Alert archive / Louisiana / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 28, NWS Lake Charles, LA
NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at May 6, 2026, 3:08 PM CDT for Avoyelles Parish, Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It was in force for 10 min. 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 6, 2026, 3:08 PM CDT (20:08 UTC)
- Expired
- May 6, 2026, 3:18 PM CDT
- In force
- 10 min
- Issued by
- NWS Lake Charles, LA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Avoyelles Parish, LA, Rapides Parish, LA
The radar
The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:09 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2:14 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 171 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1090 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -171 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 620 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 48 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 149 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 248 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 2.5
The text
As transmitted.
416
WFUS54 KLCH 062008
TORLCH
LAC009-079-062045-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0028.260506T2008Z-260506T2045Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
308 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
The National Weather Service in Lake Charles has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northeastern Rapides Parish in central Louisiana...
Northern Avoyelles Parish in central Louisiana...
* Until 345 PM CDT.
* At 308 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Deville, or 7 miles north of Effie, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Deville around 315 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile
home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and
protect yourself from flying debris.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3139 9212 3138 9212 3137 9209 3135 9207
3134 9209 3133 9209 3130 9216 3131 9218
3133 9218 3133 9221 3140 9214
TIME...MOT...LOC 2008Z 243DEG 27KT 3133 9216
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
Jones1 follow-up statement
590
WWUS54 KLCH 062018
SVSLCH
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
318 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAC009-079-062028-
/O.CAN.KLCH.TO.W.0028.000000T0000Z-260506T2045Z/
Rapides LA-Avoyelles LA-
318 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN RAPIDES AND NORTHERN
AVOYELLES PARISHES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central
Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3139 9212 3138 9212 3137 9209 3135 9207
3134 9209 3133 9209 3130 9216 3131 9218
3133 9218 3133 9221 3140 9214
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 243DEG 27KT 3136 9209
$$
JonesWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 6, 12:17 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather today due to a cold front.
- Heavy rain and flash flooding is possible today and Thursday as a front moves across the region.
- Rain chances remain in place during the weekend with upper disturbances traversing the region.
Area forecast discussion, May 6, 12:17 PM CDT, 2 hours 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 1217 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... - Slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather today due to a cold front. - Heavy rain and flash flooding is possible today and Thursday as a front moves across the region. - Rain chances remain in place during the weekend with upper disturbances traversing the region. && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Tuesday) Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A shortwave is moving across eastern Texas this afternoon with strong southwest flow extending across the region. At the surface, a frontal boundary is approaching northern Louisiana, with increasing moisture and some daytime heating leading to rather buoyant conditions ahead of it. Thus, a Marginal (level 1 out of 5) to Slight (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather continues for the rest of this afternoon and evening. Some showers are ongoing across the western portion of the forecast area and this region should continue to be the focus for most of the convection expected during the rest of the day. The main threats with this setup continue to be larger hail and strong wind gusts, especially for the northern part of the forecast area. Additionally, heavy rainfall remains a possibility with some of these storms as abundant tropical moisture will lead to a moderate to slight risk for excessive rainfall across portions of the region. The front will slowly push southward and then stall Thursday before slowly lifting back northward on Friday. WAA will return moisture back north while multiple upper disturbances traverse the area through Sunday. Rain chances will remain elevated into the weekend before another front pushes offshore and sharper short wave sweeps through. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A mixture of MVFR/IFR conditions continues this afternoon ahead of a cold front that is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms across the region later this afternoon and evening. Best chances continue for KAEX, with more scattered activity expected elsewhere. Lower cigs/vsbys continue overnight and into Thursday. && .MARINE... Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A moderate onshore flow is expected today ahead of a cold front. This front will move through today and then stall over the waters on Thursday before lifting back north into the weekend. Another cold front will push back offshore late Sunday with a moderate north flow anticipated Monday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A cold front will move into the region today, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms through the rest of the afternoon and evening. This front will stall tonight into Thursday and then be the focus for additional rain into the weekend. && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && Sent by TBW
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 6, 1:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
154 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ028-029-061945-
Avoyelles LA-Rapides LA-
154 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL RAPIDES AND NORTHERN
AVOYELLES PARISHES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 154 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Alexandria, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Pineville, Alexandria International Airport, Effie, Ball,
Deville, Libuse, Tioga, Timber Trails, Brouillette, Esler Regional
Airport, Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge, Elmer, Kingsville,
Poland, Kolin, Centerpoint, Ruby, Holloway, and Paradise.
This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 69 and 93.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 9216 3141 9215 3136 9208 3133 9208
3134 9203 3132 9200 3130 9200 3128 9202
3127 9199 3122 9199 3125 9196 3122 9194
3123 9192 3128 9195 3130 9191 3121 9174
3106 9268 3118 9272 3142 9252 3148 9221
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 240DEG 32KT 3122 9242
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWSpecial weather statement, May 6, 1:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
157 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ027-030-TXZ260-061945-
Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Northern Newton TX-
157 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BEAUREGARD...
SOUTHWESTERN VERNON PARISHES IN WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL
NEWTON COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 157 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Newton, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
De Ridder, Newton, Rosepine, Merryville, Bon Weir, Burkeville, Burr
Ferry, Junction, Stringtown, Evans, and Bleakwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3063 9387 3085 9386 3121 9342 3083 9313
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 234DEG 27KT 3081 9372
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWSpecial weather statement, May 6, 2:39 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
239 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ027-028-062030-
Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
239 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL RAPIDES AND VERNON
PARISHES THROUGH 330 PM CDT...
At 239 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rosepine, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Leesville, Rosepine, Fort Polk, Slagle, New Llano, Lacamp, Fullerton,
Hutton, Kurthwood, Leander, Cravens, Simpson, and Pickering.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central,
southwestern and west central Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3136 9299 3107 9273 3088 9324 3088 9328
3111 9347 3137 9313 3137 9303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 241DEG 20KT 3099 9325
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SlaughterSpecial weather statement, May 6, 2:49 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
249 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ028-029-062015-
Avoyelles LA-Rapides LA-
249 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN RAPIDES AND
NORTHWESTERN AVOYELLES PARISHES THROUGH 315 PM CDT...
At 249 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Holloway, or 9 miles east of Pineville, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Pineville, Ball, Kingsville, Deville, Libuse, Tioga, Esler Regional
Airport, Kolin, Centerpoint, Holloway, and Paradise.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central
Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 9219 3147 9216 3146 9217 3145 9216
3141 9215 3138 9212 3136 9208 3135 9207
3134 9209 3133 9208 3134 9204 3133 9201
3120 9232 3138 9248 3144 9239 3148 9219
TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 241DEG 20KT 3135 9226
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SlaughterThe office that day
Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 1:54 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Rapides | 51 min |
| May 6, 2:39 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Vernon | 51 min |
| May 6, 2:49 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Rapides | 26 min |
| May 6, 3:43 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | LCH | Rapides | 4 hr |
| May 6, 5:19 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | LCH | Avoyelles | 13 min |
| May 6, 6:10 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | LCH | Vernon | 50 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Louisiana, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.