Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2015

Flash Flood Warning 12, NWS Lake Charles, LA

April 16, 2015Hardin County, Tyler County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at Apr 16, 2015, 6:04 PM CDT for Hardin County, Tyler County, Texas. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 16, 2015, 6:04 PM CDT (23:04 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2015, 10:00 PM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Hardin County, TX, Tyler County, TX

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:08 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 flash flood 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, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 139 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: 1693 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 604 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

859 
WGUS54 KLCH 162304
FFWLCH
TXC199-457-170300-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0012.150416T2304Z-150417T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
604 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES  HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS...
  TYLER COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS...

* UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
    
* AT 602 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS 
  PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS 
  EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  WOODVILLE...SOUR LAKE...COLMESNEIL...CHESTER...THICKET...
  SARATOGA...WARREN...WILDWOOD...ROCKLAND...VOTAW...VILLAGE MILLS...
  HONEY ISLAND...BATSON...IVANHOE AND HILLISTER.

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE 
WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.

TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

&&

LAT...LON 3049 9454 3101 9466 3106 9456 3103 9447
      3103 9444 3100 9445 3104 9435 3102 9432
      3015 9435 3010 9436 3011 9460 3049 9473

$$

RUA

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Apr 16, 3:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 3:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
353 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

.DISCUSSION...
GOING TO KEEP THIS BRIEF THIS AFTERNOON. REGIONAL 88DS CONTINUE
TO SHOW WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS CONTINUING TO POP UP IN A
MOISTURE-RICH AND VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS. CONVECTION IS DEVELOPING
IN ASSOCIATION WITH INCREASING DIFFLUENCE ALOFT AHEAD OF
APPROACHING MID/UPPER-LEVEL LOW MOVING OUT THE ROCKIES...AS WELL
AS THE NEXT IN A SERIES OF WEAK SRN STREAM DISTURBANCES PASSING
OVERHEAD. FOR THE MOST PART CONVECTION HAS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING
GOING ACROSS THE NRN 1/2 OF THE FORECAST AREA...BUT HAS COME ON
WITH A VENGEANCE OVER THE LAST HOUR OR SO ACROSS CNTL LA WHERE
HEAVY RAIN/FLOODING IS BEING REPORTED IN ALEXANDRIA. ADDITIONAL
SHOWERS/STORMS FINALLY BEGINNING TO POP UP OVER THE LAKES REGION
OF SERN TX AS WELL. ALL IN ALL HAVE GONE AHEAD AND EXTENDED THE
FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO NOW INCLUDE THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA...AS
WELL AS EXTENDED IT TEMPORALLY INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

AS THE STORM SYSTEM ALOFT SHIFTS SLOWLY EWD EXPECTING ADDITIONAL
ROUNDS OF CONVECTION TO DEVELOP INTO SATURDAY. GIVEN ALREADY
SATURATED GROUNDS...EXPECTED RAINFALL TONIGHT AND ADDITIONAL HIGH
POPS WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE THE FLOOD WATCH EXTENDED BY
LATER SHIFTS. BY SUNDAY THE LOW IS PROGGED TO OPEN AND EJECT
NEWD...TAKING BEST DYNAMICS WITH IT ALONG WITH BETTER MOISTURE AS
DRIER AIR ALOFT FINALLY TAKES HOLD. THEREFORE POPS FINALLY
DIMINISH TO A MUCH LESSER CHANCE FOR SUNDAY...AND THEN LOOK FAIRLY
SLIM AT WORST THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER THE
SRN STREAM LOOKS TO REMAIN RATHER ACTIVE AND ONCE MOISTURE ALOFT
BEGINS TO INCREASE AGAIN...SLIGHT OR LOW END CHANCE POPS RETURN
TO THE FORECAST FOR MID-WEEK.

&&

.MARINE...
EXPECTING WINDS TO REMAIN BELOW CAUTION CRITERIA THROUGH THE
ENTIRE PERIOD.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  65  79  66  78 /  90  60  70  70
LCH  67  80  67  78 / 100  60  70  70
LFT  68  79  69  79 /  90  70  60  80
BPT  68  80  67  80 / 100  60  70  60

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR LAZ027>033-041>045-
     052>055-073-074.

TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR TXZ180-201-215-216-
     259>262.

GM...NONE.
&&

25

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 16, 4:52 AM CDT, 13 hours 12 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
452 AM CDT THU APR 16 2015

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-
073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-171000-
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 FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM  INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LA FROM
20 TO 60 NM-VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-EVANGELINE-
ST. LANDRY-CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-
UPPER ST. MARTIN-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-
WEST CAMERON-EAST CAMERON-TYLER-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
NORTHERN JASPER-NORTHERN NEWTON-SOUTHERN JASPER-SOUTHERN NEWTON-
452 AM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE TODAY ESPECIALLY ALONG THE
INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE VERY HEAVY RAIN
ALTHOUGH STRONG WIND GUSTS WITH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE. THE ACTIVITY WILL DECREASE THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL BRING MORE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE MAIN HAZARD WILL BE
HEAVY RAINFALL WITH ADDITIONAL FLOODING POSSIBLE. THE UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY SUNDAY NIGHT. DRY
WEATHER WITH NO HAZARDS IS FORECASTED FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR TODAY...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:56 PM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
256 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0243 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 WNW ALEXANDRIA        31.30N 92.49W
04/16/2015                   RAPIDES            LA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE FOOT OF WATER REPORTED ON SEVERAL STREETS IN
            ALEXANDRIA AREA

&&

TWH

Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
346 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0243 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WSW ALEXANDRIA          31.29N 92.47W
04/16/2015                   RAPIDES            LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            MEDIA POSTED PHOTO OF TWO CARS UNDERWATER AT FLOODED
            UNDERPASS ON JACKSON STREET

&&

TWH

Local storm report, Apr 16, 4:00 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
400 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0344 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 NW ALEXANDRIA         31.30N 92.47W
04/16/2015                   RAPIDES            LA   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED FURNITURE STORE LOADING AREA FLOODED WITH
            WATER IN THE SHOWROOM

&&

TWH

Local storm report, Apr 16, 4:01 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
401 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0336 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WSW ALEXANDRIA          31.29N 92.47W
04/16/2015                   RAPIDES            LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            MEDIA POSTED PHOTO OF TWO CARS UNDERWATER AT FLOODED
            UNDERPASS ON JACKSON STREET

&&

TWH

Local storm report, Apr 16, 4:19 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
419 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0418 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MARKSVILLE              31.13N 92.06W
04/16/2015                   AVOYELLES          LA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            LOUISIANA DOTD REPORTS NUMEROUS STATE HIGHWAYS FLOODED IN
            THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF AVOYELLES PARISH

&&

TWH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 5:35 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
535 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

LAZ052>055-170030-
ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-IBERIA-VERMILION-
535 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN CAMERON...
NORTHWESTERN IBERIA...SOUTHERN VERMILION...ST. MARY AND SOUTHEASTERN
ST. MARTIN PARISHES...

AT 534 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTH OF PECAN ISLAND TO 12 MILES SOUTH OF
FRESHWATER CITY...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MORGAN CITY...FRANKLIN...PATTERSON...JEANERETTE...BERWICK...BAYOU
VISTA...FORKED ISLAND...INTRACOASTAL CITY...STEPHENSVILLE...CYPREMORT
POINT...PECAN ISLAND...BURNS POINT...AVERY ISLAND...BALDWIN...
CHARENTON...COTE BLANCHE ISLAND...AMELIA...ESTHER...HENRY AND
PATTERSON MEMORIAL AIRPORT.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

LAT...LON 2951 9142 2939 9149 2963 9140 2953 9153
      2941 9149 2964 9157 2951 9190 2941 9185
      2958 9205 2957 9258 2989 9261 2998 9126
      2960 9107 2954 9129 2943 9123 2948 9131
      2933 9137
TIME...MOT...LOC 2234Z 269DEG 30KT 2976 9243 2938 9230 2917 9246

LANDRENEAU

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 4:20 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	LCH	Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Tyler	59 hr
Apr 16, 12:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jasper	40 min
Apr 16, 12:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jasper, Newton	50 min
Apr 16, 1:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Jefferson	6 hr
Apr 16, 5:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Tyler	42 min
Apr 16, 5:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jasper, Tyler	29 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2015 Every flash flood warning in 2015

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.