Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Lake Charles, LA

April 4, 2011Allen Parish, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 4, 2011, 3:51 PM CDT for Allen Parish, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 39 min. 1 report 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: Apr 4, 2011, 3:51 PM CDT (20:51 UTC)
Expired: Apr 4, 2011, 4:30 PM CDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Allen Parish, LA, Evangeline Parish, LA

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 4, 4:05 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Ne Mamou, LA	NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM FOUND DOWNBURST WIND DAMAGE SOUTH AND E OF VIDRINE. 1 OUT BUILDING WAS DESTROYED ON MAYEAUXVILLE ROAD. SEVERAL TREE LIMBS WERE BLOWN DOWN. ESTIMATED WIND SPEED WAS 60 MILES AN HOUR.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 14 minutes after it went out.

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 4, 10:53 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 111 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: 1440 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -231 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 637 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 69 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 112 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

484 
WUUS54 KLCH 042051
SVRLCH
LAC003-039-042130-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0038.110404T2051Z-110404T2130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
351 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EVANGELINE PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES...VILLE PLATTE...TURKEY CREEK...MAMOU...
  EXTREME NORTHEASTERN ALLEN PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...

* UNTIL 430 PM CDT

* AT 351 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...13 MILES WEST OF MAMOU...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  PINE PRAIRIE...REDDELL AND MAMOU BY 400 PM CDT...
  BAYOU CHICOT...VILLE PLATTE AND TURKEY CREEK BY 405 PM CDT...
  CHICOT STATE PARK BY 410 PM CDT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN. STAY INDOORS...
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT MONDAY EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

&&

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT
337-477-5285 EXTENSION 1.

LAT...LON 3093 9227 3093 9226 3060 9220 3051 9262
      3089 9259 3090 9253 3089 9250 3091 9248
      3094 9227
TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 247DEG 56KT 3068 9258

$$

27

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 4, 2:51 PM CDT, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 2:51 PM CDT, 1 hour before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
251 PM CDT MON APR 4 2011

.SYNOPSIS...THE STRONG COLD FRONT SHOULD BE THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS BY 4 PM AND SHOULD ALREADY BE INTO THE LOWER
ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BY SUNDOWN. AFTER A SHARP COOL DOWN TNITE, HIGH
PRESSURE WITH MUCH DRIER AIR WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA ON TUESDAY.
UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL DOMINATE THE AREA OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE
WEEK.

&&

.SHORT TERM... STRONG COLD FRONT EXTENDING FROM GALVESTON BAY TO
THE TOLEDO BEND DAM WILL CONTINUE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 KNOTS (51 MPH).
GETTING REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TREES DOWNED NORTH OF OUR FCST AREA
WITH THE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. WE ARE
MONITORING FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS PENDING DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BAND
HOWEVER STORMS ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY OVERCOMING THE CAPPING INVERSION.
PRECIP SHOULD END EARLY THIS EVENING AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN FROM
THE NORTHWEST.

&&

.LONG TERM...A BROAD AND DEEP UPPER LEVEL TROF OVER THE WESTERN STATES
LATER IN THE WEEK WILL BE HELD OUT WEST BY A BLOCKING RIDGE OVER
THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES. THERE IS A SLIM CHANCE OF RAIN BY SUNDAY
AS A PACIFIC FRONT ATTEMPTS MOVE INTO THE AREA...HOWEVER MOST OF
THE AREA SHOULD BE CAPPED WITH ENERGY RIDING UP AND OVER THE RIDGE
NEXT WEEKEND. THE EURO SHOWS A DEEPER AND COLDER TROF THIS
WEEKEND. CHOSE TO BLEND IN WARMER GFS TEMPS.

&&

.MARINE...30 KNOTS WITH STRONG COLD ADVECTION ON THE BACKSIDE OF
THE FRONT SO A GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT SINCE STRONG GUSTS
TO 35 KNOTS SHOULD EASILY MIX DOWN OVER THE WARM WATERS. WINDS
SHOULD BE DIMINISHING AFTER MIDNIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN.

SWEENEY

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  43  66  43  76  62 /  20   0   0   0  10
KBPT  45  68  50  75  64 /  10   0   0   0  10
KAEX  39  65  41  79  59 /  20   0   0   0  10
KLFT  45  67  43  75  62 /  30   0   0   0  10

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ACADIA...ALLEN...AVOYELLES...BEAUREGARD...
     CALCASIEU...CAMERON...EVANGELINE...IBERIA...JEFFERSON
     DAVIS...LAFAYETTE...LOWER ST. MARTIN...RAPIDES...ST.
     LANDRY...ST. MARY...UPPER ST. MARTIN...VERMILION...VERNON.

TX...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: HARDIN...JASPER...JEFFERSON...NEWTON...ORANGE...
     TYLER.

GM...GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 AM CDT TUESDAY 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.

     SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: CALCASIEU LAKE...SABINE LAKE...VERMILION
     BAY.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 4, 4:38 AM CDT, 11 hours 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
438 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-050945-
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-
438 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
A STRONG COLD FRONT OVER NORTH TEXAS WILL DRIVE RAPIDLY TO THE
SOUTHEAST TODAY. WINDS WILL REMAIN BRISK FROM THE SOUTH AHEAD OF
THE FRONT ONLY TO SWING AROUND TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASE.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING BECOMING
LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH
THE MAIN THREAT FROM WINDS AND HAIL. IN ADDITION STORMS TODAY WILL
PRODUCE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH AREA RAINFALL TOTALS
AROUND ONE INCH...TWO TO THREE INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
STRONGER STORMS.

THIS LATEST FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH SOUTHEAST TEXAS
DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS AND THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. MUCH COOLER TONIGHT WITH SKIES
CLEARING DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. VERY WINDY OVER THE COASTAL
WATERS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
DRIER AND COOLER AIR AIR WILL STREAM INTO THE REGION WITH
TEMPERATURES FALLING BACK TO 3O YEAR CLIMO RANGE. TEMPERATURES
WILL BEGIN TO WARM BY WEDNESDAY WITH THE PATTERN CONTINUING INTO
THE WEEKEND. ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED INTO THE REGION ON
MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-050945-
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-
438 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
GULF OF MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS THIS MORNING WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST. STORMS WILL INCREASE IN STRENGTH AND
AREA COVERAGE. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WITH
SOUTHERLY WINDS TAPERING OFF AHEAD TO THE FRONT FOR SEVERAL HOURS
ONLY TO SWING AROUND TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASE IN THE WAKE OF
THE FRONT. A GALE WARNING HAS BEEN POSTED FOR THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
GALE WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY MORNING BEFORE WINDS
WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF RAPIDLY AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF TO THE
NORTHEAST. WINDS AND SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

K. KUYPER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 4, 3:15 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
315 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

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

0314 PM     HAIL             5 S FRED                30.50N 94.18W
04/04/2011  E0.50 INCH       HARDIN             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

JBRAZZEL

Local storm report, Apr 4, 3:31 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
331 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

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

0315 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 E HINESTON            31.14N 92.67W
04/04/2011                   RAPIDES            LA   PUBLIC

            POWER LINES DOWN IN THE OAKHILL AREA ON DURAND ROAD

&&

JNUNN

Local storm report, Apr 4, 3:40 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
340 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011

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

0313 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PINEVILLE               31.33N 92.42W
04/04/2011                   RAPIDES            LA   PUBLIC

            TREE DOWN ON LABUSE CUTOFF ROAD.

&&

JNUNN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 3, 7:56 PM CDT	Gale Watch	LCH		14 hr
Apr 3, 7:56 PM CDT	Low Water Advisory	LCH		35 hr
Apr 4, 4:16 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Lafayette, Rapides and 3 more	16 hr
Apr 4, 9:59 AM CDT	Gale Warning	LCH		13 hr
Apr 4, 3:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Rapides, Vernon	41 min
Apr 4, 3:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard	63 min
Apr 4, 3:21 PM CDT	Small Craft Advisory	LCH		19 hr
Apr 4, 3:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides	48 min
Apr 4, 3:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Evangeline	34 min
Apr 4, 4:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Evangeline, Saint Landry	26 min
Apr 4, 4:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	22 min
Apr 4, 4:42 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Landry	33 min
Apr 4, 5:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	53 min
Apr 4, 6:07 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Cameron	38 min
Apr 4, 6:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jefferson Davis	46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2011 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2011

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.