Louisiana, 2010

Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010 · NWS LCH · 8 events in 3 counties and zones

A line of thunderstorms formed across northern Louisiana late in the evening on May 16, before moving southward into central Louisiana early in the morning hours on May 17. Numerous reports of wind damage were received, with a few reports of large hail.

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
$18,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

A line of thunderstorms formed across northern Louisiana late in the evening on May 16, before moving southward into central Louisiana early in the morning hours on May 17. Numerous reports of wind damage were received, with a few reports of large hail.

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 May 16, 10:56 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 10:56 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 9:38 AM CST, 16 hours 57 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 17, 1:42 AM CST, 53 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rapides

When
May 17, 2:35 AM CST
Where
Rapides County, 6.57 mi S of Flatwoods
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.305, -92.871

The public reported dime size hail in Clifton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rapides

When
May 17, 2:35 AM CST
Where
Rapides County, 6.56 mi S of Flatwoods
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.305, -92.871

The public reported trees blown down in Clifton.

Hail, Vernon

When
May 17, 2:40 AM CST
Where
Vernon County, Slagle
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.200, -93.130

Quarter size hail reportedly covered half the ground in Slagle.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vernon

When
May 17, 2:40 AM CST
Where
Vernon County, Slagle
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.200, -93.130

Estimated winds up to 50 mph blew down power lines and caused power outages in Slagle.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rapides

When
May 17, 3:30 AM CST
Where
Rapides County, Cheneyville
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
31.000, -92.300

Alexandria Town Talk newspaper and CLECO utility company reported several trees and power lines were blown down in Cheneyville, with some trees blocking streets in town. Several old barns received roof damage and a fence was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Avoyelles

When
May 17, 3:40 AM CST
Where
Avoyelles County, Bunkie
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Utility Company
Coordinates
30.950, -92.180

CLECO utility company reported several trees and power lines blown down in Bunkie.

Thunderstorm Wind, Avoyelles

When
May 17, 3:45 AM CST
Where
Avoyelles County, Marksville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.130, -92.070

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Office reported a power pole was blown down in Marksville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Avoyelles

When
May 17, 3:55 AM CST
Where
Avoyelles County, Bordelonville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.100, -91.920

Marksville Weekly News reported several trees were blown down in and around Bordelonville.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, May 2010

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 237681, 237683, 237684, 237695, 237691, 237693, 237686, 237694.