Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 34, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 17, 2021Acadia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2021, 2:04 PM CDT for Acadia Parish, Lafayette Parish, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 26 min. 2 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, 2:04 PM CDT (19:04 UTC)
Expired
May 17, 2021, 2:30 PM CDT
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Acadia Parish, LA, Lafayette Parish, LA, Vermilion Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 89 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:06 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, 2:17 PM CDTTORNADO1 Ene Lyons Point, LAPHOTOS OF LIKELY TORNADO DAMAGE RELAYED FROM LYONS POINT FD. ADDITIONAL VIDEO PROVIDED OF TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR LYONS POINT. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
May 17, 2:25 PM CDTTORNADO4 Sse Crowley, LAPUBLIC WITNESSED TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN SOUTHERN ACADIA PARISH NEAR HWY 13

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, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 87 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.

151 
WFUS54 KLCH 171904
TORLCH
LAC001-055-113-171930-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0034.210517T1904Z-210517T1930Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
204 PM CDT Mon May 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  West central Lafayette Parish in south central Louisiana...
  Southeastern Acadia Parish in southwestern Louisiana...
  North central Vermilion Parish in southwestern Louisiana...

* Until 230 PM CDT.
    
* At 204 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Lyons Point, or near Kaplan, moving north at 10
  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...
  Lyons Point around 220 PM CDT.
  Indian Bayou around 230 PM CDT.

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 2999 9224 3001 9244 3022 9241 3019 9215
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 188DEG 9KT 3006 9237 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Stigger/87
1 follow-up statement
731 
WWUS54 KLCH 171918
SVSLCH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
218 PM CDT Mon May 17 2021

LAC055-113-171927-
/O.CAN.KLCH.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-210517T1930Z/
Lafayette LA-Vermilion LA-
218 PM CDT Mon May 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL LAFAYETTE AND NORTH CENTRAL
VERMILION PARISHES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3007 9243 3022 9241 3020 9225 3015 9228
      3015 9229 3013 9230 3012 9232 3006 9238
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 188DEG 9KT 3009 9236 

$$

LAC001-171930-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-210517T1930Z/
Acadia LA-
218 PM CDT Mon May 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ACADIA PARISH...
    
At 217 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Lyons Point, or 7 miles northwest of Kaplan, moving
north at 10 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...
  Crowley around 245 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or 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 3007 9243 3022 9241 3020 9225 3015 9228
      3015 9229 3013 9230 3012 9232 3006 9238
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 188DEG 9KT 3009 9236 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

Stigger/87

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, 10:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHCalcasieu4 hr
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, 2:14 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

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes 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.