Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 31, NWS Lake Charles, LA

February 18, 2012Acadia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2012, 9:22 AM CST for Acadia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 38 min. 7 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
Feb 18, 2012, 9:22 AM CST (15:22 UTC)
Expired
Feb 18, 2012, 10:00 AM CST
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Acadia Parish, LA, Lafayette Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 105 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:24 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 18, 9:30 AM CSTTSTM WND GST 75Lafayette, LAKATC ESTIMATED 75 MPH WIND GUST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAFAYETTE WITH THE BOW ECHO.
Feb 18, 9:30 AM CSTTORNADO2 Ese Rayne, LAPUBLIC REPORTED FLOOR SHAKING AND FREIGHT TRAIN SOUND
Feb 18, 9:33 AM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDDuson, LAFUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Feb 18, 9:36 AM CSTFUNNEL CLOUDLafayette, LAPUBLIC REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD BETWEEN AMBASSADOR CAFFREY BOULEVARD AND IH 10.
Feb 18, 9:45 AM CSTTSTM WND GST 60Lafayette, LAPUBLIC REPORTED WINDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH ALONG AMBASSADOR CAFFREY BOULEVARD
Feb 18, 9:45 AM CSTHAIL 0.252 E Lafayette, LAPEA SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT
Feb 18, 9:48 AM CSTTSTM WND GST 0Lafayette, LAKATC REPORT OF ESTIMATED 75 MPH WIND GUST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAFAYETTE WITH THE BOW ECHO.

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

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 18, 4:46 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 103 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2012-02-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2012-02-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 359 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
564 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
75 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
359 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
635 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

677 
WFUS54 KLCH 181522
TORLCH
LAC001-055-181600-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0031.120218T1522Z-120218T1600Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
922 AM CST SAT FEB 18 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN LAFAYETTE PARISH IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES...SCOTT...LAFAYETTE...
  EAST CENTRAL ACADIA PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...
  THIS INCLUDES RAYNE...

* UNTIL 1000 AM CST

* AT 919 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF RAYNE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DUSON AND MIRE BY 935 AM CST...
  SCOTT BY 940 AM CST...
  LAFAYETTE BY 945 AM CST...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATES A TORNADO MAY FORM AT ANY
TIME. TAKE COVER NOW! ABANDON MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST
SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

&&

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

LAT...LON 3022 9198 3014 9231 3023 9238 3035 9216
      3033 9216 3032 9214 3030 9214 3033 9209
      3037 9207
TIME...MOT...LOC 1523Z 242DEG 32KT 3018 9227

$$

21
2 follow-up statements
375 
WWUS54 KLCH 181536
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
936 AM CST SAT FEB 18 2012

LAC001-055-181600-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-120218T1600Z/
LAFAYETTE LA-ACADIA LA-
936 AM CST SAT FEB 18 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL ACADIA AND NORTHERN LAFAYETTE PARISHES...

AT 929 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FINNEL CLOUD NEAR 
DUSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SCOTT...LAFAYETTE AND CARENCRO

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION...STAY INDOORS AND AVOID WINDOWS. MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST
SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

&&

LAT...LON 3022 9198 3017 9218 3017 9219 3026 9225
      3035 9216 3033 9216 3032 9214 3030 9214
      3033 9209 3037 9207
TIME...MOT...LOC 1534Z 241DEG 34KT 3025 9214

$$

MM
825 
WWUS54 KLCH 181559
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
959 AM CST SAT FEB 18 2012

LAC001-055-181609-
/O.EXP.KLCH.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-120218T1600Z/
LAFAYETTE LA-ACADIA LA-
959 AM CST SAT FEB 18 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ACADIA AND NORTHERN LAFAYETTE
PARISHES WILL EXPIRE AT 1000 AM CST...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM CST SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS
IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CST SATURDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

LAT...LON 3022 9198 3017 9218 3017 9219 3026 9225
      3035 9216 3033 9216 3032 9214 3030 9214
      3033 9209 3037 9207
TIME...MOT...LOC 1559Z 241DEG 34KT 3036 9190

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 5:08 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementLCHAllen37 min
Feb 18, 5:33 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementLCHEvangeline27 min
Feb 18, 6:26 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementLCHVernon34 min
Feb 18, 6:54 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementLCHSaint Landry66 min
Feb 18, 7:14 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron61 min
Feb 18, 7:21 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHBeauregard, Vernon84 min
Feb 18, 7:23 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH67 min
Feb 18, 7:27 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHCalcasieu, Cameron93 min
Feb 18, 7:58 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion62 min
Feb 18, 8:01 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHCameron29 min
Feb 18, 8:07 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH53 min
Feb 18, 8:12 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu3 hr
Feb 18, 8:30 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Vermilion60 min
Feb 18, 8:37 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion23 min
Feb 18, 8:38 AM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHAcadia, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin and 1 more4 hr
Feb 18, 8:51 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion24 min
Feb 18, 9:00 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH60 min
Feb 18, 9:02 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu7 days
Feb 18, 9:02 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningLCHAcadia, Allen, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis5 days
Feb 18, 9:02 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningLCHVernon3 days
Feb 18, 9:02 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu13 hr
Feb 18, 9:09 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Lafayette, Vermilion36 min
Feb 18, 9:19 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVermilion56 min
Feb 18, 9:33 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCameron, Vermilion57 min
Feb 18, 9:34 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Lafayette, Vermilion28 min
Feb 18, 9:41 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia, Lafayette, Saint Martin, Vermilion64 min
Feb 18, 9:46 AM CSTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry, Saint Martin29 min
Feb 18, 9:54 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
Feb 18, 10:09 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia, Lafayette, Saint Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion66 min
Feb 18, 10:17 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH58 min
Feb 18, 10:20 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningLCHAcadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Saint Landry and 2 more6 hr
Feb 18, 10:46 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningLCHAcadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry3 hr
Feb 18, 10:54 AM CSTRiver Flood WarningLCHLafayette, Vermilion34 hr
Feb 18, 10:54 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary50 min
Feb 18, 11:01 AM CSTSpecial Marine WarningLCH43 min
Feb 18, 11:16 AM CSTAreal Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu4 hr
Feb 18, 3:41 PM CSTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHIberia, Saint Martin, Vermilion109 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes in 2012

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.