Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 20, 2026Iberia Parish, Saint Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at May 20, 2026, 6:29 PM CDT for Iberia Parish, Saint Martin Parish, St. Mary 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 20, 2026, 6:29 PM CDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired: May 20, 2026, 9:20 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Iberia Parish, LA, Saint Martin Parish, LA, St. Mary Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 138 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:32 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

Slidell Radar S, LA (KSIL), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 205 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: 914 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 641 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 45 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 74 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

828 
WGUS54 KLCH 202329
FFWLCH
LAC045-099-101-210330-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0013.260520T2329Z-260521T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
629 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Iberia Parish in south central Louisiana...
  West Central St. Martin Parish in south central Louisiana...
  Northwestern St. Mary Parish in south central Louisiana...

* Until 1030 PM CDT.

* At 629 PM 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...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...
  New Iberia, St. Martinville, Jeanerette, Avery Island, Cypremort 
  Point, Loreauville, Lydia, Lake Fausse Pointe, Acadiana Regional 
  Airport, Sorrel, Glencoe, Coteau, Cote Blanche Island and Weeks 
  Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3005 9193 3012 9186 3017 9179 3018 9175
      3018 9172 3010 9161 3009 9157 2999 9153
      2991 9154 2988 9159 2973 9174 2970 9188
      2971 9189 2973 9188 2975 9189 2982 9185
      2982 9189 2980 9191 2982 9198 2994 9197

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

14

1 follow-up statement

696 
WGUS74 KLCH 210220
FFSLCH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
920 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

LAC045-099-101-210230-
/O.CAN.KLCH.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260521T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Iberia LA-St. Martin LA-St. Mary LA-
920 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR IBERIA, WEST CENTRAL ST. 
MARTIN AND NORTHWESTERN ST. MARY PARISHES...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3005 9193 3012 9186 3017 9179 3018 9175
      3018 9172 3010 9161 3009 9157 2999 9153
      2991 9154 2988 9159 2973 9174 2970 9188
      2971 9189 2973 9188 2975 9189 2982 9185
      2982 9189 2980 9191 2982 9198 2994 9197

$$

14

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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 20, 12:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

An unsettled pattern will be in place into the Memorial Day Holiday weekend as the southern jet stream brings a series of upper level disturbances to work with a very moist air mass.
The showers and thunderstorms that develop will have the potential to produce high rain rates and there is a risk of heavy rainfall and flooding into early next week.
All interests in flood prone low-lying areas or flood prone urban poor drainage area, along with those along stream and river basins should keep aware of the latest flood risk forecasts.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 12:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 51 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1238 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- An unsettled pattern will be in place into the Memorial Day
  Holiday weekend as the southern jet stream brings a series of
  upper level disturbances to work with a very moist air mass.

- The showers and thunderstorms that develop will have the
  potential to produce high rain rates and there is a risk of
  heavy rainfall and flooding into early next week.

- All interests in flood prone low-lying areas or flood prone
  urban poor drainage area, along with those along stream and
  river basins should keep aware of the latest flood risk
  forecasts.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1229 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

Surface analysis this afternoon shows a cold front draped from the
New England to the Ark-La-Tex, while aloft, the forecast area
remains situated beneath a moist SWrly flow, between troughing to
the west and ridging to the east. Said cold front will slowly make
its way towards CENLA today, where it will become stationary through
tomorrow before lifting north as a warm front on Friday. At the same
time, the next in a series of upper level disturbances will pass
overhead in the flow aloft, interacting with the front as well as
the very moist airmass overhead to providing ample support for
convection. While the front retreats north on Friday, the pattern
aloft will remain unstable with more shortwaves/disturbances passing
overhead Friday through early next week, interacting with the
moisture rich atmosphere overhead as they do so. This will,
unsurprisingly, keep an unsettled and wet pattern in place through
at least Memorial Day or possible a bit longer.

Area radar this afternoon shows an area of light stratiform rain
across the lower TX Coast into the coastal waters, while
scattered showers/storms are over south LA. Guidance depicts this
stratiform rainfall tapering off through the next couple of
hours, while the storms over south LA begin to amplify and expand
in coverage while spreading inland. While this convection will
fortunately not bring a risk for severe weather, it will have the
potential to produce very high rainfall rates within a short
period of time, possibly leading to area of localized flash
flooding. WPC has outlined the entire CWA within a Marginal Risk
for excessive rainfall today, as a result, with localized amounts
of 1-2 inches of rain possible this afternoon/evening.

Tomorrow through the Memorial Day holiday we can pretty much rinse
and repeat this forecast, as this unsettled and moisture rich
pattern continues. PWATs will continue to run very high, near the
90th percentile, through the forecast period, allowing any showers
and storms that develop to produce high rainfall rates within a
short period of time. WPC has outlined the CWA in either a Marginal
and/or Slight Risk for excessive rainfall each day through Sunday,
as a result. Tomorrow through Sunday, forecasted rainfall totals are
expected to range from around 2-6" (total for the entire period)
however, locally higher amounts up to 10" are possible, which is
where flooding issues would come in to play. Adding Monday into
the mix, we could see an additional 1-3" of rain, as a more robust
upper level shortwave becomes situated over the Ark-La-Tex for a
brief period. Temperature wise, very little day to day changes are
expected as showers/cloud cover will keep highs in the low to mid
80s each day, while a warm and moist airmass will hold overnight
lows in the low to mid 70s.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1229 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

Messy weather period ahead with a mixture of VFR and MVFR
ceilings, periods of reduced VIS, and showers/thunderstorm
activity. Now through this evening, convection will spread inland
from the Gulf across the I-10 terminals, affecting AEX later in
the day. Convection will be mainly heavy rain with few embedded
thunderstorms, all capable of reducing VIS as they pass over the
terminals. Ceilings will waffle between MVFR and VFR throughout
the period. Winds will be mainly light and variable, except in any
stronger storms that occur.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1229 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

A light to modest southeast to south flow around 5-15 kts and seas
around 1-4 feet will persist through the end of the week and into
the weekend. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will remain high
through the weekend as well, as a stalled frontal boundary and a
series of upper level disturbances produce several waves of
precipitation.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1229 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

A light to moderate southerly flow will continue through the next
several days bringing in rich amounts of Gulf moisture. Afternoon
Minimum RH values will be around 70 percent or greater each day
through the weekend. High chances for daily showers and
thunderstorms are expected through the week into early next week as
a stalled frontal boundary and a series of upper level disturbances
provide waves of precipitation each day. Some locally heavy rainfall
will be possible.

&&

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

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...17
AVIATION...17

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 1:22 PM CDT, 5 hours 7 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
122 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1020 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 S Westlake            30.24N 93.26W
05/19/2026                   Calcasieu          LA   Public

            Photos of displaced and blown over outdoor
            furniture in Westlake. Time estimated by
            radar.

&&

Local storm report, May 20, 1:34 PM CDT, 4 hours 55 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
134 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1033 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SSW Lake Charles      30.18N 93.23W
05/19/2026                   Calcasieu          LA   Broadcast Media

            Photos received of a downed tree. Time
            estimated by radar.

&&

Local storm report, May 20, 1:38 PM CDT, 4 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
138 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1038 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNE Lake Charles      30.23N 93.19W
05/19/2026                   Calcasieu          LA   Broadcast Media

            Photo of broken power poles. Time estimated
            by radar.

&&

Local storm report, May 20, 1:40 PM CDT, 4 hours 49 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
140 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1022 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 N Westlake            30.28N 93.26W
05/19/2026                   Calcasieu          LA   Public

            Report of shingles blown off of a house near
            The National golf course. Time estimated by
            radar.

&&

Local storm report, May 20, 2:07 PM CDT, 4 hours 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
207 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1124 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 SW Cameron            29.77N 93.34W
05/19/2026  M41 MPH          GMZ432             LA   Buoy

            Buoy station CAPL1 Calcasieu Pass, LA.

&&

Local storm report, May 20, 2:12 PM CDT, 4 hours 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
212 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

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

1058 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 2 N Sabine Pass         29.76N 93.90W
05/19/2026  M40 MPH          GMZ430             TX   Mesonet

            Local weather station measured 40 mph wind
            at Sabine Pass.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 19, 7:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Vernon	46 min
May 19, 8:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Rapides, Vernon	46 min
May 19, 9:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Calcasieu	31 min
May 19, 10:00 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Calcasieu	30 min
May 19, 10:01 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
May 19, 10:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis	35 min
May 19, 10:12 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		63 min
May 19, 10:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis	39 min
May 19, 10:59 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		61 min
May 19, 11:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Cameron, Jefferson Davis	30 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 2026 Every 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.