Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 99, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 3, 2009Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2009, 9:38 AM CDT for Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 37 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 3, 2009, 9:38 AM CDT (14:38 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2009, 10:15 AM CDT
In force: 37 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Avoyelles Parish, LA

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 3, 7:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 168 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: 2267 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 533 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 182 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 308 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 3.1
Supercell composite: 14.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KLCH 031438
SVRLCH
LAC009-031515-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0099.090503T1438Z-090503T1515Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
938 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  AVOYELLES PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...SIMMESPORT...MOREAUVILLE...
  MARKSVILLE...BORDELONVILLE...

* UNTIL 1015 AM CDT

* AT 937 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE
  HAIL...AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.  THESE STORMS
  WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF
  BORDELONVILLE TO BORDELONVILLE TO 6 MILES WEST OF MANSURA...OR
  ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF BORDELONVILLE TO
  BORDELONVILLE TO 6 MILES NORTH OF BUNKIE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35
  MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  MOREAUVILLE AND COTTONPORT BY 950 AM CDT...
  SIMMESPORT BY 1005 AM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CDT
SUNDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA.

&&

LAT...LON 3120 9171 3087 9182 3100 9221 3116 9203
      3124 9191 3130 9190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1438Z 290DEG 32KT 3124 9177 3112 9193
          3103 9215

$$

24

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 031507
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1007 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

LAC009-031515-
/O.CON.KLCH.SV.W.0099.000000T0000Z-090503T1515Z/
AVOYELLES LA-
1007 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 AM CDT
FOR AVOYELLES PARISH...

AT 1006 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF 
SIMMESPORT TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HESSMER...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  PLAUCHEVILLE...SIMMESPORT AND DUPONT BY 1015 AM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CDT SUNDAY
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA.

&&

LAT...LON 3120 9171 3087 9182 3100 9221 3116 9203
      3124 9191 3130 9190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1507Z 280DEG 33KT 3111 9171 3097 9218

$$

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 3, 7:57 AM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 7:57 AM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
757 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

.UPDATE...HAVE UPDATED ZONES/GRIDS WITH TORNADO WATCH #232 FOR
ALONG AND NORTH OF LOUISIANA I-10. WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM.
WCN ALREADY OUT.

&&

MARCOTTE

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 557 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009/

AVIATION...
STORMS DRAGGING ACROSS CENTRAL LOUISIANA AT THIS TIME WILL EXIT TO
THE EAST WHILE A SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN
TEXAS. THIS LATEST STORM SYSTEM IS MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. AT THIS
TIME THE STORM COMPLEX WILL SWEEP ACROSS TYLER...JASPER AND
NEWTON COUNTIES AROUND 7 AM AND INTO BEAUREGARD...VERNON
PARISHES BEFORE 8 AM. AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES TO THE EAST IT WILL
MOVE OUT OF THE COLD SECTOR AND INTO WARMER MORE UNSTABLE AIR
WHICH WILL MEAN STRONGER STORMS WILL DEVELOP.

BPT..LCH AND FINALLY LFT AND ARA WILL SEE SOME STORM DEVELOPMENT
ALTHOUGH THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL SWEEP WELL TO THE NORTH OF
THESE LOCATIONS. BUT WILL MONITOR THE SOUTHWARD PROGRESSION.
MVFR/IFR FOR CLOUDS AND WX FOR AEX. MVFR FOR BPT...LCH...LFT AND
ARA FOR CLOUDS AND SHWRS.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 532 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009/

UPDATE...MCS CURRENTLY OVER EAST CENTRAL TEXAS TRACKING RAPIDLY
EAST. ACTIVITY HAS BEEN ELEVATED BUT EXPECTED TO BECOME SURFACE
BASED TAPPING INTO SOME ADDITIONAL MOISTURE/INSTABILITY. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH #231 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT. INCLUDES OUR
INTERIOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES. ALSO BEAUREGARD...VERNON AND
RAPIDES OF WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

MARCOTTE

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 412 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009/

DISCUSSION...ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF MCSS CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS
THE ARKLATEX REGION. PROPAGATION RESULTING IN A SOUTHWARD
EXPANSION OF CONVECTION INTO CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND THE LAKES AREA
OF INTERIOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. POST FRONTAL DEVELOPMENT ALSO OCCURRING
OVER CENTRAL/NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

FAIR WEATHER PATTERN COMING TO AN END TODAY. MID LEVEL TROF
MOVING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO ADVANCE
A PERSISTENT FRONTAL BOUNDARY INTO THE FORECAST AREA
OVERNIGHT...STALLING NEAR THE COAST MONDAY THEN RAPIDLY WASHING
OUT. ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM AMPLE MOISTURE IN PLACE WITH
PROGGED PRECIPITABLE WATERS RUNNING AROUND 1.7 INCHES...WELL ABOVE
THE NORM FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. WITH CONCERN FOR HEAVY
RAINFALL...HAVE INGESTED HPC QPF INTO GRIDS. STORM TOTAL PRECIP
RANGING FROM A MAXIMUM OF 2 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF
THE FORECAST AREA DOWN TO NEAR 0.5 INCHES OVER COASTAL SOUTHEAST
TEXAS. WAS CONTEMPLATING THE NEED FOR A FLOOD WATCH OVER OUR
NORTHERN TIER BUT CURRENT NUMBERS BELOW FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE OF
3/4/5 INCHES FOR 1/3/6 HOURS. SPC MAINTAINING THE ENTIRE AREA IN
SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE EXPECTING SQUALL LINE DEVELOPMENT
ALONG/AHEAD OF FRONT. WIND DAMAGE APPEARS FAVORABLE FROM
UNIDIRECTIONAL WIND PROFILES...AS WELL AS HAIL AND A FEW
TORNADOES.

RAINS TAPER OFF FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST THROUGH MONDAY.
EXACTLY WHERE FRONT WILL END UP IS PARTICULARLY SUSPECT AT THIS
TIME FROM NUMEROUS COLD POOLS SETTING UP FROM PREVIOUS AND ONGOING
CONVECTION. THUS WHETHER WE ACTUALLY SEE SOME LOWER
DEWPOINTS/HUMIDITY FILTER INTO THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS REMAINS
QUESTIONABLE. RETURN FLOW SETS UP TUESDAY WITH ANY COOLER OR DRIER
COMING TO AN END.

REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...WILL BE LOOKING FOR A DRY WEATHER PATTERN
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WEDNESDAY WHEN NEXT IMPULSE APPROACHES. AT
THIS TIME IT APPEARS MAIN ENERGY AND RAINS WILL REMAIN NORTH OF
THE FORECAST AREA SO LOW END POPS WILL BE MAINTAINED. OTHERWISE
EXPECTING TEMPERATURES ABOVE THE NORM.

MARINE...OUR PERSISTENT SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL BE BRIEFLY
INTERRUPTED MONDAY AS A COLD FRONT DROPS INTO THE NORTHWEST GULF.
THIS BOUNDARY WILL RAPIDLY WASH OUT WITH A ONSHORE FLOW BECOMING
REESTABLISHED TUESDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  83  70  81  66  86 /  50  60  40  10  10
KBPT  82  67  81  66  86 /  50  40  30  10  10
KAEX  82  64  79  61  86 /  80  60  30  10  10
KLFT  84  70  80  65  87 /  50  60  50  10  10

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 4:54 AM CDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
454 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-
TXZ180>182-201-215-216-041000-
SABINE LAKE-CALCASIEU LAKE-VERMILION BAY-
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-
454 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2009

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
ACTIVE WEATHER IS EXPECTED ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT
WILL ADVANCE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT. WIND PROFILES AND
INSTABILITY ARE FAVORABLE FOR A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. PRIMARY
THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL...BUT ISOLATED TORNADOES
WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. ALONG WITH THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL
BE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINS PARTICULARLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE
10 WHERE 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL BE COMMON WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS.
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH MONDAY WITH AN OVERALL DRY
PATTERN EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 8:28 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
828 AM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

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

0810 AM     TSTM WND DMG     TOLEDO BEND DAM         31.17N 93.57W
05/03/2009                   NEWTON             TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTS TREES DOWN ON LAKE CABINS.

&&

MGRIFFIN

Local storm report, May 3, 8:35 AM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
835 AM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

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

0810 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SW TOLEDO BEND DAM    31.15N 93.59W
05/03/2009                   NEWTON             TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTS TREES DOWN ON LAKE CABINS.

&&

MGRIFFIN

Local storm report, May 3, 9:07 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
907 AM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

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

0905 AM     TSTM WND GST     8 NE PINEVILLE          31.40N 92.30W
05/03/2009  M59 MPH          RAPIDES            LA   ASOS

            ASOS AT ESLER REGIONAL AIRPORT REPORTED WIND GUST AT 59
            MPH.

&&

MGRIFFIN

Local storm report, May 3, 9:15 AM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
915 AM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

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

0800 AM     TSTM WND DMG     SAM RAYBURN DAM         31.06N 94.11W
05/03/2009                   JASPER             TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTS BOAT CAPSIZED NEAR SAM RAYBURN DAM. BOAT
            SANK AND STRANDED BOATER.

&&

MGRIFFIN

Local storm report, May 3, 9:36 AM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
936 AM CDT SUN MAY 03 2009

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

0901 AM     TSTM WND DMG     ALEXANDRIA              31.29N 92.46W
05/03/2009                   RAPIDES            LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES
            DOWN ACROSS THE CITY.

&&

MGRIFFIN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 8:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Vernon	41 min
May 3, 8:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Rapides, Vernon	49 min
May 3, 8:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides	46 min
May 3, 9:33 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	117 min
May 3, 9:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	40 min
May 3, 10:40 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Rapides, Saint Landry and 1 more	110 min
May 3, 11:30 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	3 hr
May 3, 11:41 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Rapides	47 hr
May 3, 12:31 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis and 3 more	119 min
May 3, 1:47 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	118 min
May 3, 2:28 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis and 3 more	107 min
May 3, 3:44 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry	2 hr
May 3, 4:18 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Rapides, Saint Landry and 1 more	3 hr
May 3, 5:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Saint Martin	18 min
May 3, 5:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Martin, Vermilion	19 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2009 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2009

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.