Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 237, NWS Shreveport, LA

May 16, 2003Lincoln Parish, Union Parish, Louisiana

NWS Shreveport, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 2003, 10:48 PM CDT for Lincoln Parish, Union Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 57 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: May 16, 2003, 10:48 PM CDT (03:48 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2003, 11:45 PM CDT
In force: 57 min
Issued by: NWS Shreveport, LA
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Lincoln Parish, LA, Union Parish, LA

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:48 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
May 16, 5:45 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 118 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: 1901 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1440 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 247 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.4
Supercell composite: 15.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

259 
WUUS54 KSHV 170348
SVRSHV
LAC061-111-170445-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1048 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  LINCOLN PARISH IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA
  UNION PARISH IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA

* UNTIL 1145 PM CDT

* AT 1048 PM CDT...THE SHREVEPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER
  RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
  BERNICE...OR ABOUT 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF RUSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST
  AT 20 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE
TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL PRODUCE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH.

REPEATING...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  LINCOLN PARISH IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA
  UNION PARISH IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA
UNTIL 1145 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3301 9230 3296 9223 3261 9273 3269 9282
          3275 9280 3276 9271 3289 9271 3301 9258

$$

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 16, 8:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 8:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
830 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

ZONES UPDATED TO INCLUDE SVR WATCH #398...VALID UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
CANCELED TOR WATCH #397 FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST TEXAS AND
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS.

13

.SHV...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 12:00 PM CDT, 10 hours 48 minutes before

ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077-TXZ096-
097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-171100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
1200 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...NORTHEAST
TEXAS...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...
THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT
ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH LOUISIANA AND
MOST OF NORTHEAST AND EAST TEXAS. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL LOUISIANA INTO DEEP
EAST TEXAS.

A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST ACROSS
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS DURING THE MIDDAY HOURS TODAY. SOME DAMAGING WINDS
AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM. THIS WILL
NOT BE THE ONLY CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER DURING THE PERIOD. AN UPPER
LOW OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL MOVE EAST TODAY. AS IT NEARS CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY
DEVELOP. DEEP LAYER VERTICAL SHEAR WILL INCREASE IN A VERY UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE...LEADING TO A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES. THE GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES
IS GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM NACOGDOCHES AND CENTER TEXAS TO
COUSHATTA AND MONROE LOUISIANA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY. THE COLD
CENTER OF THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL STALL OVER ARKANSAS SATURDAY
AND SATURDAY NIGHT.  THE COLD AIR ALOFT WILL RESULT IN THUNDERSTORMS
WHICH COULD PRODUCE HAIL. THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN FOR THESE STORMS
IS OVER SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS...SKYWARN NETWORKS...AND STORM
SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

05

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 16, 8:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
839 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0810 PM    MARSHALL                  TX   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   HARRISON                       TREES DOWNED THROUGHOUT
                                          THE COUNTY. REPORT FROM
                                          SHERIFFS OFFICE.

VIII.

Local storm report, May 16, 9:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
910 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0900 PM    BOSSIER CITY              LA   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   BOSSIER                        TREES DOWNED SOUTH OF
                                          LOUISIANA DOWNS. REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTERS

VIII.

Local storm report, May 16, 9:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
925 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0820 PM    BECKVILLE                 TX   .75 INCH HAIL
05/16/03   PANOLA                         REPORT FROM SHERIFFS
                                          OFFICE.

VIII.

Local storm report, May 16, 9:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
943 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0845 PM    SHREVEPORT                LA   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   CADDO                          TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWNED AT MILAM AND
                                          LAWRENCE. REPORTED BY
                                          MEDIA.

VIII.

Local storm report, May 16, 9:48 PM CDT, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
948 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0925 PM    ATLANTA                   AR   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   COLUMBIA                       POWER LINES DOWNED
                                          RESULTING IN GRASS FIRE.
                                          REPORTED BY SPOTTERS

VIII.

Local storm report, May 16, 10:13 PM CDT, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT, LA
1013 PM CDT FRI MAY 16 2003

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

0921 PM    7 N MINDEN                LA   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   WEBSTER                        TREES DOWNED ALONG LA
                                          HIGHWAY 159. REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTERS.

0936 PM    HOMER                     LA   WIND DAMAGE
05/16/03   CLAIBORNE                      TREES DOWNED ACROSS THE
                                          PARISH. REPORT FROM PARISH
                                          SHERIFF.

VIII.

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 16, 7:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Caddo	84 min
May 16, 7:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Bossier	93 min
May 16, 8:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Caddo	66 min
May 16, 9:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Webster	51 min
May 16, 9:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Claiborne	61 min
May 16, 9:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Bossier	31 min
May 16, 9:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Bossier	29 min
May 16, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Bossier	25 min
May 17, 2:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Union	33 min
May 17, 3:35 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	SHV	Union	25 min
May 17, 4:10 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Union	50 min
May 17, 4:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	SHV	Ouachita	55 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.