Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2001

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 24, 2001Rapides Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 2001, 5:36 PM CDT for Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 54 min. 2 reports came from 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, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 24, 2001, 5:36 PM CDT (22:36 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2001, 6:30 PM CDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Rapides Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:37 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
May 24, 5:45 PM CDTHail 0.75Alexandria, LA
May 24, 6:33 PM CDTHail 1.75Calcasieu, 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 24, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 138 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 2001-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 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 2001-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 58 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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-541 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1749 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KLCH 242238
SVRLCH

LAC079-242330-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
536 PM CDT THU MAY 24 2001

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  RAPIDES PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 531 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ALEXANDRIA...MOVING EAST
  AT 30 MPH.

* THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ALEXANDRIA AND DEVILLE BY 547 PM CDT
  

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

CALL 337-477-5285 TO REPORT SEVER@E WEATHER TO THE WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 3139 9281 3093 9276 3104 9229 3143 9221

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 May 24, 1:58 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 1:58 PM CDT, 3 hours 38 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
158 PM CDT THU MAY 24 2001

EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...DEEP MID/UPPER LOW SPINNING OVER SOUTHEAST
IOWA. SURFACE COLD FRONT ORIENTED NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST
FROM JUST NORTH OF MONROE...JUST SOUTH OF SHREVEPORT...THEN
SOUTHWEST INTO TEXAS BETWEEN WACO AND AUSTIN. SATELLITE PICS SHOWING
ENHANCED CU/AC ALONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY. ACROSS FCST AREA...SKIES HAVE
REMAINED MOSTLY SUNNY ALLOWING TEMPS TO CLIMB TO FORECASTED HIGHS IN
THE MID 80S.

MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN MOVING FRONT ACROSS AREA THIS EVENING...
TO NEAR AEX BY 00Z...TO COASTAL PARISHES AROUND 05Z. WHILE BEST
DYNAMICS WILL REMAIN NORTH AND NORTHEAST OF REGION CLOSER TO LOW...
INSTABILITY WILL BE HIGH ACROSS REGION. CAPES GENERALLY RUNNING 2000-
2500 J/KG ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10 WHERE DEWPOINTS HAVE
RISEN INTO THE MID AND UPPER 60S...DECREASING TO 1000-2000
OVER NORTHERN PORTION OF AREA WHERE DEWPOINTS CONTINUE TO HOLD
IN THE LOW 60S. STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES CONTINUING...NOTED ON
MODIFIED LCH 12Z SOUNDING.

WITH EXTENT OF INSTABILITY...COMBINED WITH LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE
AHEAD OF INCOMING FRONT...HAVE OPTED TO BUMP POPS UP TONIGHT FROM
PREVIOUS FORECAST. WILL ALSO INCLUDE SEVERE WORDING IN THE ZONES.

FRONT ROCKETS INTO COASTAL WATERS LATE TONIGHT. SOME DIFFERENCES IN
MODEL SOLUTIONS FOR FRIDAY. WITH AVN/MAV HOLDING ONTO DEEPER
MOISTURE AND PRECIP ACROSS AREA...WHILE NGM AND ETA SHOWING JUST
SOME LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. WILL GO WITH MAJORITY SOLUTION
AND MAINTAIN ZERO POPS TOMORROW. WILL KEEP RAIN CHANCE THROUGH THE
WEEKEND HOWEVER...AS EXTENDED MODELS MOVE SEVERAL I3MPULSES ACROSS
REGION AS UPPER LOW MEANDERS OVER UPPER MIDWEST.

.LCH...NONE.

.PRELIM NUMBERS...
AEX 60/80/62/83/63 50032
BPT 64/83/64/85/66 50032
LCH 65/82/65/85/67 50032
LFT 65/82/65/85/66 50032

MARCOTTE

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 24, 2:44 PM CDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before
LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-250500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
244 PM CDT THU MAY 24 2001

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING...

A LATE SEASON COLD FRONT AND A WARM...MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN
PLACE OVER THE REGION WILL PROVIDE THE INGREDIENTS FOR SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING ACROSS THE REGION.

A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. LOCALIZED FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. THE SEVERE STORM THREAT IS
EXPECTED TO END BY MIDNIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS
DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Local storm report, May 24, 5:06 PM CDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES, LA
506 PM CDT THU MAY 24 2001

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

0405 PM    PINEVILLE                 LA   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0405 PM    PINEVILLE                 LA   1.25 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0410 PM    TIOGA                     LA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0414 PM    5 E TIOGA                 LA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0415 PM    PINEVILLE                 LA   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED
                                          NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZED
                                          HAIL FELL FOR 15 MINUTES.

0425 PM    PINEVILLE                 LA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0432 PM    KOLIN                     LA   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0450 PM    PICKERING                 LA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   VERNON                         REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0450 PM    EFFIE                     LA   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   AVOYELLES                      REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0450 PM    EFFIE                     LA   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   AVOYELLES                      REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0455 PM    EFFIE                     LA   .88 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   AVOYELLES                      REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0500 PM    BALL                      LA   .75 INCH HAIL
05/24/01   RAPIDES                        REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 4:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHRapides41 min
May 24, 4:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAvoyelles56 min
May 24, 4:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon56 min
May 24, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAvoyelles66 min
May 24, 5:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon48 min
May 24, 6:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHRapides63 min
May 24, 6:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAvoyelles57 min
May 24, 6:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen58 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2001Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2001

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.