Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2024
Tornado Warning 101, NWS Lake Charles, LA
NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at Dec 28, 2024, 3:29 PM CST for Vernon Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 31 min. 3 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
- Dec 28, 2024, 3:29 PM CST (21:29 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 28, 2024, 4:00 PM CST
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lake Charles, LA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 0.75 in
County Vernon Parish, LA
The radar
The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 14 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:30 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 3:30 PM CST | TSTM WND DMG | New Llano, LA | Reports of power lines and small trees down around the New Llano area. |
| Dec 28, 3:36 PM CST | TSTM WND GST 81 | Fort Johnson, LA | KPOE observation site reported a wind gust of 70 knots/81 mph. |
| Dec 28, 3:50 PM CST | TORNADO | 6 Nnw Pitkin, LA | This EF1 tornado is assumed to have begun around 1/2 mile north of Fullerton Lake, in a heavily wooded, inaccessible area. The tornado then continued southeast, cross Fullerton Lake Road where it snapped around 40 to 50 trees near the entrance to the Fullerton |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 21 minutes after it went out.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2:17 PM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 104 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2104 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 579 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 33 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 155 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 186 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.7
- Supercell composite
- 11.5
The text
As transmitted.
361
WFUS54 KLCH 282129
TORLCH
LAC115-282200-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0101.241228T2129Z-241228T2200Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
329 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southeastern Vernon Parish in west central Louisiana...
* Until 400 PM CST.
* At 328 PM CST, a tornado producing storm was located over Fort
Johnson, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.
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 tornadic storm will be near...
Fort Johnson around 335 PM CST.
Cravens around 340 PM CST.
Fullerton around 345 PM CST.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Pickering.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 3093 9283 3098 9331 3116 9331 3120 9283
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 270DEG 31KT 3107 9323
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
JB2 follow-up statements
500
WWUS54 KLCH 282135
SVSLCH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
335 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
LAC115-282200-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-241228T2200Z/
Vernon LA-
335 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN VERNON PARISH...
At 335 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located over Fort Johnson,
moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornado will be near...
Lacamp and Fullerton around 345 PM CST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an
interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid
windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move
to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying
debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3093 9283 3099 9320 3116 9320 3120 9283
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 265DEG 32KT 3109 9315
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
JB088
WWUS54 KLCH 282143
SVSLCH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
343 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
LAC115-282200-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0101.000000T0000Z-241228T2200Z/
Vernon LA-
343 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR EAST
CENTRAL VERNON PARISH...
At 343 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located 7 miles southwest of
Lacamp, or 8 miles southeast of Slagle, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.
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 tornado will be near...
Lacamp and Leander around 350 PM CST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 3099 9283 3101 9313 3117 9312 3120 9283
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 265DEG 36KT 3111 9303
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
JBWhat 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 28, 3:28 PM CST, 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 28, 3:28 PM CST, 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 328 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE... .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Monday night) Issued at 315 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 At the surface, low pressure is near the Ark-La-Tex with a cold front extending to the SW, west of Houston. Aloft, a powerful midlevel shortwave trough is noted over north TX in water vapor imagery. Severe storms are beginning to consolidate over our SE TX counties at this time ahead of these features within a very warm and moist atmosphere, which, timing wise, is well in line with CAMs guidance over the last several hours. Showers and storms will continue to push east through the evening into the early part of the overnight period, eventually exiting lower Acadiana prior to midnight. Until then, all modes of severe weather will be possible as these storms consolidate into a QLCS and move east through the forecast area. A PDS Tornado Watch remains in affect through 9PM for the entire forecast area apart from lower Acadiana, with those few parishes expected to be included in another Tor Watch that will be issued later this evening. In addition to tornadoes, these storms will be capable of producing hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning, and torrential rainfall that could lead to flooding. Although many part of south LA have seen little weather today, it is imperative to not let your guard down through the next several hours as conditions will deteriorate quickly very soon. Once this weather clears the forecast area tonight, winds will gradually shift NW behind the cold front. However, little in the way of cooler/drier air is expected post-frontal passage, with dewpoints only "bottoming out" in the low to mid 50s tomorrow morning. Therefore, it does look like we will see another round of fog tonight/early tomorrow morning. Fortunately, the potential for widespread dense fog look minimal, but patchy areas of fog may be an issue Sun morning. Tomorrow into Monday weak surface high pressure slides overhead, with winds turning back to the SW to S Sun night. Otherwise, rather benign but warm weather continues through Monday, with highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Overnight lows fall into the upper 40s to mid 50s both Sun and Mon night. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through next Friday) Issued at 315 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 The long term period will bring several days of dry and seasonal conditions. Beginning on New Years Eve, a cold front will sweep through the region early in the day, likely prior to sunrise, shifting winds back to the north and advecting in a drier airmass throughout the daytime hours. Highs will reach into mid to upper 60s Tues afternoon, while dewpoints gradually fall into the low to mid 40s. Overnight, a secondary reinforcing cold front will quickly sweep through the area, resulting in a chilly start to the new year with lows falling in the the upper 30s to mid 40s Wed morning. Wednesday into Thursday, post-frontal high pressure builds down out of the Plains and settles overhead resulting in a couple of days of dry and mild conditions. Mostly sunny skies, highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, and light north winds can be expected each day. By Thursday afternoon into Thursday night, high pressure begins to depart to the east allowing winds to turn more easterly overhead. This will bring a slightly increase in dewpoints Thurs night into Fri, which will in turn increase overnight lows a bit. NBM is still wanting to bring small POPs in Thurs night into early Fri however, I'm still not convinced we will be nearly moist enough to squeeze out any showers through this period. Fri night into early Sat, another dry cold front sweeps through, effectively bringing an end to any warming/moistening trend as we head into the weekend. 17 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1133 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 For the next few hours, scattered shower activity will continue to stream north across the region amid MVFR CIGs and gusty southerly winds. Some of these showers may evolve into thunderstorms through the next couple of hours, and will be capable of producing strong wind gusts, frequent lightning, and torrential rainfall. Around 2-3PM a line of strong to severe storms will move into SE TX, shifting east from there through the afternoon into the early part of the overnight hours. This line will bring the worst of the period's weather. Attempted to time this line out within the TAFs, including with TEMPO groups. Conditions will deteriorate at BPT around 2-3PM, at LCH between 4 and 5 PM, at AEX between 4 and 6 PM, and at LFT/ARA between 5 and 7 PM. Thereafter, rainfall/severe risk will come to an end and CIGs should gradually lift to VFR. However, some patchy fog is expected to develop overnight at all sites. This fog should burn off around 14Z tomorrow, giving way to VFR conditions. 17 && .MARINE... Issued at 315 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 Showers and storms will begin to amplify over the western waters through the next couple of hours, spreading east through the evening and eventually exiting the eastern waters prior to midnight. Winds and seas will be elevated this evening into tonight, and will also be higher in and around any strong to severe storms. Winds turn NW after the front and relax quickly, before veering SW to S again by early Monday. Dry weather returns overnight and continues through much of next week as a cold front exits the area. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 51 67 48 72 / 90 0 0 0 LCH 53 70 52 72 / 80 0 0 0 LFT 56 70 52 73 / 80 0 0 0 BPT 54 72 53 74 / 40 0 0 0 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM....17 AVIATION...17
In the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 28, 10:21 AM CST, 5 hours 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1021 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 AM Tornado 4 NNE Oretta 30.58N 93.42W
12/28/2024 Beauregard LA Public
Video of a weak tornado filmed on George
Kendall Road.
&&Special weather statement, Dec 28, 12:29 PM CST, 3 hours before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1229 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
LAZ027-281900-
Vernon LA-
1229 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN VERNON PARISH
THROUGH 100 PM CST...
At 1228 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Anacoco, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
New Llano, Leesville, Anacoco, Kurthwood, Hutton, Slagle, and
Simpson.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CST for central and
west central Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3136 9303 3136 9299 3134 9298 3134 9296
3133 9295 3108 9329 3121 9344 3137 9329
3137 9303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 224DEG 39KT 3121 9331
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JBSpecial weather statement, Dec 28, 12:53 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1253 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
TXZ180-201-281930-
Hardin TX-Tyler TX-
1253 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN TYLER AND
NORTHWESTERN HARDIN COUNTIES THROUGH 130 PM CST...
At 1253 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Thicket, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Votaw, Warren, and Thicket.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CST for southeastern
Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3049 9454 3071 9459 3062 9438 3025 9464
3025 9465 3049 9473
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 205DEG 31KT 3037 9470
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JBSpecial weather statement, Dec 28, 1:58 PM CST, 1 hour 31 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
158 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
TXZ180-259-282030-
Northern Jasper TX-Tyler TX-
158 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN TYLER AND NORTHEASTERN
JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CST...
At 158 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Spurger, or near Town Bluff, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Spurger, Jasper, and Town Bluff.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CST for southeastern
Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3061 9422 3072 9439 3105 9415 3088 9391
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 218DEG 25KT 3073 9426
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
JBLocal storm report, Dec 28, 2:00 PM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
200 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0154 PM Hail Hillister 30.67N 94.38W
12/28/2024 M0.70 Inch Tyler TX County Official
&&Local storm report, Dec 28, 2:32 PM CST, 57 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
232 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0227 PM Hail Town Bluff 30.79N 94.18W
12/28/2024 M0.75 Inch Tyler TX Emergency Mngr
Tyler County Emergency Management reports
dime sized hail falling in Town Bluff.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 7:17 AM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Beauregard | 28 min |
| Dec 28, 7:49 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Rapides | 26 min |
| Dec 28, 7:50 AM CST | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Beauregard | 25 min |
| Dec 28, 7:51 AM CST | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Vernon | 24 min |
| Dec 28, 8:04 AM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Rapides | 26 min |
| Dec 28, 8:07 AM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Beauregard | 38 min |
| Dec 28, 8:29 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Rapides | 15 min |
| Dec 28, 8:52 AM CST | River Flood Warning | LCH | Rapides | 24 days |
| Dec 28, 8:52 AM CST | River Flood Warning | LCH | Beauregard | 4 days |
| Dec 28, 8:52 AM CST | River Flood Warning | LCH | Beauregard, Calcasieu | 29 days |
| Dec 28, 12:29 PM CST | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Vernon | 31 min |
| Dec 28, 2:58 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Vernon | 62 min |
| Dec 28, 3:26 PM CST | Special Marine Warning | LCH | 64 min | |
| Dec 28, 3:41 PM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Cameron | 49 min |
| Dec 28, 3:46 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Rapides, Vernon | 59 min |
| Dec 28, 3:55 PM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Rapides, Vernon | 35 min |
| Dec 28, 4:18 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Allen, Beauregard, Evangeline, Rapides, Vernon | 57 min |
| Dec 28, 4:23 PM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Cameron | 40 min |
| Dec 28, 4:29 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | LCH | Rapides, Vernon | 3 hr |
| Dec 28, 4:37 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis and 1 more | 53 min |
| Dec 28, 4:45 PM CST | Special Marine Warning | LCH | 45 min | |
| Dec 28, 5:05 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Cameron | 55 min |
| Dec 28, 5:09 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Avoyelles, Evangeline, Saint Landry | 66 min |
| Dec 28, 5:10 PM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Avoyelles, Evangeline, Saint Landry | 35 min |
| Dec 28, 5:26 PM CST | Tornado Warning | LCH | Cameron | 34 min |
| Dec 28, 5:38 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Vermilion | 52 min |
| Dec 28, 5:55 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | LCH | Cameron, Vermilion | 65 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024
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.