Alert archive / Louisiana / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 104, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 3, 2017Avoyelles Parish, Rapides Parish, Vernon Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2017, 7:06 PM CDT for Avoyelles Parish, Rapides Parish, Vernon Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 32 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, 2017, 7:06 PM CDT (00:06 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2017, 7:38 PM CDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Avoyelles Parish, LA, Rapides Parish, LA, Vernon Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:10 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 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, 5:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 148 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: 1128 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -49 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 515 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 459 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 554 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 4.2
Supercell composite: 25.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

400 
WUUS54 KLCH 040006
SVRLCH
LAC009-079-115-040100-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0104.170504T0006Z-170504T0100Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
706 PM CDT WED MAY 3 2017

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Rapides Parish in central Louisiana...
  Northwestern Avoyelles Parish in central Louisiana...
  Central Vernon Parish in west central Louisiana...

* Until 800 PM CDT

* At 659 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from 7 miles north of Ball to near Anacoco, moving east
  at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Alexandria, Pineville, Leesville, Boyce, Anacoco, Fort Polk,
  Alexandria International Airport, Slagle, Hineston, Lena, Ball, New
  Llano, Hornbeck, Tioga, Timber Trails, Hutton, Esler Regional
  Airport, Flatwoods, Otis and Elmer.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3147 9271 3145 9268 3140 9269 3139 9266
      3146 9226 3136 9208 3133 9208 3134 9204
      3132 9200 3128 9202 3090 9318 3132 9342
      3137 9323 3135 9295 3137 9295 3137 9292
      3139 9291 3148 9278 3150 9268
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 284DEG 18KT 3152 9244 3120 9335 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

06

1 follow-up statement

032 
WWUS54 KLCH 040038
SVSLCH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
738 PM CDT WED MAY 3 2017

LAC009-079-115-040046-
/O.CAN.KLCH.SV.W.0104.000000T0000Z-170504T0100Z/
Rapides LA-Avoyelles LA-Vernon LA-
738 PM CDT WED MAY 3 2017

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR RAPIDES...NORTHWESTERN
AVOYELLES AND CENTRAL VERNON PARISHES IS CANCELLED...
    
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore the warning has been cancelled.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
central and west central Louisiana.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
southwest Rapides Parish until 815 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3147 9271 3145 9268 3140 9269 3139 9266
      3146 9226 3136 9208 3133 9208 3134 9204
      3132 9200 3128 9202 3090 9318 3132 9342
      3137 9323 3135 9295 3137 9295 3137 9292
      3139 9291 3148 9278 3150 9268
TIME...MOT...LOC 0036Z 284DEG 18KT 3147 9223 3116 9314 

$$

13

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, 6:42 PM CDT, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 6:42 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
642 PM CDT Wed May 3 2017

.DISCUSSION...
For the 04/00Z TAF Issuance.

&&

.AVIATION...
Clusters of showers and thunderstorms will continue at TAF sites
until a cold front/squall line move through during the evening
hours. After the cold front moves through, shower activity will
gradually end overnight with VFR conditions expected on Thursday.

Rua

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 514 PM CDT Wed May 3 2017/

UPDATE...
Tornado Watch 190 has expired and Severe Thunderstorm Watch 192
has been issued for most of the area through midnight. The watch
covers all but the easternmost zones.

24

PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 441 PM CDT Wed May 3 2017/

SYNOPSIS...
Very busy day with severe weather this morning and flooding this
afternoon. A band of 5 to 8 inches of rainfall fell from northeast
Hardin County across southern Jasper and Newton Counties into
Calcasieu and Jeff Davis Parishes in southwest LA. Several reports
of flooding have been received, with significant flooding
affecting portions of Lake Charles requiring issuance of a Flash
Flood Emergency.

Additional storms continue to develop acrs northern portions of
the CWA ahead of a cold front that extends from the TX/LA border
west of SHV southwest toward Austin.

24

DISCUSSION...
The risk of severe weather and flooding continues across the area
this evening until the passage of the cold front. A tornado watch
remains in effect through 5 PM and an additional watch is likely
to be issued for the evening hours. The Flash Flood Watch remains
in effect through Thursday morning as an additional 3 to 5 inches
of rainfall will be possible as the convection north of the area
evolves into a squall line. Left the wind advisory in effect
across the coastal parishes and county as gusty southerly winds
will continue ahead of the front. The southerly flow will allow
water to pile up along the coast, leading to possible minor
coastal flooding this evening.

The potent upper level low and sfc cold front is expected to
move through the area this evening, and eventually east of the
region by 3 to 4 AM. This will bring an end to all the hazards
over the land zones as the drier air moves into the region. High
pres will build in behind the front overnight into Thursday bringing
much cooler and drier weather to the region for the next several
days.

24

MARINE...
MODERATE TO STRONG SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE
TONIGHT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. THE INCREASED ONSHORE FLOW WILL
LEAD TO ELEVATED TIDES OF 1.5 TO 2.0 FEET ABOVE PREDICTED LEVELS
THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. THE FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE
COASTAL WATERS AFTER MIDNIGHT, WITH WINDS SHIFTING TO THE
NORTHWEST AND STRENGTHENING. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AS IT MOVES THROUGH. MODERATE TO STRONG
OFFSHORE FLOW IS EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE REGION, WITH WINDS GRADUALLY SHIFTING TO
THE SOUTH BY SUNDAY.

24

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  52  70  50  76 / 100  10   0   0
LCH  56  73  53  78 / 100  10   0   0
LFT  58  73  53  77 / 100  10   0   0
BPT  55  74  53  79 / 100  10   0   0

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for LAZ027>033-
     041>045-052>055-073-074.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for LAZ073-074.

     Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for LAZ044-045-052>055-073-
     074.

     Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for LAZ028-029-031>033-
     041>043.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 AM CDT Thursday for LAZ052>054.

TX...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for TXZ180-201-215-
     216-259>262.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for TXZ215-216.

     Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for TXZ215-216.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for GMZ470-472-475.

     Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM to 4 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ430-
     432-435.

     Small Craft Exercise Caution through Thursday morning for GMZ430-
     432-435.

     Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM CDT Friday for GMZ450-452-455.

&&

AVIATION...07

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 5:15 AM CDT, 13 hours 51 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
515 AM CDT Wed May 3 2017

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-
041100-
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-
515 AM CDT Wed May 3 2017

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
Rapid changes with deteriorating weather conditions expected
today. The Storm Prediction Center has entire area with an Enhanced
Risk of severe thunderstorms, with large hail possible and
damaging winds the primary severe weather threat.

Moderate risk of excessive rainfall today with rain amounts of 3
to 6 inches are expected across Southern Louisiana, with isolated
amounts exceeding 8 inches possible. Elsewhere slight risk of
excessive rainfall with rain amounts of 2 to 3 inches are expected
with isolated amounts exceeding 5 inches possible across
Southeast Texas and Central Louisiana.

Elevated south to southeasterly winds will lead to elevated tides
of 1.5 to 2.0 feet above predicted levels this afternoon and
evening. This will result in tidal levels between 3.3 - 3.8 feet
MLLW later this afternoon and evening along coastal Southern
Louisiana and Southeast Texas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday
Precipitation expected to end once the cold front passes, with
cooler than normal temperatures expected though Saturday. A
warming trend with no precipitation is expected Sunday through
Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation likely needed later this morning through the
evening hours.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-041100-
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-
515 AM CDT Wed May 3 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight
South to southeasterly winds will continue strengthening today
ahead of the next cold front this evening and early Thursday
morning. Moderate to strong offshore flow is expected behind the
cold front. Small craft advisories are in effect for all marine
zones.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday
Moderate to strong offshore flow will continue behind the cold
front on Thursday, subsiding on Friday. Small craft advisories
will continue into Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation likely needed later this morning through the
evening hours.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 6:07 PM CDT, 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
607 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0603 PM     TSTM WND GST     EUNICE                  30.49N 92.42W
05/03/2017  M65 MPH          ACADIA             LA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, May 3, 6:36 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
636 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0636 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 W REDDELL             30.67N 92.51W
05/03/2017                   EVANGELINE         LA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            HIGHWAY CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING

&&

Local storm report, May 3, 6:44 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
644 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0642 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 39 SSW BURNS POINT      29.09N 91.87W
05/03/2017  M44 MPH          GMZ455             LA   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM PLATFORM IN SOUTH MARSH ISLAND BLOCK 281.

&&

MOGGED

Local storm report, May 3, 6:50 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
650 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0615 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST CHURCH POINT            30.40N 92.21W
05/03/2017  E65 MPH          ACADIA             LA   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, May 3, 6:51 PM CDT, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
651 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0615 PM     TSTM WND GST     CHURCH POINT            30.40N 92.21W
05/03/2017  E65.00 MPH       ACADIA             LA   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, May 3, 6:57 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
657 PM CDT WED MAY 03 2017

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

0530 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 W MOSS BLUFF          30.30N 93.25W
05/03/2017                   CALCASIEU          LA   PUBLIC

            WATER IN HOME

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 7:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Saint Martin, St. Mary	18 min
May 3, 7:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard	37 min
May 3, 7:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Evangeline, Rapides	30 min
May 3, 7:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Acadia, Evangeline	48 min
May 3, 8:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jefferson Davis	66 min
May 3, 8:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Beauregard	32 min
May 3, 8:35 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	63 hr
May 3, 8:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Landry	50 min
May 3, 8:49 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		86 min
May 3, 8:51 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis and 1 more	54 min
May 3, 8:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin, St. Mary	46 min
May 3, 9:17 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Rapides	8 days
May 3, 9:17 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Allen	5 days
May 3, 9:17 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Jefferson Davis	6 days
May 3, 9:17 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard	4 days
May 3, 9:17 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Allen	5 days
May 3, 9:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	51 min
May 3, 9:34 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		116 min
May 3, 11:16 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Iberia and 6 more	18 hr
May 3, 11:36 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		114 min
May 4, 1:30 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		2 hr
May 4, 11:26 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Saint Martin, St. Mary	47 days
May 4, 1:25 PM CDT	Wind Advisory	LCH	Avoyelles, Cameron, Evangeline, Lafayette, Rapides, Saint Landry and 1 more	6 hr
May 4, 2:12 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Vernon	3 days

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Louisiana, 2017 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

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.