Hurricane and Tornadoes in Louisiana, September 1 to 2, 2008

Name: Hurricane and Tornadoes in Louisiana, September 1 to 2, 2008
Start: 2008-09-01T00:00
End: 2008-09-02T19:18
Location: Louisiana

September 1 to 2, 2008 · NWS LIX · 42 events in 28 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 3
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $151 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 42

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.

Hurricane Gustav emerged into the southeast Gulf of Mexico as a major category 3 hurricane on August 31st after developing in the Caribbean Sea and moving across western Cuba. Gustav tracked northwestward across the Gulf toward Louisiana and made landfall as a category 2 hurricane near Cocodrie, Louisiana during the morning of September 1st. Gustav continued to move northwest across south Louisiana and weakened to a Category 1 storm over south central Louisiana later that day. The storm diminished to a tropical depression over northwestern Louisiana on September 2nd.

The highest wind gust recorded was 102 knots or 117 mph at a USGS site at the Houma Navigational Canal and at the Pilot Station Est C-MAN at near the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River. The highest sustained wind of 91 mph was recorded at the Pilot's Station East C-MAN site. |However, due to the failure of equipment at some observation sites during the storm higher winds may have occurred. The minimum sea level pressure measured was 951.6 millibars at a USGS site at Caillou Lake southwest of Dulac and 954.5 millibars at the LUMCON facility near Dulac. Rainfall varied considerably across southeast Louisiana ranging from around 4 inches to just over 11 inches.

Gustav produced widespread wind damage across southeast Louisiana, especially in the area from Houma and Thibodaux through the greater Baton Rouge area. Hurricane force wind gusts occurred across the inland areas through the Baton Rouge area and surrounding parishes. A peak wind gust of 91 mph was recorded at the Baton Rouge (Ryan Field) Airport at 112 PM CST. This was only one mph less than the highest wind gust recorded during Hurricane Betsy in 1965. The electric utility serving most of southeast Louisiana reported 75 to 100 percent of utility customers were without power after the storm from Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes northwest through the Baton Rouge area to southwest Mississippi and central Louisiana. Considerable damage occurred to many houses and structures as large tree limbs and trees were toppled by the hurricane force winds. Preliminary estimates from the American Red Cross indicated that around 13,000 single family dwellings were damaged by the hurricane in southeast Louisiana, and several thousand more apartments and mobile homes. Early estimates from Louisiana Economic Development indicated that Gustav caused at least $4.5 billion in property damage in Louisiana, including insured and uninsured losses.

A storm surge of 5 to 8 feet above normal occurred along the coast from the mouth of Mississippi River westward through Terrebonne Parish. The highest storm surge of 8 to 12 feet above normal occurred more distant to the east, on the east side of the Mississippi River Delta, from the Mouth of Mississippi River to the Mississippi-Louisiana border. Storm surge around Lake Pontchartrain was generally 4 to 5 feet above normal. Storm surge affected many low-lying coastal areas as well as areas around Lake Pontchartrain, but federal levees protected most of the high density population areas of greater New Orleans. However, some locally built levees were breached or overtopped.

Three tornadoes occurred on the 2nd of September from feeder bands over the area as remnants of Gustav passed well north of the area. The most significant of the tornadoes occurred on west bank areas of Jefferson Parish where several structures suffered heavy damage.

Rainfall run-off was great enough to produce moderate flooding at some locations along the Amite and Comite Rivers in the Baton Rouge area, and along the Bogue Falaya River in the Covington area.

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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 31, 3:36 PM CST, 8 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 3:36 PM CST, 8 hours 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
436 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

.DISCUSSION...
NEXT 48 WILL BE DEALING WITH HURRICANE GUSTAV. HEAVY RAINFALL AND
ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WILL REMAIN THE SAME. AGREE WITH HPC
THINKING...PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OFF OF GFS TOP 3 INCHES ALONG
AND EAST OF THE STORM TRACK. EFFICIENT RAINFALL PROCESS WILL
LIKELY GENERATE RAINFALL TOTALS 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED
AMOUNTS UP TO 20 INCHES. AS THE GUSTAV MOVES INLAND OVER WEST
TEXAS...DRY AIR WILL ENTRAIN INTO REMNANTS OF GUSTAV AND TIGHTEN
A MOISTURE AXIS ACROSS THE WEST PORTIONS OF FORECAST AREA WEDNESDAY
INTO THURSDAY. AS A RESULT...RAIN CHANCES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL
THROUGH FRIDAY. TEMPERATURE FORECAST WILL ONLY SEE A 10 DEGREE
CHANGE FROM NIGHT TO DAY THROUGH TUESDAY DUE TO MOISTURE. IN
ADDITION...DAY TIME HIGHS WILL REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMS TOWARD
THE WEEKEND DUE TO HIGHER THAN NORMAL RAIN CHANCES. THE WEEKEND
WILL SEE NEAR NORMAL RAIN CHANCES AND TEMPS.

&&

.AVIATION...
HURRICANE GUSTAV WILL BE THE MAIN IMPACT TO ALL OF THE TERMINALS
THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. INCREASING WINDS AND SEVERAL BANDS OF
CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

&&

.MARINE...
HURRICANE GUSTAV WILL BE THE MAIN IMPACT THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR THE
COASTAL WATERS.  INCREASING WINDS AND SEAS CAN BE EXPECTED
THROUGHOUT TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT...WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS
EXPECTED BY TOMORROW MORNING.  GUSTAV SHOULD CLEAR THE COASTAL
WATERS BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.  THE REMAINS OF GUSTAV WILL THEN STALL
OVER EASTERN TEXAS...WHICH WILL KEEP WINDS AND SEAS UP THROUGH THE
MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB  72  83  72  83 /  40 100 100  90
BTR  73  83  73  84 /  50 100 100  90
MSY  78  82  77  85 /  80 100 100  90
GPT  74  84  73  86 /  80  90 100  90

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     ASCENSION...ASSUMPTION...LIVINGSTON...LOWER
     JEFFERSON...LOWER LAFOURCHE...LOWER PLAQUEMINES...LOWER ST.
     BERNARD...LOWER TERREBONNE...ORLEANS...ST. CHARLES...ST.
     JAMES...ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST...ST.
     TAMMANY...TANGIPAHOA...UPPER JEFFERSON...UPPER
     LAFOURCHE...UPPER PLAQUEMINES...UPPER ST. BERNARD...AND
     UPPER TERREBONNE.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: ASCENSION...ASSUMPTION...EAST BATON
     ROUGE...EAST FELICIANA...IBERVILLE...LIVINGSTON...LOWER
     JEFFERSON...LOWER LAFOURCHE...LOWER PLAQUEMINES...LOWER ST.
     BERNARD...LOWER TERREBONNE...ORLEANS...POINTE COUPEE...ST.
     CHARLES...ST. HELENA...ST. JAMES...ST. JOHN THE
     BAPTIST...ST. TAMMANY...TANGIPAHOA...UPPER
     JEFFERSON...UPPER LAFOURCHE...UPPER PLAQUEMINES...UPPER ST.
     BERNARD...UPPER TERREBONNE...WASHINGTON...WEST BATON
     ROUGE...AND WEST FELICIANA.

     HURRICANE WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: EAST BATON ROUGE...EAST
     FELICIANA...IBERVILLE...POINTE COUPEE...ST. HELENA...WEST
     BATON ROUGE...AND WEST FELICIANA.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM TUESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: AND WASHINGTON.

GM...HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS
     FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
     RIVER OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20
     TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
     MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20
     NM...AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS.

MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES:
     AMITE...HANCOCK...HARRISON...JACKSON...PEARL
     RIVER...PIKE...WALTHALL...AND WILKINSON.

     TROPICAL STORM WIND WARNING FROM 4 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM TUESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: AMITE...PEARL
     RIVER...PIKE...WALTHALL...AND WILKINSON.

     HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     HANCOCK...HARRISON...AND JACKSON.

GM...HURRICANE WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS
     FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
     RIVER OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20
     TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
     MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20
     NM...AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 5:45 PM CST, 6 hours 15 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
645 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

GMZ530-550-555-570-575-LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-
080>082-011615-
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-
EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-
IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-
ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-
ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-
UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-LOWER TERREBONNE-
LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-
LOWER ST. BERNARD-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER-
HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
645 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF COASTAL WATERS
OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

HURRICANE GUSTAV WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWEST TOWARD THE CENTRAL
GULF OF MEXICO COAST TONIGHT. THERE IS A THREAT OF ISOLATED
TORNADOES WITH OUTER RAIN BANDS THAT WILL MOVE ACROSS COASTAL
SECTIONS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. IN ADDITION...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS
THIS EVENING AND SPREAD ACROSS COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
AND MISSISSIPPI OVERNIGHT. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL DEVELOP OVER
THE COASTAL WATERS AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

HURRICANE GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN SOUTH CENTRAL OR
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA MONDAY MORNING. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING
IS POSSIBLE IN LOW LYING AREAS...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF
WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS OR WIND GUSTS
ARE EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF THE AREA MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT ALTHOUGH
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL BE OBSERVED FARTHER INLAND. THERE
WILL BE A THREAT OF ISOLATED TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL WHICH MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING...MAINLY MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
RAINFALL TOTOALS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 20
INCHES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS MAY RESULT IN MODERATE TO MAJOR
FLOODING ALONG SOME RIVERS.

HEAVY RAIN BANDS MAY LINGER INTO WEDNESDAY OVER PORTIONS OF THE
AREA AS GUSTAV WEAKENS AND MOVES NORTHWEST ACROSS WESTERN
LOUISIANA TOWARDS EASTERN TEXAS.

THE THREAT OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW THURSDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS TO SUPPORT HURRICANE OPERATIONS
WILL BE REQUIRED LATER TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 6:20 PM CST, 5 hours 40 minutes before

LAZ038>040-049-050-056>061-065>068-MSZ077-010115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
720 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTER BANDS OF
GUSTAV MOVING WEST AFFECTING WASHINGTON...LIVINGSTON...TANGIPAHOA
...ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST...ST. CHARLES...ASSUMPTION...ST. JAMES
...ASCENSION...ST. TAMMANY...LAFOURCHE AND TERREBONNE PARISHES AS
WELL AS PEARL RIVER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES...

AT 712 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES
NORTHWEST OF PICAYUNE TO MANDEVILLE TO METAIRIE TO 12 MILES NORTHEAST
OF GALLIANO...MOVING WEST AT 40 MPH.

THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  GALLIANO...DESTREHAN...CUT OFF AND COVINGTON BY 730 PM...
  NORCO...NEW SARPY...LAROSE AND HAHNVILLE BY 735 PM...

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 60
MPH...WHICH COULD DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE
HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

SQUALLS ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE GUSTAV WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
INLAND THROUGH THE EVENING AND NIGHT HOURS. WINDS ALONG WITH THESE
BANDING FEATURES WILL ALSO INCREASE THOUGH TONIGHT AND MOVE OVER THE
AREA WITH GREATER FREQUENCY.

Local storm report, Aug 31, 6:30 PM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

LIXWRKLSR 000
TTAA00 KLIX DDHHMM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SLIDELL LA
730 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0823 PM    NEAR MOUTH OF MISS. RIVER      LA   TORNADO
08/31/08   PLAQUEMINES                    REPORTED BY RADIO OPERATOR.

Local storm report, Aug 31, 6:30 PM CST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

LIXWRKLSR 000
TTAA00 KLIX DDHHMM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SLIDELL LA
730 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0710 PM    NEAR MOUTH OF MISS. RIVER      LA   TORNADO
08/31/08   PLAQUEMINES                    REPORTED BY RADIO OPERATOR.

Local storm report, Aug 31, 7:08 PM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
808 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0752 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 E GONZALES            30.22N 90.87W
08/31/2008                   ASCENSION          LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED.

&&

11

Local storm report, Aug 31, 7:23 PM CST, 4 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
823 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0803 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     9 E LIVINGSTON          30.50N 90.59W
08/31/2008                   LIVINGSTON         LA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED.

&&

11

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 hurricane (typhoon), 12 storm surge/tide, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Ascension

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Ascension forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $6.7 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected over 900 homes with 31 homes being destroyed, 66 receiving major damage, and 126 minor damage. Damage estimates were from preliminary American Red Cross surveys. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Assumption

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Assumption forecast zone
Category: 2
Property damage: $9.8 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.901, -91.063 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected nearly 1300 homes with 48 homes being destroyed, 87 receiving major damage, and 175 minor damage. Damage estimates were from preliminary American Red Cross surveys. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The majority of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), East Baton Rouge

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: East Baton Rouge forecast zone
Category: 1
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $38 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.538, -91.096 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected nearly 7000 homes with 70 homes being destroyed, 437 receiving major damage, and 836 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav. A peak wind gust of 91 mph was measured at Baton Rouge Metro Airport. Two people died during the storm when winds toppled a large tree which crashed into a house killing two of the occupants and injuring a third.

Hurricane (Typhoon), East Feliciana

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: East Feliciana forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.845, -91.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected 7 homes with 1 home being destroyed and the other receiving very minor damage. Damage estimates were from preliminary American Red Cross surveys. A number of trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Iberville

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Iberville forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $5.7 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.259, -91.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected over 400 homes with 5 homes being destroyed, 87 receiving major damage, and 290 minor damage. Damage estimates were from preliminary American Red Cross surveys. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Upper Jefferson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Jefferson forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected several homes in the upper portion of Jefferson Parish with most of the damage being minor. Some businesses also received damage and several trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lower Jefferson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Jefferson forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $1.8 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected over 100 homes in the lower portion of Jefferson Parish with 4 homes being destroyed, 41 receiving major damage, and around 40 minor damage. A number of businesses also received damage and several trees and utility poles were knocked down. Substantial damage from coastal flooding also occurred in lower Jefferson Parish, especially in Grand Isle where major beach erosion also occurred.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Upper Lafourche

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Lafourche forecast zone
Category: 2
Property damage: $7.2 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected around 500 homes in upper Lafourche Parish with around 20 homes being destroyed and 300 receiving major to minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lower Lafourche

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Lafourche forecast zone
Category: 2
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected over 600 homes in lower Lafourche Parish with around 35 homes being destroyed and 400 receiving major to minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Considerable damage occurred from both the wind and storm surge associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Livingston

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Category: 1
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $8.4 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected over 1000 homes with 29 homes being destroyed, 106 receiving major damage, and 213 minor damage. A number of businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav. Minor coastal flooding as a result of storm surge occurred along the Lake Maurepas coast. One person died when winds toppled a large tree that fell on a mobile home killing the occupant.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Orleans

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Orleans forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $6.2 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected nearly 600 homes with 18 homes being destroyed, 78 receiving major damage, and 222 minor damage. A number of businesses also received damage and several trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Upper Plaquemines

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Plaquemines forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected around 25 homes in upper Plaquemines Parish with most of them only receiving minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and some trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lower Plaquemines

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Plaquemines forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $430,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected around 35 homes in lower Plaquemines Parish with 3 receiving major damage and the remainder minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and some trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by both the high winds and storm surge associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Pointe Coupee

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Pointe Coupee forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $1.4 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.709, -91.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected nearly 200 homes with 4 homes being destroyed, 13 receiving major damage, and 27 minor damage. A number of businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Upper St. Bernard

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper St. Bernard forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.874, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected around 25 homes in upper St. Bernard Parish with most of those receiving very minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and several trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lower St. Bernard

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower St. Bernard forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $390,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.874, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected about 30 homes in lower St. Bernard Parish with 2 homes receiving major damage and the remainder minor or very minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and several trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by both the high winds and storm surge associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), St. Charles

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. Charles forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $2.8 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected just over 300 homes with 3 homes being destroyed, 42 receiving major damage, and 127 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), St. Helena

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. Helena forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $260,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.822, -90.710 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected 18 homes with 1 home being destroyed, 4 receiving major damage, and 7 minor damage. A number of trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by high wind gusts associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), St. James

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. James forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $2.6 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.026, -90.796 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected over 500 homes with 5 homes being destroyed, 3 receiving major damage, and 138 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), St. John the Baptist

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. John the Baptist forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $8.2 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.127, -90.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected over 700 homes with 13 homes being destroyed, 221 receiving major damage, and 81 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), St. Tammany

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. Tammany forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $510,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected about 27 homes with 1 home being destroyed, 12 receiving major damage, and 12 minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and a number of trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by high winds associated with Gustav; however, the storm surge in Lake Pontchartrain caused minor damage along the coast, especially from Mandeville to Madisonville.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Tangipahoa

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Tangipahoa forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected about 10 homes with 2 receiving major damage and the remainder minor or very minor damage. A few businesses also received damage and a number of trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav. Minor storm surge flooding occurred along the Lake Pontchartrain coast.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Upper Terrebonne

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Terrebonne forecast zone
Category: 2
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav affected around 600 homes in upper Terrebonne Parish with about 20 homes being destroyed, 40 receiving major damage, and 150 minor damage. Damage estimates were from parish government agencies. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. Most of the damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Lower Terrebonne

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Terrebonne forecast zone
Category: 2
Property damage: $4.7 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Terrebonne Parish near Cocodrie as a category 2 hurricane. Gustav affected around 500 homes in Terrebonne Parish with about 20 homes being destroyed, 40 receiving major damage, and 150 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by both the high winds and substantial storm surge associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), Washington

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $38,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.853, -90.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected about 5 homes with all of them receiving minor or very minor damage. Several trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by high wind gusts associated with Gustav.

Hurricane (Typhoon), West Feliciana

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: West Feliciana forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $520,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.880, -91.420 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected 37 homes with 4 homes being destroyed, 5 receiving major damage, and 2 minor damage. Several businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by high winds associated with Gustav.

Storm Surge/Tide, Lower Terrebonne

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Terrebonne forecast zone
Property damage: $9.4 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Around 235 structures located mainly outside the levee system were flooded.

Storm Surge/Tide, Lower Lafourche

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Lafourche forecast zone
Property damage: $6.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous structures mainly located outside the levee system were flooded.

Storm Surge/Tide, Lower Jefferson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Jefferson forecast zone
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous structures experienced flooding, especially in Grand Isle.

Storm Surge/Tide, Lower Plaquemines

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Lower Plaquemines forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A number of structures mainly located outside of the levee system experienced flooding.

Storm Surge/Tide, Lower St. Bernard

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Lower St. Bernard forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.874, -89.824 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A number of structures mainly located outside of the levee system experienced flooding.

Storm Surge/Tide, Orleans

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Orleans forecast zone
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A number of structures located outside the levee system in eastern Orleans Parish experienced flooding.

Storm Surge/Tide, Upper Jefferson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Upper Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Only minor storm surge flooding occurred outside the levee system.

Storm Surge/Tide, St. Charles

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. Charles forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Only minor flooding occurred outside the levee system.

Storm Surge/Tide, St. John the Baptist

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. John the Baptist forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.127, -90.471 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Only minor flooding was experienced.

Storm Surge/Tide, Livingston

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Serveral structures were flooded near Lake Maurepas.

Storm Surge/Tide, Tangipahoa

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Tangipahoa forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few structures experienced flooding near Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas.

Storm Surge/Tide, St. Tammany

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: St. Tammany forecast zone
Property damage: $700,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Minor to moderate flooding occurred near Lake Pontchartrain with the most significant flooding extending from the Mandeville lakefront area to Madisonville. Some structures experienced mainly minor flooding.

Hurricane (Typhoon), West Baton Rouge

When: September 1, 12:13 AM CST to September 2, 3:00 AM CST
Where: West Baton Rouge forecast zone
Category: 1
Property damage: $1.7 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.463, -91.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hurricane Gustav affected nearly 300 homes with 5 homes being destroyed, 20 receiving major damage, and 29 minor damage. Many businesses also received damage and numerous trees and utility poles were knocked down. The damage was caused by the high winds associated with Gustav.

Tornado, St. Tammany

When: September 2, 1:32 PM CST to 1:35 PM CST
Where: St. Tammany County, 2 mi W of Abita Spgs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 30.480, -90.064

A tornado briefly touched down damaging two metal buildings and knocking down trees.

Tornado, Jefferson

When: September 2, 4:40 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where: Jefferson County, 0.48 mi N of Westwego to 0.38 mi NW of Westwego Arpt
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.62 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $1.7 million
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 29.907, -90.130

A tornado damaged 35 to 40 structures with 15 being classified as total losses or destroyed.

Tornado, St. Tammany

When: September 2, 7:15 PM CST to 7:18 PM CST
Where: St. Tammany County, Bush
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 30.600, -89.900

A tornado briefly touched down destroying a horse barn, overturning trailers, and knocking down trees.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Hurricane (Typhoon), East Baton Rouge	2008-09-01	72	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Hurricane (Typhoon), East Baton Rouge	2008-09-01	71	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Hurricane (Typhoon), Livingston	2008-09-01	45	Female	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Hurricane (Typhoon): A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or more, filed per forecast zone for its wind, and with separate events for its flooding, surge and tornadoes.
Storm Surge/Tide: Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.
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.

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, September 2008 The 2008 hurricane season

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: 134986, 134987, 134988, 134989, 134990, 134991, 134992, 134997, 134998, 135001, 135005, 135012, 135015, 135044, 135047, 135051, 135053, 135058, 135062, 135065, 135071, 135076, 135077, 135078, 135083, 135087, 135632, 135633, 135634, 135636, 135637, 135638, 135640, 135641, 135642, 135645, 135646, 135647, 135085, 135940, and more.