Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 43, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 30, 2024Rapides Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at May 30, 2024, 9:19 PM CDT for Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 26 min. 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 30, 2024, 9:19 PM CDT (02:19 UTC)
Expired: May 30, 2024, 9:45 PM CDT
In force: 26 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

County Rapides Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:23 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
May 30, 9:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wsw Union Hill, LA	Photos received of large oak tree blown down onto outdoor garage covering. Possible tornado. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:20 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Wsw Union Hill, LA	Photos received of numerous trees snapped off on a property. Possible tornado. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:24 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Union Hill, LA	Photos of metal siding blown off of a hay barn.
May 30, 9:26 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	5 Ssw Union Hill, LA	Photo and report of 3 pecan trees blown down just south of Planview High School south of Union Hill. Time estimated from radar.
May 30, 9:31 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	4 Se Calcasieu, LA	Utility company reported removal of a downed tree on E. River Road, northwest of Glenmora. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:32 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Glenmora, LA	Photo of large tree uprooted in Glenmora. Root ball from tree displaced an outdoor shed. Exact location unknown. Time estimated from radar.
May 30, 9:32 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Mcnary, LA	Utility company reports numerous power poles broken and trees on lines in the Glenmora area. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:35 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Calcasieu, LA	Trees across East River Road in Calcasieu.
May 30, 9:38 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Glenmora, LA	Numerous reports of trees down with other instances of property damage.
May 30, 9:43 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Forest Hill, LA	Public reports homes damaged on Elwood Rd. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:43 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Forest Hill, LA	Public reports numerous trees and powerlines down across Elwood Rd. south of Forest Hill. Time estimated by radar.
May 30, 9:43 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 N Mcnary, LA	Photo of trees blown down onto power lines off Boy Scout Rd in Forest Hill. Time estimated from radar.
May 30, 9:45 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Mcnary, LA	Numerous trees down in the McNary area.
May 30, 9:50 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	2 Sse Forest Hill, LA	Trees and powerlines down.

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

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 30, 7:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 111 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: 2455 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 990 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 21 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 81 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.3
Supercell composite: 2.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

476 
WFUS54 KLCH 310219
TORLCH
LAC079-310245-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0043.240531T0219Z-240531T0245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
919 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Rapides Parish in central Louisiana...

* Until 945 PM CDT.

* At 919 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 8 miles north of Elizabeth, moving northeast at 40 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...
  Glenmora and Elmer around 925 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Union
Hill, Forest Hill, Calcasieu, and Mcnary.

This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 62 and 67.
 
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 3111 9247 3102 9238 3092 9265 3091 9279
      3090 9282 3090 9283 3099 9283 3116 9269
TIME...MOT...LOC 0219Z 241DEG 33KT 3098 9277 

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

$$

78

2 follow-up statements

271 
WWUS54 KLCH 310233
SVSLCH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
933 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

LAC079-310245-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-240531T0245Z/
Rapides LA-
933 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL RAPIDES PARISH...

At 932 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Glenmora, moving northeast at 40 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...
  Lecompte around 940 PM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Forest
Hill, Calcasieu, and Mcnary.

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 3111 9247 3102 9238 3093 9261 3099 9269
      3107 9275 3116 9269
TIME...MOT...LOC 0232Z 241DEG 33KT 3104 9264 

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

$$

78

739 
WWUS54 KLCH 310244
SVSLCH

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
944 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

LAC079-310254-
/O.EXP.KLCH.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-240531T0245Z/
Rapides LA-
944 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL RAPIDES PARISH WILL EXPIRE
AT 945 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
central Louisiana.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Lake Charles.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Rapides Parish.

&&

LAT...LON 3111 9247 3102 9238 3093 9261 3099 9269
      3107 9275 3116 9269
TIME...MOT...LOC 0244Z 241DEG 33KT 3108 9255 

$$

78

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 May 30, 7:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 30, 7:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
725 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Saturday night)
Issued at 351 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

Little to no change in the overall pattern. The upper ridge is still
centered over MX / the Pacific where it will remain over the course
of the period. The surface high pressure is off to the northeast of
us with winds out of the south and SE supplying plentiful moisture.
We will see impulses quickly slide across the region, leading to
daily showers and storms.

Currently we are seeing isolated showers and storms on radar
mostly along a boundary that is bisecting the CWA. Confidence in
model guidance is low, however the general consensus is that the
first round of storms will move into the CWA this evening before
tapering out going into the overnight hours. The lull in activity
will be possible from there until the mid Friday morning
timeframe. By the afternoon hours, yet another round is expected
as a weak surface low moves into the ArkLaTx then exits off to the
northeast. The models are split on the placement of an upper
level low moving across the Southern Plains on Saturday, however
it will provide more rain for the region.

Each day of the short term we remain in at least marginal risk for
severe storms, with a slight risk area for tomorrow. Damaging winds
are the primary threat. Additionally we are in a marginal to slight
risk for excessive rainfall.

Stigger/87

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday through next Wednesday)
Issued at 351 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

An upper level trof swinging quickly across north Texas and
southern Oklahoma will support continued daily scattered
thunderstorms Sunday through Sunday evening. The highest PoPs are
situated across south central Louisiana in the vicinity of the
deepest moisture. Given the daily rainfall expected across the
region through the weekend and the prospects for high rainfall
rates, a low end flash flood risk will likely exist during this
time frame. Convection should be quick to dissipate Sunday night
as the upper level support shifts quickly East.

Guidance is in fairly good agreement on a persistent upper level
ridge over northern Mexico building up the Texas gulf coast and
Western Gulf of Mexico putting a lid on the vast majority of
convection Monday through Wednesday. That said, with a surface high
over the eastern gulf streaming a steady dose of low level tropical
air into the region and afternoon highs again climbing into the
upper 80s to lower 90s, a couple of isolated thunderstorms can't be
completely ruled out so opted to maintain 20 PoPs each afternoon.
Outside of that, skies are expected to remain mostly clear with heat
indices topping out around 100.

Jones

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 720 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

Generally VFR currently, but a transition to MVFR/IFR CIGs likely
for some locales overnight. A line of SHRA/+TSRA will slowly move
south and east this evening with reductions in CIGs/VSBYs likely.
Gusty winds in excess of 35 kts possible, with a few gusts to 50
kts possible in the stronger storms. Storms clear from west to
east overnight with another round likely tomorrow afternoon.
Severe weather will once again be possible.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 355 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024

Light to moderate onshore flow will continue for the remainder of
the period with wave heights in the 2 to 4 foot range. There will
be an isolated to scattered chance of daily showers and storms
over the coastal waters.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  70  86  70  85 /  30  70  30  60
LCH  74  86  74  85 /  20  50  20  60
LFT  74  88  75  88 /  40  60  20  50
BPT  75  88  75  87 /  30  40  20  50

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...87
LONG TERM....66
AVIATION...87

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 30, 8:23 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
823 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

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

0804 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 ENE Toledo Bend Dam   31.18N 93.54W
05/30/2024  M77 MPH          Newton             TX   Broadcast Media

            Broadcast media mesonet site reported gust
            to 77 MPH at Toledo Bend Dam.

&&

MKC

Local storm report, May 30, 8:29 PM CDT, 50 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
829 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

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

0814 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 SSW Toledo Bend Dam   31.16N 93.57W
05/30/2024  M84 MPH          Newton             TX   Mesonet

            Site reported sustained winds 77 mph gust to
            84 MPH near Toledo Bend Dam.

&&

MKC

Special weather statement, May 30, 8:40 PM CDT, 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
840 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

LAZ027-030-031-141-241-TXZ201-259>262-515-516-615-616-310215-
Southern Calcasieu LA-Allen LA-Vernon LA-Northern Calcasieu LA-
Beauregard LA-Hardin TX-Southern Newton TX-Southern Orange TX-
Northern Jasper TX-Upper Jefferson TX-Northern Orange TX-
Lower Jefferson TX-Northern Newton TX-Southern Jasper TX-
840 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BEAUREGARD...WESTERN CALCASIEU...
SOUTHEASTERN VERNON AND NORTHWESTERN ALLEN PARISHES...NORTHEASTERN
JEFFERSON...SOUTHERN NEWTON...EASTERN HARDIN...ORANGE AND
SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 915 PM CDT...

At 839 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Merryville to near Devils Pocket to near
Bevil Oaks. Movement was southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size 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...
Beaumont, Port Arthur, Sulphur, Orange, Nederland, Groves, Port
Neches, Lumberton, Vidor, De Ridder, Bridge City, Silsbee, West
Orange, Vinton, Kountze, Rosepine, Merryville, Elizabeth, Singer, and
Evadale.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 10 in Texas between mile markers 880 and 842.
 Interstate 10 in Louisiana between mile markers 1 and 18.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
southwestern and west central Louisiana...and southeastern Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3061 9392 3092 9347 3089 9273 3015 9348
      2986 9416 3030 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 0139Z 319DEG 34KT 3077 9346 3048 9380 3021 9432

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Calhoun

Local storm report, May 30, 8:47 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
847 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

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

0843 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Fort Polk               31.05N 93.20W
05/30/2024  M52 MPH          Vernon             LA   AWOS

            AWOS station KPOE Fort Polk Fr.

&&

MKC

Local storm report, May 30, 9:14 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
914 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

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

0855 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Fort Polk               31.05N 93.20W
05/30/2024  M62 MPH          Vernon             LA   AWOS

            AWOS station KPOE Fort Polk Fr.

&&

MKC

Local storm report, May 30, 9:15 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
915 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024

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

0904 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 E Burr Ferry          31.10N 93.39W
05/30/2024                   Vernon             LA   Public

            Report from mPING: 3-inch tree limbs broken;
            Power poles broken.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 30, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Vernon	62 min
May 30, 8:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	34 min
May 30, 8:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Vernon	18 min
May 30, 8:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Beauregard	35 min
May 30, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Vernon	62 min
May 30, 9:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Vernon	41 min
May 30, 9:12 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Rapides, Vernon	33 min
May 30, 9:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Saint Landry	44 min
May 30, 9:43 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis	32 min
May 30, 9:47 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		58 min
May 30, 9:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides	64 min
May 30, 10:04 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
May 30, 10:20 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Acadia, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Vermilion	40 min
May 30, 10:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin	65 min
May 30, 10:38 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		67 min
May 30, 10:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	48 min
May 30, 10:59 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Lafayette, Saint Martin	31 min
May 30, 11:01 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		46 min
May 30, 11:02 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		58 min
May 30, 11:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia, Lafayette, Saint Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion	54 min
May 30, 11:55 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		65 min
May 30, 11:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	64 min
May 31, 9:49 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
May 31, 10:49 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
May 31, 10:51 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		54 min
May 31, 11:49 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Calcasieu	26 min
May 31, 12:11 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jefferson Davis	34 min
May 31, 12:23 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Avoyelles, Rapides	37 min
May 31, 12:28 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		17 min
May 31, 12:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Acadia	30 min
May 31, 1:22 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	LCH	Rapides	14 days

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2024 Every tornado warning in 2024 Tornadoes 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.