Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Watches in 2015

Flash Flood Watch 11, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 24, 201510 parishes in Louisiana; 4 counties in Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood watch at May 24, 2015, 4:05 PM CDT for 10 parishes in Louisiana; 4 counties in Texas. It took effect at May 25, 2015, 7:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 24 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 24, 2015, 4:05 PM CDT (21:05 UTC)
In effect from
May 25, 2015, 7:00 AM CDT
Expired
May 26, 2015, 7:00 AM CDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Flood severity
None

Counties Allen Parish, LA, Avoyelles Parish, LA, Beauregard Parish, LA, Cameron Parish, LA, Evangeline Parish, LA, Lafayette Parish, LA, Rapides Parish, LA, Saint Landry Parish, LA, Saint Martin Parish, LA, Vernon Parish, LA, Hardin County, TX, Jasper County, TX, Newton County, TX, Tyler County, TX

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:07 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 61 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 2015-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1371 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°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 2015-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 198 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1371 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
795 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
8.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood watch 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 watch went out at May 24, 2:02 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 2:02 PM CDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 4:59 AM CDT, 11 hours 6 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-
251000-
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-
459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF 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 BECOME WIDESPREAD THIS MORNING AS
AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. GUSTY WINDS
AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY OCCUR IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS AS THIS LINE OF STORMS MOVES
THROUGH. A BRIEF BREAK FROM THE RAINFALL MAY OCCUR IN THE LATE
AFTERNOON OR EVENING, HOWEVER MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE
EXPECTED TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY,
HOWEVER THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR AGAIN MONDAY INTO TUESDAY
MORNING WITH A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE
AREA THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. GUSTY WINDS MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY SOME
THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE WEEK.

SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT FLOODING OR ANY SEVERE WEATHER.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-251000-
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-
459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE THIS MORNING ACROSS THE
COASTAL WATERS. STRONG GUSTY WINDS MAY OCCUR ALONG WITH FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HIGHER SEAS.

A FAIRLY TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL KEEP A MODERATE TO STRONG
ONSHORE FLOW IN PLACE THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY
WEEK. GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORM. RAIN CHANCES
WILL DECREASE PAST TUESDAY, HOWEVER ISOLATED STORMS WILL REMAIN
POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 24, 12:16 PM CDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, May 24, 12:18 PM CDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1218 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

LAZ027-030-031-041-042-073-074-241800-
EAST CAMERON LA-CALCASIEU LA-WEST CAMERON LA-BEAUREGARD LA-ALLEN LA-
JEFFERSON DAVIS LA-VERNON LA-
1218 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CALCASIEU...NORTHEASTERN
CAMERON...CENTRAL JEFFERSON DAVIS...BEAUREGARD...SOUTHWESTERN VERNON
AND SOUTHWESTERN ALLEN PARISHES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...

AT 1218 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR ORETTA TO NEAR GRAND
LAKE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAKE CHARLES...SULPHUR...WESTLAKE...IOWA...ROSEPINE...REEVES...DE
RIDDER...MOSS BLUFF...LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT...RAGLEY...
FIELDS...DE QUINCY...LACASSINE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...SINGER...
HAYES...GRAND LAKE...DERIDDER...DEQUINCY...GILLIS AND BULLER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 2991 9265 2998 9327 3005 9328 3005 9333
      3004 9333 3057 9362 3096 9328
TIME...MOT...LOC 1718Z 245DEG 25KT 3051 9349 3007 9327

MM
Local storm report, May 24, 12:57 PM CDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1257 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

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

0944 AM     TSTM WND DMG     6 NW BUNA               30.51N 94.02W
05/24/2015                   JASPER             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORT OF SEVERAL TREES DOWN NEAR CR 634 AND 1004

&&

TWH
Special weather statement, May 24, 1:38 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
138 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

LAZ028-031-042-043-241900-
ALLEN-ACADIA-JEFFERSON DAVIS-RAPIDES-
138 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON
DAVIS...SOUTHWESTERN RAPIDES...WESTERN ACADIA AND ALLEN PARISHES...

AT 135 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR OBERLIN TO NEAR KINDER TO NEAR WELSH...AND MOVING
EAST AT 10 MPH WHILE INDIVIDUAL CELLS ARE MOVING NORTH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JENNINGS...OAKDALE...WELSH...KINDER...OBERLIN...ELTON...ELIZABETH...
FENTON...MITTIE...ALLEN PARISH AIRPORT...HARMONY...PINE ISLAND AND
HATHAWAY.

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.

LAT...LON 3089 9264 3024 9263 3025 9291 3045 9293
      3087 9295 3087 9282 3089 9281
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 264DEG 9KT 3064 9282 3042 9282 3026 9283

K. KUYPER
Special weather statement, May 24, 2:01 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
201 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

LAZ027-028-031-032-241945-
ALLEN-EVANGELINE-VERNON-RAPIDES-
201 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EAST CENTRAL VERNON...
WESTERN RAPIDES...NORTHWESTERN EVANGELINE AND NORTHEASTERN ALLEN
PARISHES...

AT 200 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR CLIFTON TO ELIZABETH...AND MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH
WHILE INDIVIDUAL CELLS ARE MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ALEXANDRIA...GLENMORA...BOYCE...HINESTON...LENA...ALEXANDRIA
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...ELMER...GARDNER...OTIS...SIEPER...
CALCASIEU...FOREST HILL...MCNARY AND UNION HILL.

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.

LAT...LON 3149 9270 3145 9271 3142 9269 3140 9269
      3139 9265 3141 9253 3095 9248 3090 9249
      3090 9260 3089 9260 3089 9282 3142 9285
      3143 9284 3144 9281 3145 9281 3145 9280
      3151 9273
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 277DEG 24KT 3130 9283 3088 9277

K. KUYPER
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:22 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
322 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

LAZ028-029-032-033-242045-
ST. LANDRY-EVANGELINE-AVOYELLES-RAPIDES-
322 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN RAPIDES...
ST. LANDRY...EASTERN EVANGELINE AND AVOYELLES PARISHES...

AT 319 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR
EFFIE TO NEAR LAWTELL...THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH... WHILE
INDIVIDUAL CELLS ALONG THE LINE WERE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
OPELOUSAS...VILLE PLATTE...MARKSVILLE...BUNKIE...SIMMESPORT...KROTZ
SPRINGS...MELVILLE...MOREAUVILLE...CHENEYVILLE...PALMETTO...MORROW...
BORDELONVILLE...EFFIE...BAYOU CURRENT...PORT BARRE...COTTONPORT...
MANSURA...WASHINGTON...HESSMER AND EVERGREEN.

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.

LAT...LON 3134 9203 3132 9200 3128 9202 3127 9199
      3126 9201 3122 9199 3123 9192 3127 9195
      3130 9190 3123 9180 3119 9168 3114 9172
      3104 9173 3098 9180 3086 9182 3071 9173
      3056 9176 3051 9174 3052 9229 3119 9229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 291DEG 17KT 3117 9215 3055 9216

K. KUYPER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 8:29 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH61 min
May 24, 9:31 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH59 min
May 24, 10:13 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHAvoyelles, Rapides37 days
May 24, 10:28 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH62 min
May 24, 11:29 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH61 min
May 24, 11:39 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHCameron51 min
May 24, 12:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu42 min
May 24, 12:39 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH36 min
May 24, 1:18 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH57 min
May 24, 1:38 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHAllen, Jefferson Davis22 min
May 24, 2:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHRapides44 min
May 24, 2:14 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH61 min
May 24, 3:16 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH59 min
May 24, 3:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHAvoyelles, Saint Landry23 min
May 24, 4:29 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH2 hr
May 24, 4:42 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHSaint Martin, St. Mary63 min
May 24, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHIberia, Saint Landry, Saint Martin, St. Mary62 min
May 24, 6:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHIberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary3 hr
May 24, 7:56 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHJefferson49 min
May 24, 10:02 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLCHHardin, Jefferson, Orange3 hr
May 24, 10:36 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHSabine39 min
May 24, 10:52 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHJasper, Newton23 min
May 24, 11:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHJefferson, Orange10 days
May 24, 11:01 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHHardin, Jefferson5 days

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Louisiana, 2015Flash Flood Watches in Texas, 2015Every flash flood watch 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.