Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Jackson, MS

May 21, 2026Franklin Parish, Madison Parish, Tensas Parish, Louisiana

NWS Jackson, MS issued this flash flood warning at May 21, 2026, 6:56 PM CDT for Franklin Parish, Madison Parish, Tensas Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 2026, 6:56 PM CDT (23:56 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2026, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Franklin Parish, LA, Madison Parish, LA, Tensas Parish, LA

The radar

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 153 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:58 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 flash flood 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

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 144 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2026-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 376 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2026-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 30 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
376 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
610 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

418 
WGUS54 KJAN 212356
FFWJAN
LAC041-065-107-220300-
/O.NEW.KJAN.FF.W.0019.260521T2356Z-260522T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Jackson MS
656 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Eastern Franklin Parish in northeastern Louisiana...
  West Central Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana...
  Northwestern Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana...

* Until 1000 PM CDT.

* At 656 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 4 and 7 inches of rain 
  have fallen over the last 4 to 5 hours. Additional rainfall 
  amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash 
  flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Winnsboro, Gilbert, Crowville and Bakers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3234 9171 3235 9170 3237 9170 3239 9165
      3240 9164 3241 9149 3241 9148 3242 9140
      3204 9152 3196 9175

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

OAJ
2 follow-up statements
888 
WGUS74 KJAN 220211
FFSJAN

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
911 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

LAC041-065-107-220300-
/O.CON.KJAN.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260522T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Franklin LA-Madison LA-Tensas LA-
911 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS 
EVENING FOR EASTERN FRANKLIN, WEST CENTRAL MADISON AND NORTHWESTERN 
TENSAS PARISHES...

At 911 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 5 and 8 inches of rain have 
fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Winnsboro, Gilbert, Crowville and Bakers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3234 9171 3235 9170 3237 9170 3239 9165
      3240 9164 3241 9149 3241 9148 3242 9140
      3204 9152 3196 9175

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

OAJ
936 
WGUS74 KJAN 220258
FFSJAN

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
958 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

LAC041-065-107-220308-
/O.EXP.KJAN.FF.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260522T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Franklin LA-Madison LA-Tensas LA-
958 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
EASTERN FRANKLIN, WEST CENTRAL MADISON AND NORTHWESTERN TENSAS 
PARISHES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3234 9171 3235 9170 3237 9170 3239 9165
      3240 9164 3241 9149 3241 9148 3242 9140
      3204 9152 3196 9175

$$

DC

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 21, 4:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • There will be a marginal risk for a few brief weak tornadoes over southeast to eastern portions of the area early Friday morning.
  • The potential for heavy rainfall and flooding will continue through the weekend, peaking Sunday and Monday.
  • We will be monitoring the potential for additional heavy rainfall and flash flooding next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 4:04 PM CDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jackson MS
404 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...New DISCUSSION...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There will be a marginal risk for a few brief weak tornadoes
  over southeast to eastern portions of the area early Friday
  morning.

- The potential for heavy rainfall and flooding will continue
  through the weekend, peaking Sunday and Monday.

- We will be monitoring the potential for additional heavy
  rainfall and flash flooding next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 345 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

In the near term, the next in a series of weak MCVs has combined
with a very moist airmass (precipitable water near 2 inches and
surface dewpoints in the lower 70s) and peak heating to initiate
another round of showers/storms with intense rainfall rates this
afternoon. Following days of heavy rainfall, some locations are
becoming more flood prone and sensitive to additional heavy
rainfall, and so have continued the limited flash flood threat
messaging in our HWO graphics. Flash flood threats will tend to
peak during the day into the evening, but persistent convergent
zones that focus intense rainfall rates for long durations could
develop at just about anytime.

In addition, An MCV forecast to cross the area late tonight into
Friday appears it will enhance the low level shear/vorticity in a
very moist boundary layer making any convective updrafts more
prone to spinning up weak and brief tornadoes. After assessment of
the near term guidance low level shear parameters and convective
evolution, it appears that locations along the I-59 corridor will
have peak tornado threat during the 4 am to 10 am time frame. An
additional limited flash flood threat will accompany this MCV as
well.

Looking ahead, an unusually long duration of wet weather will
continue for the foreseeable future as a large and persistent
trough to ridge longwave pattern remains anchored over the CONUS.
This will continue to bring our region a steady stream of
subtropical moisture with seasonably high precipitable water
values, and multiple upper level perturbations that will provide
lift and help initiate additional rounds of convective rainfall.
Once we get to about Sunday, a greater threat for flash flooding
should evolve as a more favorable set-up and couple upper level
jet interaction may team up with the very moist air to bring a
more widespread heavy rainfall threat. As of now this appears it
will be over mainly western/southern portions of the area and have
included an "elevated" flood threat in this area.

Otherwise, it appears the thermodynamic/shear profiles will not
be particularly favorable for severe weather concerns given the
deep moisture and influence from the southeast CONUS ridge, but as
is the case in the near term, we'll need to monitor for marginal
tornado risks given the potential for enhanced low level shear in
the very moist air. As previously mentioned, it's difficult to
find an end to this wet pattern in the guidance through most of
the remainder of the month. /EC/

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 110 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

A mix of VFR/MVFR/IFR conditions will be possible at all sites
through the TAF period as rain and low ceilings impact the area.
Brief periods of lowered categories will be possible during bouts
of heavier rainfall./KP/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Jackson       68  80  68  85 /  90  80  60  70
Meridian      68  81  68  85 /  70  90  80  80
Vicksburg     67  81  68  85 /  90  70  40  70
Hattiesburg   70  82  69  85 /  60  90  70  90
Natchez       68  81  69  85 /  90  70  40  80
Greenville    67  81  67  84 /  90  70  40  60
Greenwood     67  80  67  85 /  80  90  70  60

&&

.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...None.
LA...None.
AR...None.

&&

EC/KP

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 21, 1:40 PM CDT, 5 hours 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
140 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

MSZ054-062-063-211930-
Lawrence MS-Copiah MS-Lincoln MS-
140 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN...
NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE AND SOUTHEASTERN COPIAH COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM
CDT...

At 139 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm with
very heavy rain near East Lincoln, or 7 miles east of Brookhaven,
moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Brookhaven and Sontag around 145 PM CDT.
  Wesson and Beauregard around 150 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3146 9020 3146 9041 3176 9047 3176 9016
TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 178DEG 18KT 3156 9032

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

EC
Special weather statement, May 21, 6:20 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
620 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

MSZ059>061-220000-
Adams MS-Jefferson MS-Franklin MS-
620 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN...SOUTH
CENTRAL JEFFERSON AND EAST CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM
CDT...

At 620 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Roxie, or 14 miles west of Meadville, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Roxie, Hamburg, Kirby, Stampley, and Mcnair around 625 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious
injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors
during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees.

&&

LAT...LON 3135 9117 3153 9127 3177 9101 3151 9075
      3134 9115
TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 231DEG 24KT 3150 9113

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

OAJ

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.