Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 36, NWS Lake Charles, LA

September 2, 2008Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at Sep 2, 2008, 6:36 PM CDT for Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 24 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Sep 2, 2008, 6:36 PM CDT (23:36 UTC)
Expired: Sep 2, 2008, 7:00 PM CDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Allen Parish, LA, Beauregard Parish, LA, Jefferson Davis Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:38 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Sep 2, 7:05 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	1 E Reeves, LA	STATE POLICE REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD JUST EAST OF REEVES ALONG U.S. 190.
Sep 2, 7:08 PM CDT	TORNADO 0	Leblanc, LA	EF0 TORNADO PARTIALLY REMOVED ROOF OF ONE MOBILE HOME ALONG HWY 190 IN LEBLANC. SEVERAL EYEWITNESSES REPORTED SEEING AND HEARING TORNADO SNAPPING TREES IN UNACCESSIBLE FORESTED AREAS NEARBY. PATH LENGTH OF 1/4 MILE AND PATH WIDTH OF 25 YARDS.
Sep 2, 7:08 PM CDT	TORNADO	Leblanc, LA	ALLEN PARISH EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS 2 HOMES DAMAGED EAST OF REEVES NEAR LEBLANC. REPORT RELAYED FROM KPLC-TV.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 39 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 656 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 31 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 
WFUS54 KLCH 022336
TORLCH
LAC003-011-053-030000-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0036.080902T2336Z-080903T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
636 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN ALLEN PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES  REEVES...
  SOUTHEASTERN BEAUREGARD PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES  RAGLEY...
  NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 632 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES
  SOUTHEAST OF RAGLEY...MOVING EAST AT 22 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  REEVES BY 655 PM CDT...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE...SEEK
SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND
ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3043 9283 3038 9302 3039 9303 3039 9312
      3041 9313 3041 9327 3050 9330 3064 9291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 251DEG 19KT 3045 9316

$$

13

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 022351
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
651 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

LAC011-022359-
/O.CAN.KLCH.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-080903T0000Z/
BEAUREGARD LA-
649 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BEAUREGARD PARISH IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING THE TORNADO HAS MOVED EAST AND OUT OF 
BEAUREGARD PARISH.

LAT...LON 3043 9283 3038 9302 3039 9303 3039 9312
      3041 9313 3056 9313 3061 9300 3060 9298
      3062 9297 3064 9291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 246DEG 20KT 3049 9308

$$

LAC003-053-030000-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-080903T0000Z/
ALLEN LA-JEFFERSON DAVIS LA-
649 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS AND SOUTHWESTERN ALLEN PARISHES...

AT 644 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR REEVES...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 23 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  REEVES BY 655 PM CDT...
  LEBLANC BY 700 PM CDT...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

LAT...LON 3043 9283 3038 9302 3039 9303 3039 9312
      3041 9313 3056 9313 3061 9300 3060 9298
      3062 9297 3064 9291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 246DEG 20KT 3049 9308

$$

13

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Sep 2, 3:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 2, 3:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
317 PM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

.DISCUSSION...

TROPICAL DEPRESSION GUSTAV CONTINUES TO SPIN JUST NORTH OF SHV
WITH NUMEROUS RAIN BANDS AROUND THE CIRCULATION EXTENDING SOUTH
INTO THE CWA. TWO PARTICULARLY HEAVY RAIN BANDS HAVE AFFECTED
CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...WITH
FLASH FLOODING REPORTED IN SOME AREAS. HAVE EXTENDED THE FLASH
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TOMORROW AS MODELS INDICATE RAIN BANDS WILL
CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA AT LEAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
KEEPING HIGHEST POPS EAST OF THE I-49 CORRIDOR BUT HAVE LOWER POPS
OVER THE SOUTHWEST ZONES WHERE DRIER SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL PREVAIL.
CIRCULATION OF GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY MOVE NORTHEAST INTO
THE WESTERLIES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...WITH PRECIP CHANCES SLOWLY
DECREASING INTO THE WEEKEND AND A SUBSEQUENT WARMING TREND. LOOKS
LIKE AREA MAY GET TO DRY OUT OVER THE WEEKEND AS DRIER AIR FILTERS
INTO THE CWA FROM THE NORTH. PARADE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES
CONTINUES OVER THE ATLANTIC WITH HANNA...IKE...AND JOSEPHINE ALL
OUT THERE. AT THIS TIME ONLY IKE APPEARS TO HAVE SOME POTENTIAL TO
MOVE INTO THE GULF...SO WILL BE KEEPING CLOSEST EYES ON HIM.

&&

.AVIATION...

WINDS WILL REMAIN GUSTY AT ALL TERMINALS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 20 TO
30 KNOTS POSSIBLE THROUGH 00Z. RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
REMNANTS OF GUSTAV WILL MAINLY AFFECT KAEX...KLFY...AND KARA WHERE
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY.  VFR CONDITIONS
WILL PREVAIL AT KBPT AND KLCH WITH ONLY SOME ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
SHRA POSSIBLE.

&&

.MARINE...

WINDS REMAIN QUITE GUSTY OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON WITH
GUSTS OVER 30 KNOTS NOTED AT TIMES. SEAS ALSO REMAIN HIGH DUE TO
THE STRONG OFFSHORE FLOW AND LINGERING EFFECTS OF GUSTAV. HAVE
LEFT INHERITED SCA AS IS.  BOTH WINDS AND SEAS SHOULD SLOWLY
SUBSIDE THROUGH THE WEEK AS GUSTAV MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  75  87  72  89  72 /  60  50  30  20  20
KBPT  74  89  71  90  72 /  40  40  20  10  20
KAEX  73  82  71  87  71 /  80  70  50  30  20
KLFT  75  83  72  86  72 /  80  70  50  30  20

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ACADIA...ALLEN...AVOYELLES...BEAUREGARD...
     EVANGELINE...IBERIA...LAFAYETTE...LOWER ST. MARTIN...
     RAPIDES...ST. LANDRY...ST. MARY...UPPER ST. MARTIN...
     VERMILION...VERNON.

TX...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: 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.

&&

SHAMBURGER

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 2, 6:05 AM CDT, 12 hours 31 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
605 AM CDT TUE SEP 2 2008

GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-
201-215-216-031115-
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-
605 AM CDT TUE SEP 2 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

THE COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY
FOR THE PARISHES AROUND VERMILION BAY WHERE STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS
ARE DIMINISHING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS POSSIBLE
WITH BANDS OF SHOWERS IN TRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT IS NOW
TROPICAL DEPRESSION GUSTAV OVER NORTHERN LOUISIANA. A SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AND SEAS
GREATER THAN 6 FEET. A WIND ADVISORY OVER CENTRAL LOUISIANA WILL
BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AROUND DAYBREAK AS THE EFFECTS OF GUSTAV
CONTINUE TO FADE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING AS STRONG
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AND HIGH SEAS GRADUALLY SUBSIDE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS CAN STAND DOWN. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT
THIS TIME.

SWEENEY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 2, 2:13 PM CDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
213 PM CDT TUE SEP 02 2008

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

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            FLASH FLOODING REPORTED IN NEW IBERIA

&&

FNAVEJAR

Local storm report, Sep 2, 6:04 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
604 PM CDT TUE SEP 02 2008

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

0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            THE DAILY IBERIAN REPORTED 2 FEET OF WATER ACROSS SOME

            STREETS ON THE WEST SIDE OF NEW IBERIA FROM AMENCO CANAL.

&&

RUA

Local storm report, Sep 2, 6:05 PM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
605 PM CDT TUE SEP 02 2008

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

0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            THE DAILY IBERIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED FRONT STREET IN NEW
            IBERIA CLOSED FROM FLOODING OF BAYOU TECHE.

&&

RUA

Local storm report, Sep 2, 6:07 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
607 PM CDT TUE SEP 02 2008

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

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            FLASH FLOODING REPORTED IN NEW IBERIA

0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            THE DAILY IBERIAN REPORTED 2 FEET OF WATER ACROSS SOME

            STREETS ON THE WEST SIDE OF NEW IBERIA FROM AMENCO CANAL.

0130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NEW IBERIA              30.01N 91.82W
09/02/2008                   IBERIA             LA   NEWSPAPER

            THE DAILY IBERIAN NEWSPAPER REPORTED FRONT STREET IN NEW
            IBERIA CLOSED FROM FLOODING OF BAYOU TECHE.

&&

RUA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 1, 7:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides	36 min
Sep 1, 7:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides	40 min
Sep 1, 8:05 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides	3 hr
Sep 1, 8:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Rapides	47 min
Sep 1, 8:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides	47 min
Sep 1, 9:41 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Saint Landry	6 hr
Sep 1, 10:18 PM CDT	Coastal Flood Warning	LCH		8 hr
Sep 1, 10:28 PM CDT	Small Craft Advisory	LCH		38 hr
Sep 1, 10:38 PM CDT	Lake Wind Advisory	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Evangeline, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	3 hr
Sep 1, 10:46 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides	6 hr
Sep 2, 1:51 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides, Vernon	5 hr
Sep 2, 1:55 AM CDT	Hurricane Local Statement	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Lafayette, Rapides and 3 more	9 days
Sep 2, 5:21 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	LCH	Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin, Vermilion	114 min
Sep 2, 6:04 AM CDT	Coastal Flood Advisory	LCH		6 hr
Sep 2, 7:59 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin	31 min
Sep 2, 8:25 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Lafayette, Rapides and 3 more	34 hr
Sep 2, 9:11 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion	2 hr
Sep 2, 11:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin, Vermilion	4 hr
Sep 2, 1:36 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	114 min
Sep 2, 2:39 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Avoyelles, Saint Landry	3 hr
Sep 2, 3:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	32 min
Sep 2, 3:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Rapides, Vernon	33 min
Sep 2, 3:50 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	115 min
Sep 2, 4:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	35 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.