Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 80, NWS Lake Charles, LA

December 13, 2020Avoyelles Parish, Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at Dec 13, 2020, 6:43 PM CST for Avoyelles Parish, Saint Landry 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: Dec 13, 2020, 6:43 PM CST (00:43 UTC)
Expired: Dec 13, 2020, 7:15 PM CST
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.0 in

Counties Avoyelles Parish, LA, Saint Landry Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 119 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:44 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 tornado 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, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 151 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: 778 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 546 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 351 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 370 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.9
Supercell composite: 9.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

752 
WFUS54 KLCH 140043
TORLCH
LAC009-097-140115-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0080.201214T0043Z-201214T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
643 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Avoyelles Parish in central Louisiana...
  Northeastern St. Landry Parish in central Louisiana...

* Until 715 PM CST.
    
* At 643 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Morrow, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Lebeau around 650 PM CST.
  Palmetto around 700 PM CST.
  Bayou Current around 710 PM CST.
  Melville around 715 PM CST.

This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 33 and 36.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3065 9175 3071 9215 3088 9212 3089 9180
      3087 9180 3086 9182 3084 9180 3081 9181
      3078 9176 3076 9175 3074 9176 3071 9173
      3068 9174 3067 9173
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 270DEG 31KT 3078 9207 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

Jones

1 follow-up statement

983 
WWUS54 KLCH 140102
SVSLCH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
702 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAC009-140111-
/O.CAN.KLCH.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-201214T0115Z/
Avoyelles LA-
702 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL AVOYELLES PARISH IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3066 9175 3065 9175 3068 9192 3085 9189
      3085 9181 3084 9180 3081 9181 3078 9176
      3076 9175 3074 9176 3071 9173 3068 9174
      3067 9173
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 270DEG 31KT 3078 9188 

$$

LAC097-140115-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-201214T0115Z/
St. Landry LA-
702 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CST FOR
NORTHEASTERN ST. LANDRY PARISH...
    
At 701 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Palmetto, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Bayou Current around 710 PM CST.
  Melville around 715 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3066 9175 3065 9175 3068 9192 3085 9189
      3085 9181 3084 9180 3081 9181 3078 9176
      3076 9175 3074 9176 3071 9173 3068 9174
      3067 9173
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 270DEG 31KT 3078 9188 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

Jones

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Dec 13, 5:55 PM CST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 13, 5:55 PM CST, 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
555 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

.DISCUSSION...
00Z TAFS

&&

.AVIATION...
A squall line ahead of a strong cold front presently bisects the
region and is pushing through LCH and AEX. This line will impact
LFT and ARA between 01Z and 03Z producing gusty winds up to 40
MPH and visibility reducing heavy rainfall.

Behind the line, gusty west northwesterly winds will develop and
persist through mid Monday morning before moderating through the
afternoon. Plenty of trapped low level moisture will maintain MVFR
CIGs through the night and much of the day Monday.

Jones

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 322 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020/

DISCUSSION...
Weak surface low in east Texas has pushed a warm front north out
of the Gulf, in the vicinity of US 190. Ahead of the warm front
temperatures are in the 50s, while behind the warm front
temperatures are in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Meanwhile, a cold
front also extends south from the weak surface low, between
Houston and Beaumont. A large swath of rain extends across central
Louisiana, while a line of showers and thunderstorms extends from
sour Lake to Galveston. This line will need to be monitored, per
SPC, there is a small chance for strong to severe storms in this
warm sector through early this evening. High wind shear is noted
across most of our forecast area, but the limiting factor is the
instability, which is not only lacking near the surface, but aloft
as well.

After the line of showers and thunderstorms moves through this
evening, drier and colder weather is on tap for Monday, and at
least part of the day on Tuesday, before a mid-level shortwave
tries to produce some rain Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night.
No severe weather is expected with this system.

Freezing temperatures are looking likely for Thursday morning,
mainly over east Texas and central Louisiana. There is a chance
the freezing temperatures could get as far south as the I-10
corridor, so monitor this forecast as we go through the week.

Finally, the end of the week brings yet another warm front/cold
front/weak low pressure to our area on Saturday. Stay tuned this
week as we monitor this system as well.

MARINE...
Winds and seas will be high tonight as a cold front moves through
the northwest Gulf. Wind gusts should be gale force overnight,
especially in the outer coastal waters. In addition, due to the
strong northerly winds, a low water advisory is issued for late
tonight into tomorrow morning as tides will run 1 to 2 feet below
normal. This will likely impact marine traffic on the Sabine-
Neches and Calcasieu waterways.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  39  49  33  51 /  70   0   0  20
LCH  40  51  38  56 /  40   0   0  30
LFT  44  51  39  57 /  70   0   0  10
BPT  40  52  41  58 /   0   0   0  30

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to noon CST Monday for GMZ470-472-
     475.

     Gale Warning until 6 AM CST Monday for GMZ470-472-475.

     Low Water Advisory from 9 PM this evening to noon CST Monday for
     GMZ430-432.

     Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Monday for GMZ430-432-435-
     450-452-455.

&&

AVIATION...66

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 13, 3:34 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
334 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-141200-
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-
334 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

As a cold front moves through the region, showers and thunderstorms
are expected. Some of these storms could be strong to severe.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Rain is expected Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night.

Freezing temperatures are expected in east Texas and central
Louisiana Thursday morning.

Another cold front moves through the area on Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

GMZ470-472-475-141200-
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-
334 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO NOON CST MONDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Gale Warning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Small Craft Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

GMZ430-432-141200-
Sabine Lake-Calcasieu Lake-
334 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY...
...LOW WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST
MONDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal lakes and bays of
the Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Small Craft Advisory.
   Low Water Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Small Craft Advisory.
   Low Water Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

GMZ435-450-452-455-141200-
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-
334 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the
coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Small Craft Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Small Craft Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 13, 1:03 PM CST, 5 hours 40 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
103 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAZ033-043>045-052-074-131945-
Acadia LA-Lafayette LA-Vermilion LA-St. Landry LA-
Upper St. Martin LA-East Cameron LA-
103 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAFAYETTE...EAST CENTRAL
CAMERON...SOUTHEASTERN ACADIA...NORTHWESTERN VERMILION...WEST CENTRAL
ST. MARTIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL ST. LANDRY PARISHES UNTIL 145 PM CST...

At 103 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles south of Lowry, or 12 miles southwest of Klondike, moving
northeast at 55 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, Crowley, Scott, Breaux Bridge, Rayne, Carencro, Kaplan,
Gueydan, Leonville, Arnaudville, Klondike, Broussard, Sunset, Duson,
Maurice, Grand Coteau, Morse, Cankton, Wright and Mire.

LAT...LON 2975 9275 2990 9286 3049 9196 3026 9178
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 235DEG 49KT 2987 9273

06

Special weather statement, Dec 13, 4:29 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
429 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAZ027-030-041-073-TXZ215-216-260-262-132315-
West Cameron LA-Calcasieu LA-Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Orange TX-
Jefferson TX-Southern Newton TX-Northern Newton TX-
429 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CAMERON...WESTERN
BEAUREGARD...WESTERN CALCASIEU AND SOUTHWESTERN VERNON PARISHES...
EAST CENTRAL JEFFERSON...SOUTHEASTERN NEWTON AND ORANGE COUNTIES
UNTIL 515 PM CST...

At 428 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles east of Stringtown to Groves. Movement
was northeast at 20 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Port Arthur, Orange, Nederland, Groves, Port Neches, De Ridder,
Bridge City, West Orange, Vinton, Rosepine, Merryville, Singer,
Deweyville, De Quincy, Starks, Fields, Bon Weir, Mauriceville, Bivens
and Lunita.

LAT...LON 3101 9315 2998 9355 2996 9376 2997 9376
      2999 9380 3000 9379 2998 9383 2999 9385
      2999 9386 2997 9384 2997 9386 2996 9386
      2996 9387 2995 9387 2993 9400 3096 9361
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 231DEG 19KT 3093 9353 2994 9391

Jones

Special weather statement, Dec 13, 5:02 PM CST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
502 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAZ027-028-030-031-041-042-073-074-132345-
West Cameron LA-Calcasieu LA-Jefferson Davis LA-Allen LA-
Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-East Cameron LA-Rapides LA-
502 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CAMERON...WESTERN
RAPIDES...WESTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS...EASTERN BEAUREGARD...CALCASIEU...
EASTERN VERNON AND ALLEN PARISHES UNTIL 545 PM CST...

At 502 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Fullerton to near Holly
Beach. Movement was east at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Lake Charles, Alexandria, Sulphur, Cameron, Westlake, Iowa, Kinder,
Oberlin, Boyce, Elizabeth, Fenton, Reeves, Moss Bluff, Sugartown,
Hineston, Lena, Mittie, Dry Creek, Grand Lake and Alexandria
International Airport.

LAT...LON 3145 9271 3139 9266 3143 9244 2975 9310
      2977 9334 2980 9333 2976 9335 2975 9364
      3136 9302 3135 9295 3149 9275 3150 9269
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 265DEG 37KT 3107 9304 2979 9352

Jones

Special weather statement, Dec 13, 5:43 PM CST, 1 hour before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
543 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

LAZ027>033-041>043-052-073-074-140030-
West Cameron LA-St. Landry LA-Avoyelles LA-Evangeline LA-Allen LA-
Vernon LA-Rapides LA-Calcasieu LA-Acadia LA-Jefferson Davis LA-
Vermilion LA-Beauregard LA-East Cameron LA-
543 PM CST Sun Dec 13 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CAMERON...RAPIDES...JEFFERSON
DAVIS...EVANGELINE...SOUTHEASTERN BEAUREGARD...ACADIA...EASTERN
CALCASIEU...WESTERN VERMILION...WESTERN AVOYELLES...WESTERN ST.
LANDRY...SOUTHEASTERN VERNON AND ALLEN PARISHES UNTIL 630 PM CST...

At 543 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles east of Elmer to near Cameron. Movement
was east at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Lake Charles, Alexandria, Sulphur, Pineville, Crowley, Eunice,
Jennings, Rayne, Oakdale, Ville Platte, Cameron, Marksville,
Westlake, Church Point, Bunkie, Mamou, Welsh, Iowa, Lake Arthur and
Kinder.

LAT...LON 3122 9199 3128 9187 2956 9247 2977 9342
      2978 9341 2987 9350 2987 9349 2979 9341
      2985 9343 2979 9338 2980 9337 2985 9342
      2990 9323 3005 9329 2991 9334 3006 9345
      3141 9268 3147 9216
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 267DEG 36KT 3111 9258 2987 9335

Jones

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 13, 6:08 PM CST	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Saint Landry	37 min
Dec 13, 6:11 PM CST	Tornado Warning	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Saint Landry	34 min
Dec 13, 6:12 PM CST	Tornado Warning	LCH	Evangeline, Saint Landry	33 min
Dec 13, 6:38 PM CST	Tornado Warning	LCH	Acadia, Lafayette, Vermilion	37 min
Dec 13, 6:48 PM CST	Tornado Warning	LCH	Acadia, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	27 min
Dec 13, 7:16 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Martin, Vermilion	44 min
Dec 13, 8:00 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	45 min
Dec 13, 9:14 PM CST	Wind Advisory	LCH	Cameron, Lafayette, Saint Martin	9 hr
Dec 13, 10:11 PM CST	River Flood Warning	LCH	Rapides	52 days
Dec 14, 11:11 AM CST	River Flood Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard	71 hr
Dec 14, 11:11 AM CST	River Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Calcasieu	21 days

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2020 Every tornado warning in 2020 Tornadoes in 2020

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.