Scattered severe thunderstorms developed across southwest Louisiana during the afternoon hours on April 12, producing numerous reports of large hail.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LCH wrote it up.
Scattered severe thunderstorms developed across southwest Louisiana during the afternoon hours on April 12, producing numerous reports of large hail.
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 Apr 12, 10:06 AM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1106 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009
.UPDATE...
TORNADO WATCH 143 CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA UNTIL 4 PM. LINE
OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM NEAR SHV TO WEST OF HOUSTON. EXPECT
THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE LINE TO BE MOVING INTO TYLER COUNTY
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR...WHICH HAS SOME SEVERE CHARACTERISTICS
INCLUDING VILS ABOVE 60 AS WELL AS SOME CIRCULATION. WARM FRONT
HAS LIFTED NORTH OF I-10 WITH DEWPOINTS AT KBPT AND KLCH NOW UP TO
69 DEGREES. KLCH 12Z SOUNDING ALSO SUPPORTS THE POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE WEATHER WITH A HELICITY OF AROUND 500 M2/S2...CAPE ABOVE
2000 J/KG AND AN LI AROUND -6. SHOULD BE A BUSY AFTERNOON ONCE CAP
JUST BELOW 850MB BREAKS. MADE A FEW MINOR TWEAKS TO TODAYS GRIDS
TO REFLECT RECENT TRENDS...BUT NOTHING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO
REISSUE ZONES AT THIS TIME. 24
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 817 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009/
..THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 143 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...
DISCUSSION...
AT THIS TIME...STLT AND RADAR IMAGES INDICATE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
EXTEND FROM NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA TO DEL RIO TEXAS. THIS LINE OF STORMS
IS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
CURRENTLY FOR SE TX AND SRN LA...SKIES ARE CLOUDY WITH TEMPS
RANGING FROM THE UPPER 60S AT THE COAST TO THE LOWER 60S INLAND
LOCATIONS. DEW POINTS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY CLIMBING THROUGH THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS. A COOL FRONT IN THE COASTAL WATERS WILL LIFT BACK
TO THE NORTH TODAY WITH EAST WINDS BECOMING SOUTH.
ATMOSPHERIC INSTABILITY WILL SUPPORT THE SPREAD OF STORMS INTO
SOUTHEAST TEXAS BEFORE THE NOON HOUR AND INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
AROUND THE NOON HOUR. STORMS TODAY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF
BECOMING SEVERE WITH THE THREAT FROM DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL
AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. IN ADDITION NUMEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES AND
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS. STORMS
WILL MOVE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST TODAY.
THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO END OVER SOUTHEAST
TEXAS AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA DURING THE EARLY EVENING
HOURS AND BEFORE MIDNIGHT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA.
DRIER AIR WILL SPILL INTO SE TX AND SRN LOUISIANA TOMORROW MORNING
WITH SKIES CLEARING BEHIND THE FRONTAL PASSAGE TOMORROW
AFTERNOON. NEXT CHANCE FOR RAINFALL LOOKS TO BE ON FRIDAY INTO
SATURDAY.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH 76 65 80 53 78 / 80 30 10 10 10
KBPT 76 63 80 54 79 / 90 20 10 10 10
KAEX 75 63 76 50 75 / 80 50 10 10 10
KLFT 78 67 80 53 75 / 80 50 20 10 10
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING 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 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: HARDIN...JEFFERSON...ORANGE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: CALCASIEU LAKE...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...SABINE LAKE...VERMILION BAY...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.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 519 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009 GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055- TXZ180>182-201-215-216-131030- 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- 519 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009 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 WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH OUT OF THE GULF TODAY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON MONDAY. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME LIKELY BY THE LATE MORNING HOURS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. STORMS WILL SPREAD INTO SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS. SOME STORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE WITH THE MAIN THREAT FROM DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO END ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA DURING THE EVENING HOURS. RESIDENTS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO KEEP TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND OUTLOOKS DURING THIS EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURN LATE IN THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1144 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM HAIL 4 N WOODVILLE 30.83N 94.42W
04/12/2009 E0.75 INCH TYLER TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
KKUYPERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 1151 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009 TXZ181-182-201-215-216-121715- NEWTON TX-JASPER TX-HARDIN TX-JEFFERSON TX-ORANGE TX- 1151 AM CDT SUN APR 12 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR SOUTHERN NEWTON...SOUTHERN JASPER...FAR SOUTHEASTERN HARDIN...NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON...AND ORANGE COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 PM CDT... AT 1150 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR 4 MILES SOUTH OF BEAUMONT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. * THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... ROSE CITY AND VIDOR BY NOON CDT PINE FOREST BY 1205 PM CDT MAURICEVILLE BY 1210 PM CDT GIST BY 1215 PM CDT PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS... ESPECIALLY THOSE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE THE PROPER ACTIONS SHOULD A WARNING BE ISSUED. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CDT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SHAMBURGER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1210 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM HAIL 1 N NEWTON 30.86N 93.76W
04/12/2009 E1.00 INCH NEWTON TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
NEWTON COUNTY CORRECTION FACILITY OFFICER REPORTED
QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
&&
MGRIFFINPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1216 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1216 PM HAIL ORANGE 30.10N 93.76W
04/12/2009 E0.50 INCH ORANGE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
ORANGE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED MARBLE SIZE HAIL.
&&
MGRIFFINPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1217 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1210 PM HAIL BRIDGE CITY 30.03N 93.85W
04/12/2009 E0.75 INCH ORANGE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
BRIDGE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED PENNY SIZE HAIL
LASTED A COUPLE MINUTES.
&&
MGRIFFINThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:38 UTC.
8 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A NWS Employee traveling on Highway 27 near the Houston River area reported penny size hail.
The public reported quarter size hail cracked a vehicle windshield on Kirkman Street in Lake Charles.
KPLC-TV reported penny size hail in Grand Lake.
The public reported nickel size hail on Granger Road southwest of Lake Charles.
The public reported quarter size hail near downtown Lake Charles on 11th Street.
A NWS Employee on Roy Road south of the Lake Charles Regional Airport reported penny size hail.
The public reported penny size hail in Welsh.
The public reported penny size hail 2 miles west-northwest of DeQuincy.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, April 2009
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: 162933, 162931, 162935, 162929, 162930, 162932, 162936, 162934.