Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Louisiana, December 9, 2008

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Louisiana, December 9, 2008
Start: 2008-12-09T09:52
End: 2008-12-09T22:00
Location: Louisiana

December 9, 2008 · NWS LCH · 5 events in 1 county or zone

As a cold front approached central Louisiana, showers and thunderstorms developed. Some of these storms became severe and produced tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding in Rapides Parish.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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.

As a cold front approached central Louisiana, showers and thunderstorms developed. Some of these storms became severe and produced tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding in Rapides Parish.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Dec 9, 7:49 AM CST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 9, 7:49 AM CST, 2 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
749 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

.UPDATE...
A QUICK UPDATE TO THE GRIDS AND ZONES THIS MORNING TO ADJUST WIND
SPEED UP SLIGHTLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-10 CORRIDOR AND ADD
LAKE WIND ADVISORY. LOOKING AT LATEST VAD PROFILES AND 12Z LCH
SOUNDING...WINDS OF AT LEAST 20 KNOTS WITHIN 1000 FT OF SFC AND
LATEST MODEL DATA INDICATES SUSTAINED WINDS OF 17 TO 20 KNOTS
DURING THE DAY TODAY SO SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM MEETING LAKE WIND
ADVISORY CRITERIA. ALSO MADE SOME MINOR TWEAKS TO WEATHER AND QPF
GRIDS FOR BETTER CONSISTENCY.  24

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 634 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008/

AVIATION...BAD DAY FOR FLYING AHEAD AS BOTH STRONG WINDS AND
CONVECTION IMPACT AREA TERMINALS. REGIONAL 88SD SHOW PLENTY OF
STREAMER SHOWERS MOVING NWD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA WHILE INITIAL
BROKEN LINE OF CONVECTION STARTS TO MOVE INTO THE NWRN ZONES.
TRIED TO TIME ONSET OF THIS 1ST LINE THEN KEPT PREVAILING SHOWERS
AT ALL TERMINALS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
EXPECT WIND SHIFT TO COME AFTER SUNDOWN TONIGHT WITH WINDS
REMAINING ABOVE 12 KNOTS WITH PLENTIFUL GUSTS EXCEEDING 20 KNOTS
ALL THROUGH THE PERIOD. AS FOR CEILINGS...WENT MAINLY MVFR BUT
WITH IFR CEILINGS LATE TONIGHT.

25

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 553 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008/

SYNOPSIS...
STRONG STORM SYSTEM CONTINUING TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION. WATER
VAPOR IMAGERY AND UPPER ANALYSIS SHOWS AMPLIFIED TROUGH OVER THE
SRN ROCKIES DEEP SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ACRS THE SRN STATES.
POTENT SHORTWAVE AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM HAS SPARKED AN INITIAL ROUND
OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACRS NRN TX INTO NRN LA. THIS
ACTIVITY IS REMAINING NORTH OF THE CWA BUT SCATTERED SHOWERS HAVE
BEEN STREAMING NORTH FM THE GULF ACRS SW LA AND SE TX. AT THE
SFC...AN ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT EXTENDS
FM MO ACRS CENT OK WITH FRONT ARCING BACK ACRS NWRN TX.

DISCUSSION...
COMPLICATED BUSY WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS
AS THIS STRONG STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACRS THE AREA. SEVERAL POTENTIAL
IMPACTS INCLUDE STRONG WINDS...SEVERE WEATHER...COASTAL FLOODING
AND POSSIBLY EVEN SOME WINTER WEATHER. FIRST THE WINDS...KPOE VAD
WIND PROFILE SHOWING STRONG WINDS OFF THE SFC WITH A LLJ AROUND 5K
FT OF 50 TO 60 KNOTS. SFC WINDS OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS WITH HIGHER
GUSTS HAVE BEEN ONGOING TONIGHT AND EXPECT THESE TO CONTINUE
TODAY. AT THIS TIME...FEEL THAT WINDS WILL REMAIN BELOW LAKE WIND
ADVISORY CRITERIA TODAY BUT WILL NEED TO MONITOR THIS SHOULD
STRONGER WINDS REACH THE SFC LATER THIS AFTN. WINDS WILL WEAKEN A
BIT AS THE FRONT MOVES ACRS THE AREA TONIGHT...RAPIDLY
STRENGTHENING FROM THE NORTH AFTER FROPA. WILL AGAIN NEED TO
MONITOR FOR POTENTIAL LAKE WIND ADVISORY MAINLY SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 10 WHERE WINDS WILL APPROACH CRITERIA.

SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL...INITIAL SHORTWAVE HAS ALREADY PRODUCED
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS NORTH OF THE CWA AND SPC HAS ISSUED
SEVERAL TORNADO WATCHES DURING THE SHIFT. FCST SOUNDING CONTINUE
TO SHOW DECENT INSTABILITY WITH CAPES AROUND 1500 TO 2000 J/KG
AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR WITH SRH VALUES AROUND 300 TO 400 M2/S2.
WHILE BEST DYNAMICS WILL STAY NORTH OF THE AREA...POSSIBILITY
EXISTS FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ACRS THE
AREA...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE TO MENTION SEVERE
WORDING IN ZONES. WILL HIGHLIGHT POTENTIAL SEVERE THREATS IN HWO.

COASTAL FLOODING...THERE IS STILL A POSSIBILITY OF MINOR COASTAL
FLOODING AS STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS PUSH WATER ACRS THE COAST.
COASTAL FLOODING WILL BE MOST LIKELY AT TIMES OF HIGH
TIDE...OCCURRING AT 1:56 PM CST AT SABINE PASS...1:00 PM CST AT
CAMERON AND 2:42 PM CST AT VERMILION BAY. LATEST COMPARISON OF
OBSERVATIONS WITH FORECASTS INDICATE WATER LEVELS HAVE REMAINED
BELOW FCST VALUES SO FAR. HAVE HELD OFF ON ISSUING A COASTAL
FLOOD ADVISORY FOR NOW FOR THIS REASON...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR.

LASTLY...THE LATEST GFS RUN INDICATES THE POSSIBILITY OF WINTRY
PRECIP THURSDAY MORNING AS THE 5H LOW MOVES ACRS THE AREA. GFS AND
ECMWF PULL THE LOW ACRS CENT OR SRN LA WHILE THE NAM HAS IT
FURTHER NORTH. MARGINAL THICKNESS VALUES AND SUBFREEZING AIR JUST
OFF THE SFC ALONG WITH SUFFICIENT MOISTURE NOTED IN THE MODELS AND
THUS HAVE ADDED A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR LIGHT SNOW MIXED WITH LIGHT
RAIN FOR THURSDAY MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA. DO NOT
EXPECT ANY ACCUMULATIONS AT THIS TIME. BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON...SFC
TEMPS SHOULD WARM ENOUGH FOR ONLY LIGHT RAIN.

BEYOND ALL THIS...HIGH PRESSURE EXPECTED TO BUILD ACRS THE REGION
WITH DRIER WEATHER FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. RETURN FLOW TO DEVELOP ON
SUNDAY AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPS OVER THE SW...AND BRINGS
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.

MARINE...
MARINE OBS INDICATE SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 15 KNOTS THIS MORNING
OVER THE COASTAL WATERS WITH SEAS AT 42035 AROUND 5 FT. SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR TODAY AS WINDS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE
EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. BEHIND
THE FRONT...WINDS WILL SHIFT NORTH AND INCREASE TO AROUND 20 TO 30
KNOTS WITH SEAS BUILDING TO 5 TO 10 FEET. HAVE HOISTED A GALE
WATCH FOR THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON AS WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE AS THE COLD
AIRMASS OVERRIDES THE WARMER GULF WATERS. STRONG OFFSHORE FLOW IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AS A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT
REMAINS IN PLACE IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT...PROMPTING AN EXTENSION
OF THE SCA THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED
TO SUBSIDE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER
THE AREA.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  74  45  47  36  46 /  90  50  50  30  20
KBPT  75  43  47  35  48 /  80  30  60  20  10
KAEX  73  42  48  34  46 /  90  60  50  40  20
KLFT  75  47  49  38  45 / 100  90  60  50  30

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: ACADIA...CALCASIEU...CAMERON...IBERIA...
     JEFFERSON DAVIS...LAFAYETTE...LOWER ST. MARTIN...ST. MARY...
     UPPER ST. MARTIN...VERMILION.

TX...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: JEFFERSON...ORANGE.

GM...GALE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX
     EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL
     CITY, LA TO CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM...
     WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY,
     LA EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 2 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX EXTENDING
     FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA TO
     CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM
     LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA EXTENDING
     FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH
     ISLAND, TX EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM
     INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA TO CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM 20 NM
     TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO
     INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: CALCASIEU LAKE...SABINE LAKE...VERMILION BAY.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX
     OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO
     CAMERON, LA OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER
     ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA OUT 20 NM.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 9, 6:12 AM CST, 3 hours 40 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
612 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-
TXZ180>182-201-215-216-101215-
SABINE LAKE-CALCASIEU LAKE-VERMILION BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON, LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY,
LA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX EXTENDING FROM 20 NM
TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA TO CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM
20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA
EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM-VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-
ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-
LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-
LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
612 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
GULF OF MEXICO...CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THIS EVENING. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS
WILL BRING WARM MOIST AIR OVER THE AREA. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE DURING THE DAY.
AS A RESULT...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY
DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE PRIMARY THREATS WITH THESE STORMS
INCLUDE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED TORNADOES AS
WELL AS SMALL HAIL. IN ADDITION...SOME STORMS COULD CONTAIN HEAVY
RAIN RESULTING IN LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING OF LOW SPOTS OR URBAN AREAS.

OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR
WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 5 TO 10 FEET. BEHIND THE
FRONT...WINDS WILL SHIFT NORTH AND INCREASE AS COLD AIR MOVES OVER
THE WARMER GULF WATERS. THIS COULD RESULT IN WINDS NEAR GALE FORCE
AND HAVE ISSUED A GALE WATCH FOR THE COASTAL WATERS FROM 20 TO 60
NM OFFSHORE FOR LATE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
GALE WATCH WILL CONTINUE FOR THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...WHILE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN
EFFECT ELSEWHERE. THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING AS STRONG WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO PERSIST.

THE COLD FRONT WILL USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR ACROSS THE REGION ON
WEDNESDAY WITH LOW TEMPERATURES THURSDAY MORNING REACHING THE LOW
TO MID 30S. SUFFICIENT MOISTURE WILL LINGER OVER THE AREA AS THE
UPPER LOW SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF
THE LOW AND THE UNUSUALLY COLD AIR IN PLACE...THERE IS A SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR LIGHT SNOW MIXED WITH LIGHT RAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL LOUISIANA THURSDAY MORNING. NO ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED
AT THIS TIME.

BY FRIDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION...BRINGING
DRY PLEASANT CONDITIONS TO THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY. ANOTHER
CHANCE FOR RAIN RETURNS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM
APPROACHES THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TUESDAY.

24

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 9, 6:44 AM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
644 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-091815-
VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-
CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-
CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-
NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEESVILLE...ALEXANDRIA...MARKSVILLE...
DERIDDER...OAKDALE...VILLE PLATTE...OPELOUSAS...LAKE CHARLES...
JENNINGS...CROWLEY...LAFAYETTE...ST. MARTINVILLE...CAMERON...
ABBEVILLE...NEW IBERIA...MORGAN CITY...WOODVILLE...JASPER...
NEWTON...LUMBERTON...BEAUMONT/PORT ARTHUR...ORANGE
644 AM CST TUE DEC 9 2008

...BIG WEATHER CHANGES ON THE WAY...

A STRONG SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN STATES OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. FIRST...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BRING WARM MOIST UNSTABLE AIR
OVER SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...SOME STORMS
COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL RESULTING IN LOCALIZED FLOODING OF
LOW SPOTS AND URBAN AREAS.

AFTER THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH TONIGHT...STRONG GUSTY NORTHERLY
WINDS WILL USHER IN A MUCH COLDER AIRMASS. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL
LOW WILL MOVE SLOWLY EAST ACROSS LOUISIANA WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY
WITH CLOUDS AND LIGHT RAIN LINGERING...MAKING FOR A COLD AND
DREARY WEDNESDAY. BY THURSDAY MORNING...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED
TO BE IN THE LOW TO MID 30S...RESULTING IN A CHANCE FOR LIGHT
SNOW MIXED WITH LIGHT RAIN...MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL LOUISIANA. AT
THIS TIME...NO ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED AND SNOW CHANCES
WILL END BY AFTERNOON AS TEMPERATURES REACH THE MID 40S.

CLEARING WILL BEGIN FROM WEST TO EAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON AS THE
STORM SYSTEM MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS
OVER THE REGION...MAKING FOR A PLEASANT END TO THE WORK WEEK.

24

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Rapides

When: December 9, 9:52 AM CST to 10:01 AM CST
Where: Rapides County, 0.91 mi NW of Calcasieu to 2.68 mi N of Elmer
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.11 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.090, -92.730

An EF1 Tornado began west of the Calcasieu community and moved northeast ending around 3 miles north of Elmer. Numerous trees were damaged, snapped off, or uprooted all along the path. As the tornado crossed the area around the intersection of Highway 112 and Twin Bridges road, several homes and buildings received minor roof damage. One storage building along Twin Bridges Road was blown 50 yards away and destroyed, but was unsecured to the foundation. A few more homes along Twin Bridges road received minor roof damage before the tornado dissipated in the Kisatchie National Forest.

The supercell that spawned this tornado later moved across Alexandria and Pineville, producing hail up to penny size and minor wind damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rapides

When: December 9, 10:45 AM CST
Where: Rapides County, 0.19 mi NW of Anandale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.272, -92.452

A cinder block wall of the Acme Refrigeration Company on Empire Drive collapsed due to severe thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Rapides

When: December 9, 10:54 AM CST
Where: Rapides County, Smithville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.330, -92.420

Penny size hail was reported by the Red Cross in Pineville.

Tornado, Rapides

When: December 9, 11:16 AM CST to 11:23 AM CST
Where: Rapides County, 1.37 mi SSE of (Aex)england Afb Alx to 2.45 mi SSE of Barrett
Rating: EF1
Path length: 3.48 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.312, -92.540

EF1 Tornado began 1 mile south of the Alexandria International Airport and moved northeast ending along the Red River. Several eyewitnesses watched the tornado cross the tarmac at the eastern end of the airport and damage an airplane hanger. The tornado then damaged several trees and a gazebo before striking a warehouse building in the England Airpark, peeling off its roof. Crossing a golf course, the tornado continued to blow down trees as it passed just a few yards south of a large monument to the US Air Force. The tornado then struck a home on England Drive, blowing away an attached carport that caused partial roof loss of the house. Little damage was noted as the tornado crossed Airbase Drive. Scattered trees were blown down or damaged in neighborhoods both south and north of Highway 1, and a house along Lanny Street had its carport knocked down. Eyewitness reported the tornado crossed the Red River before dissipating.

This tornado was spawned from a different supercell than the one that produced the Elmer Tornado.

Flash Flood, Rapides

When: December 9, 6:30 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Rapides County, 2.01 mi W of Alexandria Southwest to 1.14 mi WNW of Libuse
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.304, -92.514

Up to 3 inches of rainfall fell in 2 hours across the Alexandria & Pineville area during the evening. Earlier in the day, 1 to 3 inches of rainfall also fell across the same area. The resulting flash flooding affected the same areas that flooded during Hurricane Gustav, including Prescott Road, Wettermark Street, Lee Street, Jackson Street, and the Downtown and Lower Third areas of Alexandria. Some areas in Pineville also saw flooding, including Huntington Drive. Dozens of homes and businesses were flooded, and several cars were stranded in the flooded roadways. Water was up to the hoods of cars in area underpasses, resulting in high water rescues.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Louisiana, 2008 Warnings in Louisiana, December 2008

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: 147925, 147923, 147926, 147924, 147927.