Flash Flooding and Hail in Louisiana, April 27, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Louisiana, April 27, 1997
Start: 1997-04-27T00:43
End: 1997-04-27T15:00
Location: Louisiana

April 27, 1997 · NWS LIX · 6 events in 4 counties and zones

Nickel sized hail was reported by the sheriffs office in New Roads. Lightning struck the communications tower of the sheriffs office in New Roads.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $65,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LIX wrote it up.

Nickel sized hail was reported by the sheriffs office in New Roads. Lightning struck the communications tower of the sheriffs office in New Roads. Heavy rainfall, between 3 and 6 inches, fell across Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, and East Feliciana Parishes during the morning. Flooding of streets and rural highways was reported. In the New Roads area, approximately 20 homes were flooded. In Iberville Parish, heavy rainfall caused extensive street flooding and flooding of rural highways. Approximately 20 houses were flooded in the White Castle and Plaquemines area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pointe Coupee

When: April 27, 12:43 AM CST
Where: Pointe Coupee County, New Roads
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 30.680, -91.430

Lightning, Pointe Coupee

When: April 27, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Pointe Coupee County, New Roads
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.709, -91.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pointe Coupee

When: April 27, 2:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Pointe Coupee County, New Roads
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 30.709, -91.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, East Feliciana

When: April 27, 2:30 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: East Feliciana County, Ethel
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 30.845, -91.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, West Feliciana

When: April 27, 2:30 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: West Feliciana County, St Francisville
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 30.880, -91.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Iberville

When: April 27, 9:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Iberville County, Plaquemine
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 30.259, -91.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Louisiana in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Louisiana, April 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5598195, 5598196, 5598197, 5598198, 5598199, 5598200.