LAKE CHARLES

0537 AM    GRAND LAKE                LA   WIND DAMAGE
04/03/00   CAMERON                        CARPORT
                                          DESTROYED...REPORTED BY
                                          SHERIFFS DEPT

FN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 2, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAvoyelles68 min
Apr 2, 7:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson Davis57 min
Apr 2, 7:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry65 min
Apr 2, 7:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia, Evangeline61 min
Apr 2, 8:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry61 min
Apr 2, 10:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard61 min
Apr 2, 11:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon60 min
Apr 2, 11:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Rapides64 min
Apr 3, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard59 min
Apr 3, 3:37 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHBeauregard, Vernon68 min
Apr 3, 4:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu60 min
Apr 3, 5:00 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu60 min
Apr 3, 5:22 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHJefferson Davis53 min
Apr 3, 5:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia, Allen, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis54 min
Apr 3, 5:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry54 min
Apr 3, 6:09 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia66 min
Apr 3, 6:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHLafayette56 min
Apr 3, 6:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHLafayette67 min
Apr 3, 6:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry56 min
Apr 3, 6:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVermilion63 min
Apr 3, 7:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Martin68 min
Apr 3, 7:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia, St. Mary63 min
Apr 3, 10:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu64 min
Apr 3, 10:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen64 min
Apr 3, 11:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHEvangeline, Rapides60 min
Apr 3, 11:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard60 min
Apr 3, 11:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAvoyelles68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2000Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2000

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.