An unusually strong upper level low slowly moved across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana from June 3 into June 4. This system produced numerous showers and thunderstorms, which spawned a couple of tornadoes, wind damage, and coastal flooding across southwest Louisiana.
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.
An unusually strong upper level low slowly moved across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana from June 3 into June 4. This system produced numerous showers and thunderstorms, which spawned a couple of tornadoes, wind damage, and coastal flooding across southwest Louisiana.
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 Jun 2, 11:01 PM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 1201 AM CDT THU JUN 3 2010 .DISCUSSION... FOR THE 03/06Z TAF ISSUANCE. && .AVIATION... LOOKS LIKE AVIATION FORECAST OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS WILL BE INFLUENCED BY MCS MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS IN EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. CURRENTLY...NORTH END OF MCS SEEMS TO BE SLOWING AND WEAKENING SOMEWHAT AS IT HEADS TOWARD THE FORECAST AREA. STILL WEAKENING SHOWERS WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS DURING THE OVERNIGHT. WITH THAT AND SPOTTY NOCTURNAL SHOWERS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM AND MOVING OFF THE GULF INTO THE COASTAL SECTIONS...WILL NEED TO KEEP VCSH IN FOR ALL TAFS TONIGHT. WEATHER ON THURSDAY WILL DEPEND ON THE MCS AND WHERE OUTFLOW AND MID LEVEL VORT FROM IT END UP AROUND THE FORECAST AREA. EARLY DAYTIME HEATING SHOULD COMBINE WITH THE SYSTEM TO PRODUCE A ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STARTING SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. RUA && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 932 PM CDT WED JUN 2 2010/ UPDATE...IMPRESSIVE CONVECTIVE LINE CURRENTLY OVER CENTRAL TEXAS ADVANCING EAST AT AROUND 25 MPH. LINE WELL WEST OF THE FCST AREA AND EXTRAPOLATION SUGGESTS SHOULD LINE REMAIN INTACT IT WOULD NOT REACH OUR SOUTHEAST TEXAS WARNING AREA UNTIL 1 TO 2 AM. MODELS SUGGESTING NORTHERN PORTION OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM AREA SHOULD DIE OFF THIS EVENING BEFORE MOVING INTO OUR AREA. INTEGRITY OF LINE AT THIS TIME HOWEVER REMAINS INTACT DESPITE COOLING BOUNDARY LAYER. LINE DRIVEN BY EMBEDDED VORT MAXIMA WITHIN LARGER SCALE LOW. THUS HAVE OPTED TO BUMP PRECIP CHANCES UP AREA-WIDE...HIGHEST OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS. MARCOTTE PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 343 PM CDT WED JUN 2 2010/ DISCUSSION... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DOT THE RADAR SCOPE ACROSS C AND SC LA...WITH ISOLATED OVER SE TX. A FEW OF THESE ARE PROVING ON THE STRONG TO SEVERE SIDE...WITH HAIL OF 3/4 TO 1 INCH...AND DOWN BURST WINDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH THE PRIMARY THREAT. AS BEEN THE CASE EVERY AFTERNOON/EVENING FOR THE LAST WEEK...AFTERNOON HEATING AND INSTABILITY ALOFT TRIGGERS THE INITIAL STORMS...WITH COLLIDING OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FORMING THE REST. THESE STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO TAPER OFF BY SUNSET...BEING COMPLETELY GONE BY 10 PM. THE HIGHER THAN NORMAL RAIN CHANGES OVER LA IS ATTRIBUTED TO A SW TO NE ORIENTED TROF ALOFT INCREASING INSTABILITY DURING THE MAX HEATING OF THE DAY. THIS TROF IS EXPECTED TO RETROGRADE W AND ACTUALLY CUT OFF INTO A MID/UPPER LOW SOMEWHERE ALONG THE TX COAST. THE NAM IS FURTHER SW...STILL LEAVING THE TROF AXIS OVER OUR REGION...WHILE THE GFS CUTS OFF THE LOW ACROSS THE UPPER TX COAST. ANY WAY...THE INSTABILITY WILL BE SOMEWHAT INCREASED AND FURTHER W ON THU & FRI...YIELDING A BETTER THAN AVERAGE (40-50%) CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA. BY SAT...WE ARE HOPING FOR EXCELLENT WEATHER FOR THE NWS LAKE CHARLES PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM. HOWEVER...WE WILL LIKELY BE ON THE EDGE OF THE EXPECTED LIFTING MID/UPPER LOW/TROF OVER THE COASTAL WATERS INTO SC LA...AND THE BUILDING MID/UPPER RIDGE FROM TX. THUS...WENT HIGHER FOR POPS FOR C AND SC LA...(40%) BUT SHOULD BE ENDING EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON AS THE RIDGE BUILDS SE. FOR W LA AND SE TX...COULD SEE 20-30% COVERAGE...BUT STILL OPEN FOR DEBATE. NOW FOR INLAND SE TX...WILL BE LUCKY TO SEE A FEW SHOWERS...BUT TEMPS SOARING INTO THE UPPER 90S. FOR MON & TUE...THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE MID/UPPER RIDGE WILL BE ON TOP OF THE REGION...WITH LIMITED RAIN CHANCES (LESS THAN 10%)...AND MID/UPPER 90S ALONG THE I-10 CORRIDOR...AND LIKELY 100 NORTH OF US-190. LOWS WILL BE IN THE MID/UPPER 70S...WITH LOWER 80S ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. BY WED...THE GFS ADVERTISES A BROAD TROF ERODING THE MID/UPPER HIGH A BIT TO ACTUALLY DRAG A FRONT SOUTHWARD...STALLING JUST NORTH OF THE REGION. THIS MAY GIVE US A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA/TSRA FOR WED AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...THE ECMWF SHOWS A MUCH WEAKER TROF OVER THE MIDWEST...WITH OUR AREA REMAINING UNDER THE UPPER HIGH. DML && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... KLCH 75 87 73 89 75 / 40 50 20 40 20 KBPT 75 88 73 90 75 / 50 50 20 30 20 KAEX 73 86 72 88 74 / 30 50 20 40 20 KLFT 75 86 73 88 75 / 30 50 20 50 20 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...NONE. TX...NONE. GM...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 510 AM CDT WED JUN 2 2010 GMZ430-432-435-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216- 031015- SABINE LAKE-CALCASIEU LAKE-VERMILION BAY-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- 510 AM CDT WED JUN 2 2010 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 WILL DEVELOP BY MIDDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE ON THE STRONG SIDE...ACCOMPANIED BY WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL. FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. HOWEVER SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN THURSDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE PASSES THE REGION. ALTHOUGH SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG...NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. RAIN CHANCES BEGIN TO DIMINISH FRIDAY...WITH VERY LIMITED SHOWER OR STORM ACTIVITY EXPECTED OVER THE WEEKEND...AS AN UPPER LEVEL HIGH BUILDS OVER THE AREA. THEN MAIN EFFECT OF THIS RIDGING WILL BE MUCH WARMER TEMPERATURES AS AFTERNOON HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE MID TO UPPER 90S EACH DAY ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY COULD RESULT IN HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-031015- 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- 510 AM CDT WED JUN 2 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE COASTAL LAKES AND BAYS AND COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 60 NM. NO WIDESPREAD OR ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED...BUT STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE MILE...FREQUENT CLOUD TO WATER LIGHTNING AS WELL AS WIND GUSTS TO 30 KT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE COASTAL LAKES AND BAYS AND COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 60 NM. NO WIDESPREAD OR ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL DIMINISH BY THE WEEKEND...WITH A LIGHT TO MODERATE ONSHORE FLOW CONTINUING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. 24
The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:31 UTC.
4 coastal flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 funnel cloud, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Office reported power poles blown down in Vinton.
Freshwater Canal Locks NOS Tide Gauge measured a sharp water level rise from 3.41 feet MLLW at 12:12Z to 5.87 feet MLLW at 12:54Z. The water level then fell to 2.24 feet MLLW at 13:18Z.
Calcasieu Pass NOS Tide Gauge measured a sharp 3.12 foot water level rise in 30 minutes. The water level rose from 1.07 feet MLLW at 1400Z to 4.19 feet MLLW at 1430Z. The water level then fell to 2.78 feet MLLW at 1500Z.
Cameron Parish Sheriff Office reported Highway 82 was flooded and impassable in downtown Cameron.
Freshwater Canal Locks NOS Tide Gauge measured a sharp water level rise from 3.17 feet MLLW at 17:36Z to 5.54 feet MLLW at 17:48Z. The water level then fell to 2.72 feet MLLW at 18:06Z.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Deputy reported a brief tornado touchdown with no damage.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Deputy reported a tornado touched down near the intersection of Highway 90 and Highway 318 southeast of Jeanerette. A tree reportedly fell on an abandoned mobile home. No other damage was reported.
KATC-TV relayed a report from Louisiana State Police of trees blown down on Highway 82 near Pecan Island.
KATC-TV reported a tree blown down on Johnston St. at St. Julien St.
Franklin Police Department reported most streets in town were flooded, with Iberia Street and Weber Street closed due to high water.
Brief funnel cloud was witnessed by NWS employees just east of the Lake Charles Regional Airport.
NWS employee reported a brief funnel cloud northeast of Sulphur.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2010Warnings in Louisiana, June 2010
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: 243151, 243340, 243341, 243346, 243347, 243161, 243172, 243176, 243179, 243188, 243190, 243191.