Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 32, NWS Lake Charles, LA

April 7, 2003Cameron Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 7, 2003, 3:28 PM CDT for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 62 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 7, 2003, 3:28 PM CDT (20:28 UTC)
Expired: Apr 7, 2003, 4:30 PM CDT
In force: 62 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Cameron Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:28 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 7, 10:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1791 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -58 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 518 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 9 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.6
Supercell composite: -2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

686 
WUUS54 KLCH 072028
SVRLCH
LAC023-072130-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
328 PM CDT MON APR 7 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 430 PM CDT

* AT 323 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF CAMERON...MOVING EAST AT 25
  MPH.

* THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CAMERON BY 340 PM CDT
  CREOLE...RUTHERFORD BEACH BY 400 PM CDT
  GRAND CHENIER BY 420 PM CDT
  LACASSINE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BY 430 PM CDT

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

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

LAT...LON 2990 9349 2972 9347 2974 9277 3000 9280

$$

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 7, 2:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 2:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
225 PM CDT MON APR 7 2003

LINE OF SVR TRW CONTINUES FROM NEAR HOUSTON ALONG THE CST OF SW LA
THEN NE ACROSS ACADIANA TO THE FLORIDA PARISHES AND SRN MS. ACTIVITY
CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON SFC PRE-FNTL TROF W/ UPR SUPPORT FROM MINOR
S/WV & RRQ OF H2/H3 JET. LINE IS MOVING VERY VERY SLOWLY NWD...AND
W/ ECHOES TRAINING ALONG IT SHOULD START SEEING REPORTS OF FLOODING
COMING IN. NCEP AREA OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL SITS OVER NRN ZONES...BUT
SRN ZONES LOOK UNDER THE GUN ATTM. WILL BE ISSUING FLASH FLOOD WATCH
TO RUN THRU TNGT FOR I-10 CORRIDOR S TO THE CST.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES TNGT IN FORM OF MAIN SFC FNT WHICH
CURRENTLY SITS ACROSS NERN TX/NRN LA/CNTL MS...AS WELL AS S/WV
MOVING OUT OF NRN MEX. FNT PROGGED TO MOVE INTO NRN ZONES TOWARD
MIDNIGHT...MOVING OUT OF SERN ZONES AFTER SUNRISE. MODERATE
INSTABILITY & HIGH CAPE AIR PROGGED TO REMAIN OVER THE AREA THRU
FROPA...AS WELL AS RRQ OF UPR JET. THEREFORE SVR WX THREAT WILL
EXPAND TO COVER NRN ZONES TNGT...AND NEXT ROUND IN THE MORNING FOR
THE S. HOW MUCH EFFECT ONGOING ACTIVITY HAS ON FUTURE TRW UP NORTH
REMAINS TO BE SEEN. WILL LET EVE SHIFT LOOK AT ONGOING CONDITIONS &
FURTHER DATA THEN MAKE DECISION ON ANY FLOOD WATCHES N OF I-10.

RAIN MAY LINGER BRIEFLY BEHIND THE FNT...BUT STRONG LATE SPRING HI
PRES SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH PUSH TO SHOVE PRECIP OUT OF THE AREA BY
EARLY AFTN FOR THE SE. BEYOND THEN...REST OF WEEK LOOKS GOOD W/ COOL
TEMPS EXPECTED.

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

KLCH 62 69 43 63 39 / 80 40 00 00 00
KBPT 61 68 42 65 38 / 80 30 00 00 00
KAEX 58 66 40 60 36 / 80 20 00 00 00
KLFT 64 70 43 62 39 / 80 60 00 00 00

.LCH...SVR TRW WATCH 112 TIL 4 PM ALL ZONES EXCEPT TYLER...VERNON...
         AND RAPIDES
       FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT INTERSTATE 10 SOUTH.

LGE

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 7, 5:20 AM CDT, 10 hours 8 minutes before

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-081102-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
520 AM CDT MON APR 7 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS...CENTRAL...
SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON...BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD OVERNIGHT...AS A COLD FRONT
ADVANCES AND MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. WITH CONSIDERABLE INSTABILITY
IN PLACE AND FAVORABLE UPPER AIR SUPPORT...A FEW OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE.

.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST OF THE REGION EARLY TUESDAY
WITH RAINS DIMINISHING THROUGH THE DAY. FAIR WEATHER HIGH
PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW AND REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF
THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 7, 2:45 PM CDT, 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0245 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0240 PM    GUEYDAN                   LA   0.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   VERMILION                      PUBLIC REPORTED DIME-SIZED
                                          HAIL.

ITO

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:00 PM CDT, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0300 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0230 PM    CREOLE                    LA   0.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   CAMERON                        PUBLIC REPORTED DIME-SIZED
                                          HAIL.

0255 PM    CENTERVILLE               LA   0.88 IN HAIL
04/07/03   ST. MARY                       PUBLIC REPORTED
                                          NICKEL-SIZED HAIL.

ITO

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:04 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0304 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0301 PM    CENTERVILLE               LA   1.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   ST. MARY                       PUBLIC REPORTED GOLF
                                          BALL-SIZED HAIL AND TREE
                                          DAMAGE DUE TO LARGE HAIL.

ITO

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:13 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0313 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0310 PM    3 E CENTERVILLE           LA   1.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   ST. MARY                       PUBLIC REPORTED GOLF
                                          BALL-SIZED HAIL COVERED THE
                                          GROUND.

ITO

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:16 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0316 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0310 PM    JOHNSON BAYOU             LA   0.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   CAMERON                        PUBLIC REPORTED DIME-SIZED
                                          HAIL.

ITO

Local storm report, Apr 7, 3:28 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
0328 PM CDT MON APR 07 2003

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

0325 PM    1 E HOLLY BEACH           LA   0.75 IN HAIL
04/07/03   CAMERON                        OFF-DUTY TV METEOROLOGIST
                                          REPORTED DIME-SIZED HAIL.

ITO

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 7, 9:12 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		63 min
Apr 7, 9:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron	34 min
Apr 7, 10:13 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		32 min
Apr 7, 10:46 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
Apr 7, 10:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Vermilion	40 min
Apr 7, 10:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Acadia, Lafayette, Vermilion	62 min
Apr 7, 11:41 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		64 min
Apr 7, 11:41 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		64 min
Apr 7, 11:47 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia	58 min
Apr 7, 12:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron, Vermilion	61 min
Apr 7, 12:49 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
Apr 7, 12:49 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
Apr 7, 1:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron	52 min
Apr 7, 1:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Vermilion	66 min
Apr 7, 1:49 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
Apr 7, 2:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia, St. Mary	62 min
Apr 7, 2:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron, Vermilion	62 min
Apr 7, 3:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Lafayette	66 min
Apr 7, 3:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Saint Martin	63 min
Apr 7, 3:20 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		55 min
Apr 7, 3:20 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		55 min
Apr 7, 3:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin	59 min
Apr 7, 4:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	St. Mary	26 min
Apr 7, 5:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Vermilion	27 min
Apr 7, 5:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin	46 min
Apr 7, 5:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron	26 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.