Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 90, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 22, 2008Allen Parish, Evangeline Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 22, 2008, 7:17 PM CDT for Allen Parish, Evangeline Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 31 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 22, 2008, 7:17 PM CDT (00:17 UTC)
Expired: May 22, 2008, 7:48 PM CDT
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Allen Parish, LA, Evangeline Parish, LA, Jefferson Davis Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:19 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 nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 74 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: 3819 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 513 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 100 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 230 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.5
Supercell composite: 14.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KLCH 230017
SVRLCH
LAC003-039-053-230100-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0090.080523T0017Z-080523T0100Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
717 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN EVANGELINE PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES...MAMOU...BASILE...
  SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
  NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES ELTON...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 714 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  ELTON...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BASILE BY 730 PM CDT...
  7 MILES WEST OF MAMOU BY 800 PM CDT...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...AND DEADLY CLOUD
TO GROUND LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3076 9256 3060 9238 3049 9256 3049 9263
      3047 9261 3039 9274 3046 9282
TIME...MOT...LOC 0017Z 223DEG 17KT 3049 9270

$$

SHAMBURGER

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 230038
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
738 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

LAC003-039-053-230100-
/O.CON.KLCH.SV.W.0090.000000T0000Z-080523T0100Z/
EVANGELINE LA-ALLEN LA-JEFFERSON DAVIS LA-
738 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS...SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN AND
SOUTHWESTERN EVANGELINE PARISHES...

AT 733 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF ELTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 14 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL EASTERN ALLEN PARISH AT 750 PM CDT
  RURAL SOUTHWESTERN EVANGELINE PARISH AT 800 PM CDT

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

LAT...LON 3076 9256 3065 9243 3049 9263 3039 9274
      3046 9282
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 220DEG 12KT 3054 9266

$$

SHAMBURGER

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 230048
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
747 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

LAC003-039-053-230057-
/O.CAN.KLCH.SV.W.0090.000000T0000Z-080523T0100Z/
EVANGELINE LA-ALLEN LA-JEFFERSON DAVIS LA-
747 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON
DAVIS...SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN AND SOUTHWESTERN EVANGELINE PARISHES IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE 
LEVELS.  HOWEVER...GUSTY WINDS TO 30 MPH AND SMALL HAIL REMAIN 
POSSIBLE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN LAKE CHARLES AT 337-477-5285

LAT...LON 3076 9256 3065 9243 3049 9263 3039 9274
      3046 9282
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 220DEG 12KT 3056 9264

$$

SHAMBURGER

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 22, 6:55 PM CDT, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 22, 6:55 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
655 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

.UPDATE...
HAVE UPDATED THE GRIDS AND ZONES FOR POPS FOR THIS EVENING. LATEST
RADAR SHOWS MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE HAS MOVED NORTHEAST OF THE AREA...WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF A CLUSTER OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL
LOUISIANA. A WEAK SFC TROUGH IS HELPING TO ENHANCE THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF STORMS IN THIS AREA. EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO
DIMINISH WITH THE LOSS OF SFC HEATING THIS EVENING.  24

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 351 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008/

DISCUSSION...REGIONAL 88DS AND SFC OBS INDICATE THAT SCATTERED TO
NUMEROUS RW/TRW PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA FROM WOODVILLE TO LAKE
CHARLES TO LAFAYETTE TO MORGAN CITY NORTHWARD. CONVECTION IS
ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORTWAVE TROF MAKING SLOW PROGRESS NEWD ACROSS
THE REGION. MSAS SFC ANALYSIS ALSO SHOWS A WEAK TROF EXTENDING
FROM LOW PRESSURE OVER NWRN TX TO SERN LA WHICH IS LIKELY HELPING
FLARE UP CONVECTION AS WELL. RAISED INHERITED POPS FOR THIS
EVENING AS BACK EDGE OF PRECIP HAS ONLY BEEN MAKING SLOW PROGRESS
FROM SW TO NE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON...WITH POPS
RANGING FROM 20 PERCENT WRN ZONES TO 50 PERCENT ACROSS THE
ATCHAFALAYA BASIN AND E-CNTL LA. ONLY CARRYING 20 POPS FOR ERN 1/3
OF AREA FOR AFTER MIDNIGHT FOR ANY STRAGGLING SHOWERS WHICH MAY
LINGER BACK OVER THIS AREA.

NOT MANY CHANGES WERE MADE BEYOND TONIGHT WITH A BLOCKING RIDGE
PROGGED TO SET UP ALOFT OVER THE AREA WHILE THE BERMUDA HIGH
CONTINUES TO KEEP A SRLY LO-LVL FLOW IN PLACE OVER THE REGION.
HOWEVER LOOKS LIKE ENOUGH MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PRODUCE
AT LEAST WIDELY SCATTERED CONVECTION EACH AFTERNOON ALONG
POTENTIAL SEA BREEZE AND ADDITIONAL OUTFLOW DEVELOPMENT SO KEPT
SMALL POPS EACH DAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. RIDGE BEGINS TO BREAK
DOWN EARLY NEXT WEEK AS SHORTWAVE TROF CROSSING THE GREAT LAKES
BREAKS IT DOWN. MEANWHILE A SFC FRONT IS PROGGED TO DROP SOUTH
TOWARD THE AREA BY LATE IN THE PERIOD. ALL IN ALL SHOULD CONTINUE
TO SEE AT LEAST WIDELY SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION
UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK WHEN DRIER AIR ENCROACHES FROM THE
EAST.

AVIATION...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS CONVECTION EXPECTED TO PERSIST
AT KLCH THROUGH ABOUT 22Z...KLFT/KARA THROUGH 00Z AND KAEX THROUGH
MAYBE 03Z OR SO. THEREAFTER WET GROUNDS MAY LEAD TO PATCHY GROUND
FOG AFTER 06Z...ESPECIALLY TOWARD SUNRISE. OTHERWISE VFR
CONDITIONS EXPECTED.

JS

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  74  92  75  90 /  10  20  10  20
KBPT  75  91  76  90 /  10  20  10  20
KAEX  71  94  72  93 /  30  20  10  20
KLFT  71  92  74  91 /  60  30  10  20

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...NONE.
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 4:26 AM CDT, 14 hours 51 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
426 AM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-
201-215-216-231100-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON, LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY,
LA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX EXTENDING FROM 20 NM
TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA TO CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM
20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA
EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM-VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-
ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-
LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-
LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
426 AM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
GULF OF MEXICO...CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
AN APPROACHING TEXAS COASTAL BEND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL
INTERACT WITH A SURFACE WAVE FROM THE YUCATAN TO BRING A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY. THE HIGHEST CHANCES WILL BE OVER
CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST THIS WEEKEND THROUGH NEXT WEEK...
HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT WILL DOMINATE THE REGION.
EXPECT ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 90S FOR
AFTERNOON HIGHS...AND LOWER TO MID 70S FOR OVERNIGHT LOWS...WHICH
IS ABOUT 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL FOR LATE MAY. EXPECT AT LEAST A
SLIGHT CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH
TUESDAY...WITH DRIER AIR ALOFT PUTTING THE LID ON ANY DEVELOPMENT
BY WEDNESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

DML

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 22, 1:59 PM CDT, 5 hours 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
159 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1209 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W JOHNSON BAYOU       29.78N 93.73W
05/22/2008                   CAMERON            LA   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN

&&

DLANDREN

Local storm report, May 22, 2:12 PM CDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
212 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0208 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNW CALL              30.66N 93.90W
05/22/2008                   JASPER             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DAMAGE AROUND KIRBYVILLE WITH POWER OUTAGES.

&&

DLANDREN

Local storm report, May 22, 2:18 PM CDT, 4 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
218 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0151 PM     HAIL             4 NNW ROSEPINE          30.98N 93.30W
05/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       VERNON             LA   PUBLIC

&&

DLANDREN

Local storm report, May 22, 6:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
605 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HENDERSON               30.31N 91.80W
05/22/2008                   ST. MARTIN         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OFFICER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 REPORTED WIDESPREAD

            FLOODING OF FIELDS, PARKING LOTS, AND ROADS IN HENDERSON.

&&

SNAVELY

Local storm report, May 22, 6:44 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
644 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            HOMES FLOODED ON PINHOOK ROAD. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            HOMES FLOODING IN OAKBORNE SUBDIVISION BY THE LAFAYETTE
            AIRPORT. HOUSE FLOODED AT SOUTH ORANGE AND 10TH STREET.
            NUMEROUS OTHER STREETS FLOODED. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

0620 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CECILIA                 30.34N 91.85W
05/22/2008                   ST. MARTIN         LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            CECILIA HIGH SCHOOL FLOODED. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

&&

SNAVELY

Local storm report, May 22, 7:07 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
707 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED FLOODING ON EVANGELINE THRUWAY
            SOUTHBOUND AT MUDD STREET AND NORTHBOUND FROM 11TH STREET
            TO MUDD STREET.

&&

SNAVELY

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 22, 7:53 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	3 hr
May 22, 8:58 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Evangeline, Saint Landry	3 hr
May 22, 10:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Saint Landry, Saint Martin	38 min
May 22, 10:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Saint Landry, Saint Martin	45 min
May 22, 11:05 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	6 hr
May 23, 5:07 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Saint Martin	3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2008 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.