Special Weather Statement, NWS Lake Charles, LA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
617 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Rain chances remain in place during the weekend with upper
  disturbances traversing the region.

- Heavy rain and flash flooding will again be possible Friday and
  Saturday.

- There is a low end risk for severe weather possible Friday and
  Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 1201 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

As of 1200 AM CDT, conditions are mostly quiet with exception to
widely isolated showers streaming across parts of CWA. Both temps
and dewpoints are in the 60s, with high RH values and light to calm
winds under broken to overcast skies. Areas of fog again will not be
out of the realm if possibility, however dense fog is not expected.

The cold front that moved through the CWA the other day is sitting
over the Gulf waters, however it will slowly begin retrograding
northward into our area today. Along with this, an upper cutoff low
continues to progress eastward across northern MX and into SW TX.
PWATs are already plenty high as is with the swimming pool of
moisture straddling the entire Gulf Coast; the incoming system will
tap into this, leading to a wet Mothers Day weekend. The good news
is that overall rainfall totals have come down, and we are now only
in a Marginal Risk (lvl 1/4) for excessive rainfall both today
and tomorrow. However SPC has introduced a Marginal Risk (lvl 1/5)
for severe weather on both days.

Saturday into Sunday, the upper low will weaken and be absorbed into
the broader flow along with the front washing out. Nevertheless,
isolated to scattered showers will linger into Sunday before
everything is pushed out by another cold front. A surface high
pressure will move in Monday, with the conditions it will bring
being short lived as the high moves off to the east of us on Tuesday
into Wednesday, with southerly flow returning from then and into the
rest of next week.

For the front half of the forecast period, temperatures will be kept
in check by overcast skies and rain, along with the front. They will
be generally within 3 to 8 degrees from climatological averages for
this time of month. A warming trend will kick off in the latter
half of the forecast period as an upper ridge builds in out of
the west and southerly flow prevails.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 615 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Thunderstorms are developing across the area this morning and are
anticipated to remain in the forecast through the day. IFR to MVFR
conditions will remain through much of the period. NE winds will
veer SE during the day.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1201 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

A cold front is currently located in the north Gulf. This front will
stall and slowly retrograde north over the weekend. Conditions will
be overcast with periods of heavy rain along with isolated
thunderstorms. Winds will be from the north through Monday after a
front and will become southerly again Tuesday into Wednesday. No
hazards are expected for mariners at this time.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1201 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Widespread wetting rain has helped drought conditions across the
region. Fire weather will not be a concern for the weekend and
through next week.

&&

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

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...87
AVIATION...05

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
607 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

LAZ027-030-TXZ260-081130-
Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Northern Newton TX-
607 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN BEAUREGARD AND
SOUTHWESTERN VERNON PARISHES THROUGH 630 AM CDT...

At 606 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Merryville, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
De Ridder, Rosepine, Merryville, Junction, and Tulla.

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 3064 9337 3079 9365 3105 9335 3081 9304
TIME...MOT...LOC 1106Z 230DEG 17KT 3075 9353

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Tingler

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
653 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

LAZ027-028-030>032-TXZ259-260-081230-
Evangeline LA-Allen LA-Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-
653 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT RAPIDES...NORTHERN EVANGELINE...
NORTHERN BEAUREGARD...VERNON AND NORTHEASTERN ALLEN PARISHES...
NORTHERN NEWTON AND EAST CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 730 AM
CDT...

At 653 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Jamestown to near Elmer. Movement was east
at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Pineville, De Ridder, Oakdale, Jasper, Leesville, Newton,
Rosepine, Glenmora, Merryville, Cheneyville, Elizabeth, Turkey Creek,
Fort Polk, Alexandria International Airport, Sugartown, Hineston,
Pitkin, Burkeville, and New Llano.

This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 55 and 90.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3096 9224 3097 9228 3094 9228 3089 9224
      3084 9224 3075 9393 3092 9398 3142 9226
TIME...MOT...LOC 1153Z 261DEG 19KT 3088 9389 3106 9272

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Tingler

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
737 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

LAZ028-029-032-081300-
Avoyelles LA-Evangeline LA-Rapides LA-
737 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL RAPIDES...NORTH CENTRAL
EVANGELINE AND NORTHWESTERN AVOYELLES PARISHES THROUGH 800 AM CDT...

At 736 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Alexandria International Airport to near
Alexandria to near Cheneyville to near Turkey Creek. Movement was
northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Pineville, Marksville, Glenmora, Cheneyville, Alexandria
International Airport, Effie, Ball, Lecompte, Hessmer, Tioga, Timber
Trails, Esler Regional Airport, Kingsville, Poland, Kolin, Ruby,
Holloway, Deville, and Libuse.

This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 54 and 93.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3137 9209 3135 9207 3134 9209 3133 9208
      3133 9206 3116 9199 3093 9229 3087 9249
      3097 9261 3116 9264 3126 9271 3143 9247
      3144 9239
TIME...MOT...LOC 1236Z 246DEG 21KT 3125 9258 3122 9244 3104 9235 3091
9251

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

Tingler