Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 17, 2021Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at May 17, 2021, 10:10 AM CDT for Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 4 hr. 14 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 17, 2021, 10:10 AM CDT (15:10 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 2021, 2:15 PM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Calcasieu Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 11 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:14 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 17, 10:45 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ne Lake Charles, LA171 AT HWY 90 FLOODED.
May 17, 11:22 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw Lake Charles, LAWATER ENTERING HOMES ON ERNEST STREET.
May 17, 11:38 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 01 Ssw Lake Charles, LAWATER OVER ROADWAY ON PRIEN LAKE RD
May 17, 11:49 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 0Se Moss Bluff, LA7.17 INCHES OF RAIN REPORTED IN MOSS BLUFF
May 17, 11:49 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 7.17Se Moss Bluff, LA7.17 INCHES OF RAIN REPORTED IN MOSS BLUFF
May 17, 12:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 S Lake Charles, LAWATER CONTINUES TO ENTER HOMES.
May 17, 12:05 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 02 S Lake Charles, LASTREET FLOODING NEAR BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY OFF LA AVE.
May 17, 12:17 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sw Lake Charles, LASTREAM GAUGE INDICATES WATER LEVEL IS OVER THE ROAD AND APPROACHING THE 100 YEAR RETURN PERIOD.
May 17, 12:30 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw Lake Charles, LAPHOTO OF STREET FLOODING AND WATER BEGINNING TO ENTER OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CHURCH.
May 17, 12:34 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 03 Sw Lake Charles, LAREPORTS OF WATER IN HOMES OFF OF TIMBERLAWN DR. IN LAKE CHARLES
May 17, 1:04 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 S Lake Charles, LANUMEROUS VIDEOS OF CARS STALLED ACROSS THE AREA WITH WATER IN HOMES.
May 17, 1:46 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 01 Nnw Lake Charles, LACARS UNDER WATER ON BANK ST/5TH ST IN LAKE CHARLES
May 17, 1:47 PM CDTFLASH FLOODLake Charles, LANUMEROUS HOMES AND BUILDINGS FLOODED IN LAKE CHARLES.STRANDED CARS
May 17, 2:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ese Lake Charles, LA*** 1 FATAL *** A FATALITY OCCURRED ALONG EAST PRIEN LAKE ROAD FROM FLASH FLOODING. THE VICITIM WAS RECOVED ON 1/18 IN A CAR THAT WAS SWEPT INTO A DITCH. TIME IS UNKNOWN.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 12 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 2021-05-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 626 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 2021-05-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 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
626 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
699 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
314 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
10.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

235 
WGUS54 KLCH 171510
FFWLCH
LAC019-171915-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0013.210517T1510Z-210517T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1010 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Calcasieu Parish in southwestern Louisiana...

* Until 215 PM CDT.

* At 1010 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Moss Bluff and Carlyss.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. 
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately. 
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate 
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3030 9311 3016 9312 3015 9319 3015 9336
      3015 9341 3024 9335 3031 9323

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 4 HOURS 

$$

Brazzell
1 follow-up statement
179 
WGUS74 KLCH 171541
FFSLCH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1041 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021

LAC019-171915-
/O.CON.KLCH.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210517T1915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Calcasieu LA-
1041 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL CALCASIEU PARISH...

At 1041 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Doppler radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Moss Bluff and Carlyss.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. 
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately. 
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate 
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3030 9311 3016 9312 3015 9319 3015 9336
      3015 9341 3024 9335 3031 9323

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 4 HOURS 

$$

Brazzell

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 17, 2:45 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH90 min
May 17, 3:46 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH59 min
May 17, 4:16 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH89 min
May 17, 4:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCameron53 min
May 17, 4:39 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
May 17, 5:03 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCameron27 min
May 17, 5:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCameron59 min
May 17, 5:43 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu32 min
May 17, 6:00 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH60 min
May 17, 6:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu58 min
May 17, 6:56 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH64 min
May 17, 7:54 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
May 17, 7:56 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH64 min
May 17, 8:45 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHVernon30 min
May 17, 9:00 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH60 min
May 17, 9:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHBeauregard41 min
May 17, 9:20 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHAllen, Beauregard25 min
May 17, 9:34 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLCHBeauregard, Vernon5 hr
May 17, 9:37 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu5 hr
May 17, 9:37 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu38 min
May 17, 9:40 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu, Cameron5 hr
May 17, 9:56 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH64 min
May 17, 10:03 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH57 min
May 17, 10:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu59 min
May 17, 10:30 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu30 min
May 17, 11:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis61 min
May 17, 11:16 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCameron29 min
May 17, 11:18 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH17 min
May 17, 11:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchLCHAllen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, Evangeline, Lafayette and 4 more5 days
May 17, 11:22 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis23 min
May 17, 11:26 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHAllen, Beauregard3 hr
May 17, 11:36 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu3 hr
May 17, 11:42 AM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis8 min
May 17, 11:51 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH54 min
May 17, 12:41 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis3 hr
May 17, 12:42 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH63 min
May 17, 1:11 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis34 min
May 17, 1:40 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH65 min
May 17, 1:43 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis6 hr
May 17, 1:49 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu, Jefferson Davis26 min
May 17, 2:04 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Lafayette, Vermilion26 min
May 17, 2:14 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHCalcasieu31 min
May 17, 2:19 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLCHAllen, Beauregard, Calcasieu5 hr
May 17, 2:24 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Vernon3 hr
May 17, 2:27 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedLCHAcadia33 min
May 17, 2:29 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHAllen, Beauregard21 days
May 17, 2:35 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHAllen, Jefferson Davis5 hr
May 17, 2:42 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH63 min
May 17, 2:52 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry38 min
May 17, 2:53 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry, Saint Martin37 min
May 17, 2:57 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia33 min
May 17, 3:28 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry, Saint Martin32 min
May 17, 3:29 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHAcadia, Allen, Jefferson Davis5 hr
May 17, 3:29 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Jefferson Davis25 min
May 17, 3:30 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia16 min
May 17, 3:37 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia38 min
May 17, 3:40 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH65 min
May 17, 4:08 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia37 min
May 17, 4:12 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry33 min
May 17, 4:39 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
May 17, 4:44 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHAcadia, Saint Landry31 min
May 17, 5:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAcadia, Lafayette, Vermilion48 min
May 17, 5:16 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHLafayette, Saint Martin29 min
May 17, 5:39 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
May 17, 5:57 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHLafayette, Vermilion33 min
May 17, 6:01 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatLCHAcadia, Lafayette, Vermilion6 hr
May 17, 6:03 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHLafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin7 hr
May 17, 6:32 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHLafayette, Vermilion43 min
May 17, 6:40 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH65 min
May 17, 6:40 PM CDTTornado WarningLCHSaint Landry, Saint Martin35 min
May 17, 6:50 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningLCHBeauregard, Calcasieu3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 2021Every flash flood warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.