Alert archive / Louisiana / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 9, 20264 parishes in Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this flash flood warning at May 9, 2026, 11:43 AM CDT for 4 parishes in Louisiana. It was in force for 4 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 9, 2026, 11:43 AM CDT (16:43 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 2026, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
4 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, Vermilion Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:44 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, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 228 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2026-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1031 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, Slidell Radar S, LA at 12:00Z on 2026-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1031 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
728 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
237 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.4
Supercell composite
9.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

545 
WGUS54 KLCH 091643
FFWLCH
LAC045-099-101-113-092045-
/O.NEW.KLCH.FF.W.0009.260509T1643Z-260509T2045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1143 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a

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

* Until 345 PM CDT.

* At 1143 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  1 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. 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 and automated gauges.

  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...
  Jeanerette, Avery Island, Intracoastal City, Cypremort Point, 
  Forked Island, Henry, Esther, Lydia, Cote Blanche Island, Glencoe, 
  Sorrel, Lake Fausse Pointe, Charenton 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 2989 9255 2997 9231 2989 9223 2991 9185
      3011 9148 2992 9149 2973 9172 2970 9185
      2970 9189 2975 9189 2982 9185 2980 9191
      2982 9197 2978 9198 2973 9211 2971 9212
      2970 9209 2967 9211 2965 9230

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED

$$

MC
1 follow-up statement
503 
WGUS74 KLCH 092041
FFSLCH

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
341 PM CDT Sat May 9 2026

LAC045-099-101-113-092051-
/O.EXP.KLCH.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260509T2045Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Iberia LA-St. Martin LA-St. Mary LA-Vermilion LA-
341 PM CDT Sat May 9 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 345 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR 
NORTHWESTERN IBERIA, CENTRAL ST. MARTIN, NORTHWESTERN ST. MARY AND 
CENTRAL VERMILION PARISHES...

The heavy rain has ended and water has begun receding. Please 
continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 2989 9255 2997 9231 2989 9223 2991 9185
      3011 9148 2992 9149 2973 9172 2970 9185
      2970 9189 2975 9189 2982 9185 2980 9191
      2982 9197 2978 9198 2973 9211 2971 9212
      2970 9209 2967 9211 2965 9230

$$

MC

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 9, 6:56 AM CDT, 4 hours 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Shower / thunderstorm activity is expected to increase through the morning hours as another impulse descends toward the coast. A few of these cells may become severe, however, flash flooding remains the top concern with this pattern.
  • Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms will develop through Sunday night.
  • A weak cold front will push through the region Monday drying out the region through the rest of the week.
Area forecast discussion, May 9, 6:56 AM CDT, 4 hours 47 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
656 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Shower / thunderstorm activity is expected to increase through
  the morning hours as another impulse descends toward the coast.
  A few of these cells may become severe, however, flash flooding
  remains the top concern with this pattern.

- Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms will develop
  through Sunday night.

- A weak cold front will push through the region Monday drying out
  the region through the rest of the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Friday)
Issued at 1241 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

A stalled stationary front offshore will serve as a broader
convergence zone for moistures inland extending northward to the
ARKLATEX region today. Upper level analysis shows a river of Pacific
moisture feeding across the CWA and into the Lower Mississippi
Valley. Meanwhile weak sfc-800mb flow off the Gulf has saturated the
lower column leading to observed PWATs of in excess of 2.00" per
09th/00Z LCH sounding. Cells developing across the area have shown
the capacity to take hold of the elevated convection leading to
ongoing hail and wind threat as noted by the Marginal(Level 1 out of
5) severe outlook by the SPC. Separately, flash flood concerns
will remain throughout the day with a Marginal to Slight(Level 2
out of 4) per recent excessive rainfall outlook from WPC. While
short term convection guidance has waffled quite a bit, one bit of
agreement is the illustration of higher precipitation amounts
toward the I-49 corridor and east ward- hence the Slight ERO risk
along east central LA and Acadiana.

With flash flood guidance lower after multiple rounds of
precipitation combined with atmosphere's shown ability to realize
those high PWATs amid elevated instability, instances of flash
flooding will be the main concern today. Outside of showers/storms,
conditions will be mostly cloudy and muggy. Upper level flow is
quite chaotic across the Southern Plains having multiple embedded
perturbations within the shortwave extending over the region. Apart
from scattered activity, an additional MCS like feature or clustered
mass of convective showers/storms can be expected overnight into
Monday as this piece of the wave ejects across the Mississippi
River. Therefore, would not be surprised to see possible storm totals
between today and Monday morning trend higher. QPF has been adjusted
on broader scale to reflect most areas seeing 0.5-1.00" outside of
training convection- which remains a strong possibility given
antecedent radar trends in this pattern despite high corfidi
vectors. Thus, it is not slow moving convection that prompts the
hydro concerns, but rather up stream growth with efficient rainfall
rates as most cells appear to be moving at a decent pace.

High pressure descends from the Midwest on Monday afternoon ushering
the frontal boundary east of the Mississippi Delta with skies
clearing of active weather by the evening. This new pattern of
stabilizing subsidence will bring back mostly sunny conditions
Tuesday. Temperatures begin a warming trend into the upper 80's by
the upcoming midweek. High pressure will settle across the TX/LA
coast through the remainder of the week which favors near zero
chances of precipitation and a noticeable reduction in afternoon
humidity.

Kowalski / 30

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 654 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

Showers and storms are ongoing across the region and will remain
in place through the day. Periods of lower vis and ceilings are
anticipated. Thin br may occur at the end of the period as
moisture remains high. Outside of storms winds will be light and
generally SE to SW.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1241 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

Light southeast onshore winds and low seas will prevail through
Sunday night. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop over
the nearshore coastal waters Saturday as an upper level disturbance
moves across the region. A dry cold front will push through the
region Monday morning turning winds offshore between 15 and 20 knots
Monday into Monday night. Onshore flow becomes reestablished Tuesday
through the end of the week.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1241 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

Another round of showers and thunderstorms will develop before today
in response to another upper level disturbance moving across the
region. A lull in activity is possible during the early evening.
Fewer storms are expected Sunday although scattered activity will
likely develop Sunday afternoon ahead a frontal boundary. This dry
cold front will push through the region Monday turning light winds
out of the north and bringing precipitation chances to an end for
the rest of the week.

&&

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

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...30
AVIATION...05

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 9, 11:17 AM CDT, 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1117 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

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

1024 AM     Flash Flood      2 NNE Lydia             29.95N 91.77W
05/09/2026                   Iberia             LA   Law Enforcement

            Report of Darnall Rd near HWY 90 blocked by
            high water.

&&

MC
Local storm report, May 9, 11:19 AM CDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1119 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

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

1024 AM     Flash Flood      3 W New Iberia          30.00N 91.87W
05/09/2026                   Iberia             LA   Law Enforcement

            Report Grand Prairie Rd is blocked by high
            water.

&&

MC
Local storm report, May 9, 11:33 AM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1133 AM CDT Sat May 9 2026

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

1101 AM     Flash Flood      1 NW New Iberia         30.02N 91.83W
05/09/2026                   Iberia             LA   Public

            Report of water over the roadway on St Peter
            near the Library.

&&

MC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 8:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHVernon57 min
May 8, 9:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHSaint Landry28 min
May 8, 9:50 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHBeauregard40 min
May 8, 10:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHAllen50 min
May 8, 11:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHAllen, Evangeline46 min
May 8, 11:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHEvangeline, Saint Landry47 min
May 9, 12:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHSaint Landry37 min
May 9, 3:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLCHRapides41 min
May 9, 8:09 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningLCH66 min
May 9, 9:46 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHIberia, Lafayette, Saint Martin, Vermilion7 hr
May 9, 10:12 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHLafayette, Saint Landry, Saint Martin6 days
May 9, 10:12 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningLCHLafayette, Vermilion12 days
May 9, 1:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningLCHLafayette, Saint Martin, Vermilion4 hr

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.