Alert archive / Louisiana / River Flood Warnings in 2026

River Flood Warning 11, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 23, 2026Lafayette Parish, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this river flood warning at May 23, 2026, 10:46 AM CDT for Lafayette Parish, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. It took effect at May 23, 2026, 7:40 PM CDT. It was in force for 4 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: May 23, 2026, 10:46 AM CDT (15:46 UTC)
In effect from: May 23, 2026, 7:40 PM CDT
Expired: May 28, 2026, 1:00 AM CDT
In force: 4 days
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: Minor

Counties Lafayette Parish, LA, Vermilion Parish, LA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:49 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.

The river

Written for the forecast point Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street (VLSL1). The gauge peaked at 9.63 ft at May 22, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT.

Action stage: 10 ft
Minor stage: 10 ft
Moderate stage: 14 ft
Major stage: 16 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 07386880, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this river 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 river flood warning went out at May 23, 6:37 AM CDT, 4 hours 9 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.
A Flood Watch is in place for all of southeast Texas and southwest, central and south central Louisiana until 7 PM Monday (Memorial Day). It is likely that this watch will be extended into next week.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 6:37 AM CDT, 4 hours 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
637 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

...New AVIATION...

.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.

- A Flood Watch is in place for all of southeast Texas and
  southwest, central and south central Louisiana until 7 PM
  Monday (Memorial Day). It is likely that this watch will be
  extended into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Tonight through next Friday)
Issued at 1131 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

A long-wave trough extends across much of the US as a series of
short-wave troughs moves across the Gulf Coast. These features
will provide broad dynamic lifting. At the surface, a high-
pressure system is located to our east with low pressure to the
north, leading to robust southerly flow. The southerly flow has
led to high moisture content at the surface, with dew points in
the 70s across the region. The warm, moist air mass will lead to
high temperatures in the mid-80s with overnight lows in the upper
70s. The worst part will be dew points in the mid-70s leading to
heat index values in the low to mid-90s.

The main concern for this forecast will be a multi-day rain event
with widespread heavy rain expected at least through Wednesday.
The WPC is placing the region under either a Marginal (level 1 of
4) or Slight risk (level 2 of 4). Saturday and Sunday look to be
the most concerning with a Slight Risk for the entire region.
Precipitable water (PWAT) will be well above the 90th percentile
and will be around 1.8 inches. The downshear Corfidi vector is
expected to be around 10 knots, highlighting the risk for slow-
moving or back-building storms over a particular area. In
addition, there will be a large warm cloud layer, around 13 kft,
with efficient warm rain processes setting up a situation with
high rain rates being likely. Forecast soundings show a tall
skinny CAPE profile with values around 1500 J/kg. This will be
sufficient to support deep convection, but with 0-6 km shear
values around 20 knots, the main storm mode will likely be
multicell storms.

With each round of heavy rain, the ground will be less capable of
absorbing the additional rainfall, leading to an increasing flash
flood threat each day. In addition, rivers will start to respond
to the extra rain and are forecast to rise over the coming week.

Through at least the middle of next week, expect rain each day
with the possibility of high rain rates as the upper-level
synoptic pattern remains unchanged going into the extended
forecast.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 635 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

A very unsettled pattern is expected during the TAF period.
Clusters of storms already developing and our expected to affect
the terminals this morning, then another wave this afternoon. MVFR
to IFR conditions along with gusty winds in and near the storms.

07/Rua

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1131 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

Onshore flow will persist until at least the middle of next week,
with winds between 5 and 15 knots. Waves will be wind-driven and
should remain below 4 feet. Widespread showers and thunderstorms
will remain a concern for the remainder of the forecast; however,
most significant weather impacts will be felt onshore due to heavy
rain.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1131 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

Multiple rounds of heavy rain will continue to reduce drought
conditions. South winds will continue through the holiday weekend
and into next week with minimum RH values around 70% for the
remainder of the forecast period.

&&

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

TX...Flood Watch through Monday evening for TXZ180-201-259>262-515-
     516-615-616.

GM...None.
&&

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...14
AVIATION...07

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 23, 9:42 AM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
942 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

0915 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NW Singer             30.68N 93.45W
05/23/2026                   Beauregard         LA   Law Enforcement

            Local law enforcement reports tree down on
            Hwy 110 approx 3 miles west of Hwy 27
            junction. Time estimated from radar.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, May 23, 9:45 AM CDT, 1 hour 1 minute before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
945 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

0922 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 E Lake Charles        30.22N 93.15W
05/23/2026  M59 MPH          Calcasieu          LA   AWOS

            AWOS station KCWF Chennault Airport.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, May 23, 9:57 AM CDT, 49 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
957 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

0943 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 ENE De Ridder         30.86N 93.21W
05/23/2026                   Beauregard         LA   Law Enforcement

            Tree reported down covering both lanes on
            Hwy 112 3 miles east of US 171 intersection.
            Time estimated by radar.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, May 23, 10:22 AM CDT, 24 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1022 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

0941 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 E De Ridder           30.85N 93.23W
05/23/2026                   Beauregard         LA   Law Enforcement

            Tree reported down on Dogwood Trail covering
            3/4 of the road. Time estimated from radar.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, May 23, 10:26 AM CDT, 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1026 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

0941 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     1 SW Bundick Lake       30.74N 93.12W
05/23/2026                   Beauregard         LA   Law Enforcement

            Law enforcement reports tree down on Clarks
            Landing Rd covering entire road. Time
            estimated from radar.

&&

TPS

Local storm report, May 23, 10:29 AM CDT, 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1029 AM CDT Sat May 23 2026

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

1005 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NW Elizabeth          30.89N 92.82W
05/23/2026                   Allen              LA   Law Enforcement

            Tree reported down on Hwy 112 2 miles west
            of Elizabeth. Time estimated from radar.

&&

TPS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 22, 7:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	39 min
May 22, 7:59 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Landry, Saint Martin, St. Mary	3 hr
May 22, 8:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Saint Martin	30 min
May 23, 4:01 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
May 23, 4:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	St. Mary	51 min
May 23, 4:59 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		61 min
May 23, 5:55 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		95 min
May 23, 6:11 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	St. Mary	49 min
May 23, 7:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Vermilion	42 min
May 23, 7:27 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	St. Mary	63 min
May 23, 7:40 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		95 min
May 23, 7:49 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Cameron	41 min
May 23, 8:13 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		32 min
May 23, 8:22 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Lafayette	23 min
May 23, 8:29 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		61 min
May 23, 8:36 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Calcasieu, Cameron	39 min
May 23, 9:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis	45 min
May 23, 9:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Vernon	63 min
May 23, 9:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis	33 min
May 23, 9:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis	52 min
May 23, 9:32 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		58 min
May 23, 9:33 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Iberia, Saint Martin, St. Mary	3 hr
May 23, 9:39 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jefferson Davis	36 min
May 23, 10:09 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Allen, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Rapides, Vernon	38 min
May 23, 10:14 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Rapides, Vernon	31 min
May 23, 10:24 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		96 min
May 23, 10:42 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	LCH	Beauregard, Vernon	3 hr
May 23, 10:44 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Rapides	20 min
May 23, 10:48 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		57 min
May 23, 10:55 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Avoyelles	35 min
May 23, 11:13 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Avoyelles	32 min
May 23, 11:46 AM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
May 23, 12:36 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		54 min
May 23, 12:47 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		58 min
May 23, 1:08 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		37 min
May 23, 2:16 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		59 min
May 23, 4:57 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		33 min
May 23, 5:27 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		33 min
May 23, 5:30 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		60 min
May 23, 6:06 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	LCH		54 min
May 23, 7:23 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jefferson	45 min
May 23, 8:12 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Jasper, Newton, Tyler	33 min
May 23, 8:15 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	LCH	Orange	30 min
May 23, 8:32 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jasper, Newton, Tyler	43 min

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Louisiana, 2026 Every river 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.