Damaging Wind in Louisiana, December 3, 1997

Name: Damaging Wind in Louisiana, December 3, 1997
Start: 1997-12-03T06:02
End: 1997-12-03T06:02
Location: Louisiana

December 3, 1997 · NWS LCH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage in downtown Lake Charles. 25 million dollars worth of damages.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $1.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 LCH wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage in downtown Lake Charles. A four story hotel that was under construction collapsed, causing 1.25 million dollars worth of damages. Two trailers used by the construction crews were rolled over. Fortunately, this damage occurred one hour before 25 workers were scheduled to begin work for the day.Riverboat casinos recorded 100 mph winds as this system passed through. At one of the casinos, a barn was destroyed, and a fence was blown down. At the Yacht Club, ten boats were blown over. Shingles were blown off of several homes and businessses. A steeple was also blown off a church roof.

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calcasieu

When: December 3, 6:02 AM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, Lake Charles
Property damage: $1.5 million
Coordinates: 30.230, -93.200

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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, December 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5625534.