Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2019

Flash Flood Warning 34, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 10, 2019Orange County, Texas; 6 parishes in Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at May 10, 2019, 2:27 AM CDT for Orange County, Texas; 6 parishes in Louisiana. It was in force for 3 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: May 10, 2019, 2:27 AM CDT (07:27 UTC)
Expired: May 10, 2019, 5:30 AM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Acadia Parish, LA, Allen Parish, LA, Beauregard Parish, LA, Calcasieu Parish, LA, Cameron Parish, LA, Jefferson Davis Parish, LA, Orange County, TX

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 24 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:26 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 00:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 23 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: 409 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -201 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 819 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 29 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 86 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

318 
WGUS54 KLCH 100727
FFWLCH
LAC001-003-011-019-023-053-TXC361-101030-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0034.190510T0727Z-190510T1030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
227 AM CDT Fri May 10 2019

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northern Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  Jefferson Davis Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  Beauregard Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  Northwestern Acadia Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  Calcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  Allen Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  East central Orange County in southeastern Texas...

* Until 530 AM CDT.

* At 226 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to three inches of rain will 
  be possible in under an hour with this activity...and flash 
  flooding is expected to begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Lake Charles, Sulphur, Jennings, Oakdale, Westlake, Welsh, Vinton,
  Iowa, Lake Arthur, Kinder, Oberlin, Elton, Merryville, Elizabeth,
  Fenton, Reeves, Singer, Hayes, Moss Bluff and Sugartown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 2989 9323 3005 9329 3005 9333 2989 9335
      2989 9377 3085 9356 3089 9260 3054 9260
      3048 9263 3048 9260 3010 9261 3004 9272
      3004 9262 2989 9261

$$

25

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 May 9, 11:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 11:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1141 PM CDT Thu May 9 2019

.DISCUSSION...
10/06Z TAF Issuance.

&&

.AVIATION...
Sctd storms near the Acadiana terminals are beginning to weaken
and move NE, while a band of strong to svr storms over SE TX is
beginning to organize and should begin accelerating east over the
next hour or so (which seems to correspond well to recent HRRR
runs). In between some sctd storms have developed near the lower
Sabine River between BPT and LCH. Given the consistency in recent
HRRR runs and general agreement with current convective scenario,
trended toward its solution for overnight into Friday. Adjusted
TEMPO groups to reflect general timing of convective complex and
it moves east acrs the area overnight, between 06-09Z at BPT,
07-11Z at LCH and 09-13Z at LFT/ARA. The line could bring strong
wind gusts to BPT/LCH. Once the complex moves through, HRRR
guidance suggests minimal activity during the day Friday, although
am not inclined to rule out convection entirely as atmosphere
will remain moist and unstable so retained VC mention at all
sites. Cigs will initially be a mix of VFR/MVFR with lower
cigs/vsbys expected with convective band overnight. Winds will be
generally easterly, bcmg vrbl around SHRA/TSRA.

24

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  68  77  67  78 /  80  90  70  90
LCH  71  79  72  81 /  80  90  70  90
LFT  72  82  72  82 /  60  90  70  80
BPT  71  79  71  80 /  90  90  80  90

&&

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

TX...Flash Flood Watch through Saturday evening for TXZ180-201-215-
     216-259>262.

GM...Small Craft Exercise Caution until 7 AM CDT Friday for GMZ430-
     432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475.

&&

AVIATION...24

Hazardous weather outlook, May 9, 7:22 PM CDT, 7 hours 5 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
722 PM CDT Thu May 9 2019

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-
110030-
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-
722 PM CDT Thu May 9 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central
Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west
central Louisiana, and southeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Slight to Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall. A Flash Flood Watch
is in effect for all counties and parishes and this will now
include Iberia, St. Mary, and lower St. Martin Parishes in south
central Louisiana.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Through Saturday night, Slight to Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all of the area except for
Iberia, St. Mary, and lower St. Martin Parishes. The watch may
have to be extended into these parishes. Marginal Risk of Severe
Storms for potential damaging straight line winds and even a
quick spin up brief lived tornado.

Drier and more stable air is expected to move in during Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-110030-
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-
722 PM CDT Thu May 9 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight

A few storms may move into the coastal waters with locally higher
winds and seas along with frequent cloud to water lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Periods of showers and storms will be possible through Saturday
night. These storms will produce locally higher winds and seas,
frequent cloud to water lightning, along with greatly reduced
visibilities due to heavy rainfall.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 10, 1:23 AM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
123 AM CDT FRI MAY 10 2019

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

1209 AM     HAIL             CARLYSS                 30.18N 93.37W
05/10/2019  M3.00 INCH       CALCASIEU          LA   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC PHOTO OF 3 INCH HAILSTONE ALONG A RULER FROM
            STORMS IN CARLYSS.

&&

SWARTHEN

Local storm report, May 10, 1:33 AM CDT, 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
133 AM CDT FRI MAY 10 2019

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

1235 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE CENTRAL GARDENS    29.96N 94.00W
05/10/2019                   JEFFERSON          TX   PUBLIC

            REPORT OF 3-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN AND POWER POLES BROKEN
            NEAR NEDERLAND. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

SWARTHEN

Local storm report, May 10, 1:40 AM CDT, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
140 AM CDT FRI MAY 10 2019

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

0543 PM     HAIL             3 E SAM RAYBURN DAM     31.06N 94.06W
05/09/2019  E2.50 INCH       JASPER             TX   PUBLIC

            VIDEO OF HAIL FALLING IN A PARKING LOT NEAR SAM RAYBURN.
            HAIL APPEARS TO BE GOLF BALL TO TENNIS BALL SIZED.

&&

SWARTHEN

Local storm report, May 10, 1:56 AM CDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
156 AM CDT FRI MAY 10 2019

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

0154 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NW CENTRAL GARDENS    30.04N 94.07W
05/10/2019                   JEFFERSON          TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT THAT WATER HAS MADE UNDERPASSES ALONG MLK
            JR. PKWY IMPASSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF LAMAR.

&&

SWARTHEN

Special weather statement, May 10, 2:02 AM CDT, 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
202 AM CDT Fri May 10 2019

LAZ028-030>032-100745-
Evangeline LA-Allen LA-Beauregard LA-Rapides LA-
202 AM CDT Fri May 10 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL RAPIDES...EAST
CENTRAL BEAUREGARD...WEST CENTRAL EVANGELINE AND NORTHEASTERN ALLEN
PARISHES UNTIL 245 AM CDT...

At 202 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Mittie, moving northeast at 25 mph.

Penny size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Oakdale, Oberlin, Elizabeth, Mittie, Grant, Allen Parish Airport,
Harmony, Beaver, Bond and Union Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 300 AM CDT for
southwestern Louisiana.

LAT...LON 3070 9241 3058 9292 3076 9308 3088 9292
      3088 9283 3095 9282 3103 9272
TIME...MOT...LOC 0702Z 240DEG 22KT 3071 9287

25

Local storm report, May 10, 2:18 AM CDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
218 AM CDT FRI MAY 10 2019

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

0149 AM     TSTM WND GST     1 S GROVES              29.93N 93.92W
05/10/2019  M60 MPH          JEFFERSON          TX   PUBLIC

            PERSONAL WEATHER STATION MEASURED WIND GUST TO 60 MPH IN
            GROVES.

&&

SWARTHEN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 9, 7:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Hardin	50 min
May 9, 8:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Hardin	66 min
May 9, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Hardin	43 min
May 9, 9:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Tyler	43 min
May 9, 10:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Orange	51 min
May 9, 10:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Hardin	47 min
May 9, 10:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Newton, Orange	32 min
May 9, 11:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Hardin	41 min
May 9, 11:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jefferson	47 min
May 10, 12:20 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Jefferson	25 min
May 10, 12:32 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Hardin	118 min
May 10, 12:41 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	LCH	Jefferson, Orange	2 hr
May 10, 12:43 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Jefferson, Orange	19 min
May 10, 12:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jefferson, Orange	66 min
May 10, 1:04 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Jefferson, Orange	116 min
May 10, 2:43 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Orange, Tyler	3 hr
May 9, 7:07 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry	3 hr
May 9, 7:09 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Martin	3 hr
May 9, 7:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	15 min
May 9, 7:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	16 min
May 9, 8:09 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	36 min
May 9, 9:28 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin	3 hr
May 9, 9:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Landry	51 min
May 9, 9:57 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	LCH	Lafayette	63 min
May 9, 10:02 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry	118 min
May 9, 10:16 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Martin	3 hr
May 9, 10:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Calcasieu, Cameron	64 min
May 9, 11:57 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Saint Landry	3 hr
May 10, 12:02 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin	118 min
May 10, 12:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Calcasieu	58 min
May 10, 12:23 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		67 min
May 10, 12:47 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis	58 min
May 10, 12:49 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		11 min
May 10, 12:54 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Calcasieu	2 hr
May 10, 12:56 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard	2 hr
May 10, 1:13 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Martin	2 hr
May 10, 1:18 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		57 min
May 10, 1:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard	39 min
May 10, 1:41 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		64 min
May 10, 2:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis	59 min
May 10, 2:02 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Allen	43 min
May 10, 2:17 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		58 min
May 10, 2:27 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	5 days
May 10, 2:27 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Lafayette, Vermilion	16 days
May 10, 2:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jefferson Davis	49 min
May 10, 3:25 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Evangeline	50 min
May 10, 4:00 AM CDT	Small Craft Advisory	LCH		11 hr
May 10, 4:53 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		2 hr
May 10, 6:15 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin and 1 more	2 hr
May 10, 7:02 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		43 min
May 10, 7:04 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		41 min
May 10, 8:23 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	St. Mary	37 min
May 10, 11:47 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	25 days

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 2019 Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2019 Every flash flood warning in 2019

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.