Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 45, NWS Lake Charles, LA

June 18, 2026Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 18, 2026, 12:44 PM CDT for Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 4 hr. 4 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: Jun 18, 2026, 12:44 PM CDT (17:44 UTC)
Expired: Jun 18, 2026, 5:00 PM CDT
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Emergency: Flash flood emergency
Damage threat: Catastrophic
Flood severity: None

County Avoyelles Parish, LA

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:47 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
Jun 18, 1:09 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Ssw Mansura, LA	Ambulance swept off road near Mansura.
Jun 18, 1:40 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Moreauville, LA	Moreauville Fire Department reports over 100 homes flooded in the district.
Jun 18, 1:45 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Cottonport, LA	Cottonport fire department reports 15 homes flooded.
Jun 18, 1:45 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Plaucheville, LA	Plaucheville fire department reports 25 homes flooded.

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 5 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 25 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 nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 5.7 hours before the alert went out and 224 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: 245 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 617 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 141 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -954 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 54 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: -0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

209 
WGUS54 KLCH 181744
FFWLCH
LAC009-182200-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0045.260618T1744Z-260618T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1244 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR CENTAL AND SOUTHERN AVOYELLES PARISH...

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Avoyelles Parish in central Louisiana...

* Until 500 PM CDT.

* At 1244 PM CDT, emergency management reported thunderstorms 
  producing heavy rain in central and southern Avoyelles Parish. 
  Between 12 and 26 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is 
  already occurring.

  This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Cental and southern Avoyelles 
  Parish. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER 
  GROUND NOW!

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Emergency management reported evacuations at multiple
           locations in the warned area with numerous homes
           flooded

  IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK
           HIGHER GROUND NOW! Life threatening flash flooding of
           low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Bunkie, Simmesport, Moreauville, Bordelonville, Cottonport, 
  Mansura, Hessmer, Evergreen, Plaucheville, Dupont, Goudeau, Big 
  Bend and Hamburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and 
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are 
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3109 9223 3113 9172 3112 9172 3110 9170
      3109 9172 3108 9171 3104 9172 3100 9177
      3099 9178 3098 9181 3088 9180 3086 9180
      3086 9182 3085 9182 3085 9219 3096 9221

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC

$$

Tingler

1 follow-up statement

690 
WGUS74 KLCH 182157
FFSLCH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
457 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

LAC009-182207-
/O.EXP.KLCH.FF.W.0045.000000T0000Z-260618T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Avoyelles LA-
457 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING AT 5 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHERN 
AVOYELLES PARISH HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLOOD WARNING...

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

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for portions of 
central, southwest, and west central Louisiana.

&&

LAT...LON 3109 9223 3113 9172 3112 9172 3110 9170
      3109 9172 3108 9171 3104 9172 3100 9177
      3099 9178 3098 9181 3088 9180 3086 9180
      3086 9182 3085 9182 3085 9219 3096 9221

$$

Rua

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 Jun 18, 12:09 AM CDT, 12 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Tropical Storm Warnings have been cancelled as Tropical Storm Arthur has dissipated.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for all of Southwest Louisiana through Thursday evening.
A Coastal Flood advisory is in effect until Thursday afternoon. Surges of up to 2 feet are expected.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 18, 12:09 AM CDT, 12 hours 35 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1209 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Tropical Storm Warnings have been cancelled as Tropical Storm
  Arthur has dissipated.

- A Flood Watch remains in effect for all of Southwest Louisiana
  through Thursday evening.

- A Coastal Flood advisory is in effect until Thursday afternoon.
  Surges of up to 2 feet are expected.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Wednesday)
Issued at 1206 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

The remnants of post-Tropical Storm Arthur are now onshore near
Galveston and are not expected to re-enter the Gulf. While further
strengthening is not a concern, we are looking at another round
of heavy rain and gusty winds overnight and into Thursday morning.
Flash flooding remains a major concern, with an additional 2 to 6
inches of rain possible across Acadiana and southwest Louisiana
tonight. Along with the heavy rain, there is also an isolated
tornado threat as backing low-level flow will enhance 0-1 km
shear, with models showing elongated low-level hodographs.

Local impacts will start to diminish on Thursday morning, with the
coastal flood advisory being downgraded as surge levels reach
roughly one to two feet above MHHW. In addition, we will be paring
back the flood watch a little early, at least for parts of
southeast Texas and central Louisiana. As Arthur continues to move
further inland, subsidence will increase, leading to less cloud
cover and an increase in temperatures, with highs in the 90s. With
the remnants of Arthur still in east Texas, tropical moisture will
cause dew points to be near 80. This combination will spike the
apparent temperature well into the triple digits, and a heat
advisory will be in effect for southeast Texas. For the rest of
the week and heading into the weekend, we are looking at a more
typical summertime pattern with temperatures in the mid-90s and
high dew points. More heat advisories may be needed through the
weekend. Over the weekend, ridging will start to build over the
region, keeping rain chances below 20% for most of the area. The
break from the rain will be much appreciated, as QPF amounts from
Friday to next Wednesday are around 0.10 inches.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1206 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are impacting LFT and ARA. Near
convection conditions will be IFR/LIFR with heavy rain and low
ceilings. Elsewhere conditions will be MVFR with low clouds. Winds
will be from the south-southeast around 10 to 15 knots.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1206 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

The remnants of post-Tropical Storm Arthur are now located inland
over Texas, and all Tropical Storm warnings have been cancelled.
Strong squalls will continue. Conditions offshore remain
dangerous, as sustained winds are between 15 and 25 knots with
wave heights up to 10 feet. Conditions will start to improve on
Thursday, with winds dropping below 20 knots Thursday night. Wave
heights will take a bit longer to subside, staying above 6 feet
well into Friday. Over the weekend and into the start of next
week, conditions will be calmer, with prevailing winds around 10
to 15 knots from the south and waves below 5 feet.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1206 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

Multiple rounds of heavy rain will limit any fire weather concerns
for the next several days. MinRH values will remain above 50% for
the rest of the forecast period.

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Flood Watch through this evening for LAZ027>033-044-045-055-073-
     074-141>143-152>154-241>243-252>254.

     Wind Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for LAZ027>033-044-045-
     055-073-074-141>143-152>154-241>243-252>254.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until noon CDT today for LAZ073-074-241-
     252>254.

TX...Wind Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ180-201-259>262-
     515-516-615-616.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until noon CDT today for TXZ615-616.

     Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this evening
     for TXZ180-201-259>262-515-516-615-616.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Friday for GMZ430-432-435-
     436-450-452-455-470-472-475.

&&

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...14
AVIATION...14

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 18, 8:54 AM CDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
854 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

0853 AM     Flash Flood      Cottonport              30.98N 92.05W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   Law Enforcement

            Report of a water rescue in Cottonport.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, Jun 18, 9:12 AM CDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
912 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

0826 AM     Flash Flood      Simmesport              30.98N 91.81W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   Public

            Multiple social media reports of flooded
            roads in Simmesport.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, Jun 18, 10:22 AM CDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1022 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

1021 AM     Flash Flood      1 WSW Mansura           31.05N 92.06W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   Law Enforcement

            Law enforcement reports LA 114 closed due to
            high water between Mansura and Hessmer.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, Jun 18, 11:30 AM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1130 AM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

1130 AM     Flash Flood      Hessmer                 31.06N 92.12W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   NWS Employee

            Water entering multiple homes in Hessmer.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, Jun 18, 12:23 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1223 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

1150 AM     Tornado          Dupont                  30.93N 91.95W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   Public

            Public submitted a video of a tornado in
            Dupont.

&&

DJ

Local storm report, Jun 18, 12:35 PM CDT, 9 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1235 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

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

1234 PM     Flash Flood      Mansura                 31.06N 92.05W
06/18/2026                   Avoyelles          LA   Emergency Mngr

            Car floating on Main Street near post office
            in Mansura.

&&

TPS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 17, 9:29 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		61 min
Jun 17, 10:04 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		56 min
Jun 17, 10:05 PM CDT	Small Craft Advisory	LCH		33 hr
Jun 17, 10:06 PM CDT	Coastal Flood Advisory	LCH	Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, St. Mary, Vermilion	14 hr
Jun 17, 11:01 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
Jun 17, 11:03 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		57 min
Jun 18, 12:01 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
Jun 18, 12:03 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		57 min
Jun 18, 12:05 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		55 min
Jun 18, 12:53 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		52 min
Jun 18, 12:55 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		65 min
Jun 18, 1:37 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Evangeline, Saint Landry	24 hr
Jun 18, 2:17 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Saint Martin, St. Mary	15 min
Jun 18, 5:30 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Saint Landry	5 hr
Jun 18, 6:36 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	3 hr
Jun 18, 7:30 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	3 hr
Jun 18, 7:57 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides	2 hr
Jun 18, 8:59 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threat	LCH	Avoyelles	4 hr
Jun 18, 9:44 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Saint Landry	3 hr
Jun 18, 9:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	67 min
Jun 18, 9:57 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	18 min
Jun 18, 10:51 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Saint Landry	6 hr
Jun 18, 10:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	66 min
Jun 18, 11:29 AM CDT	Heat Advisory	LCH	Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and 10 more	32 hr
Jun 18, 11:31 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	29 min
Jun 18, 11:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	66 min
Jun 18, 12:47 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Saint Landry	4 hr
Jun 18, 4:57 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	LCH	Avoyelles	47 hr

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.