A line of severe thunderstorms moving eastward across southwest Louisiana during the afternoon hours produced several reports of wind damage.
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.
A line of severe thunderstorms moving eastward across southwest Louisiana during the afternoon hours produced several reports of wind damage.
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 May 26, 3:29 PM CST, 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 429 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 .DISCUSSION... 4KM WRF HAS DONE A GENERALLY GOOD JOB DEPICTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST TEXAS...AND HAVE RELIED ON IT HEAVILY FOR THE FORECAST THIS EVENING. THE TIMING OF THE WRF WAS A LITTLE FASTER THAN WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED ON RADAR...SO WILL IN TURN SLOW THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION. ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY EAST OF THE SABINE RIVER BY 00Z...THEN CONTINUE EAST-NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE REST OF LOUISIANA...AND EXIT THE AREA PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT. WRF SHOWS GREATEST COVERAGE OVER CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SO WILL CARRY HIGHEST CHANCES HERE AND TAPER DOWN TO JUST A SLIGHT CHANCE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. GFS/ECMWF/NAM IN GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE COOL FRONT PASSING THROUGH THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY...A LITTLE EARLIER THAN WAS PROGGED YESTERDAY. IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT...THERE CONTINUES TO BE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE TIMING/PLACEMENT OF CONVECTIVE CLUSTERS THAT MAY AFFECT US THE GFS CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK...BUT HAS ALSO REMAINED SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT WITH AN MCS AFFECTING THE SOUTHERN ZONES AND COASTAL WATERS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON/NIGHT. THE LATEST RUN OF THE ECMWF HAS LOST THIS FEATURE ENTIRELY...WHILE THE NAM GENERALLY SUPPORTS THE GFS. WILL CONTINUE WITH THE LIKELY POPS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND INCREASE POPS SLIGHTLY OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND I-10 CORRIDOR SOUTH FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. MODELS SHOW MOISTURE LINGERING BEHIND THE FRONT ON THURSDAY...SO WILL CONTINUE WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. OTHERWISE...RAIN CHANCES WILL COME TO AND END...PROBABLY A LITTLE SOONER THAN FORECAST...AS DRIER AIR FILTERS INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT. FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND APPEAR RAIN FREE WITH INITIALLY DEEP NORTHERLY FLOW AROUND A TROF DIGGING INTO THE SOUTHEAST CONUS...FOLLOWED BY UPPER RIDGING TRANSLATING EAST ACROSS THE REGION ON SUNDAY. && .MARINE... DAILY CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THURSDAY WHILE A LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTH FLOW CONTINUES. A LATE SEASON COOL FRONT WILL ADVANCE THROUGH THE NORTHWEST GULF ON THURSDAY BRINGING A BRIEF OFFSHORE FLOW. DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BECOME REESTABLISHED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND...WITH RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS AND CALM SEAS PREVAILING. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... KLCH 72 86 70 87 / 50 60 40 30 KBPT 72 86 70 88 / 30 60 40 20 KAEX 70 87 67 88 / 60 60 30 20 KLFT 70 86 70 86 / 50 60 40 40 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...NONE. TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && PUBLIC/MARINE...13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 544 AM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055- TXZ180>182-201-215-216-271045- 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- 544 AM CDT TUE MAY 26 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 SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION AGAIN TODAY. NONE OF THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE UNTIL A WEAK FRONTAL PASSAGE THURSDAY. NONE OF THIS ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 343 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 LAZ027-TXZ182-262145- VERNON LA-NEWTON TX- 343 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR VERNON PARISH...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR NEWTON COUNTY UNTIL 445 PM CDT... AT 342 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TOLEDO BEND DAM... MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. * THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... TOLEDO BEND DAM BY 350 PM CDT BURR FERRY BY 405 PM CDT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...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. 24
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 354 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 TXZ201-215-262200- HARDIN TX-JEFFERSON TX- 354 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR HARDIN AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT... AT 353 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OVER NOME...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. * THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... CHINA BY 415 PM CDT BEVIL OAKS BY 430 PM CDT BEAUMONT BY 500 PM CDT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...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. 24
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 400 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 LAZ027>032-262300- RAPIDES LA-VERNON LA-AVOYELLES LA-EVANGELINE LA-ALLEN LA- BEAUREGARD LA- 400 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR RAPIDES...VERNON...AVOYELLES... EVANGELINE...ALLEN AND BEAUREGARD PARISHES UNTIL 600 PM CDT... AT 458 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DEVILLE TO ALEXANDRIA TO LONGVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. * THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... UNION HILL BY 510 PM CDT GRANT BY 515 PM CDT WOODWORTH BY 520 PM CDT DRY CREEK BY 525 PM CDT ELIZABETH BY 530 PM CDT FOREST HILL BY 540 PM CDT FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. 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. SHAMBURGER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
408 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0407 PM HAIL WARREN 30.61N 94.41W
05/26/2009 M0.75 INCH TYLER TX PUBLIC
WARREN HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS PENNY SIZE HAIL.
&&
MGRIFFINPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
440 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0438 PM HAIL VIDOR 30.13N 94.00W
05/26/2009 M0.25 INCH ORANGE TX BROADCAST MEDIA
KFDM-TV METEOROLOGIST REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL IN VIDOR.
&&
SHAMBURGERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
447 PM CDT TUE MAY 26 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0359 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W BURR FERRY 31.06N 93.54W
05/26/2009 NEWTON TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN BY THE HIGHWAY 63 BRIDGE EAST OF
BURKEVILLE. REPORTED BY NEWTON COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE.
&&
SHAMBURGERThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:13 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office reported trees and power lines blown down in Starks with widespread power outages.
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office reported trees and power lines down in DeQuincy.
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office reported trees and power lines down near Edgerly.
The public reported large oak trees blown down on Jackson Street in north Lake Charles.
Calcasieu Parish Emergency Manager estimated 60 mph wind gusts at the intersection of Lake Street and Sallier Street in Lake Charles.
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, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 174189, 174190, 174191, 174188, 174192.