A weak stationary frontal boundary across Northeast Texas and Northwest Louisiana served as a focus for showers and thunderstorms, some of which produced strong and damaging wind gusts. Steering winds were weak and this resulted in the thunderstorm activity producing copious amounts of rainfall in a short amount of time.
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 SHV wrote it up.
A weak stationary frontal boundary across Northeast Texas and Northwest Louisiana served as a focus for showers and thunderstorms, some of which produced strong and damaging wind gusts. Steering winds were weak and this resulted in the thunderstorm activity producing copious amounts of rainfall in a short amount of time. The end result was some flash flooding being reported.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 17, 4:23 AM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 523 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012 .DISCUSSION... THANKS TO A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY OR A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS THE FOUR STATE REGION NEAR OR JUST SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR...A VERY MOIST ATMOSPHERE...AND A SHORT WAVE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING SOUTHWEST FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY REGION OF NORTH ALABAMA INTO EAST TEXAS...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD EAST AND SOUTHEAST OVER THE AREA. IN WAKE OF THIS BOUNDARY...A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM WESTERN ARKANSAS INTO SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA AND NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTH AND INTO THE REGION DURING THE DAY TODAY AS THE LEAD SHORT WAVE CONTINUES TO SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST... FOLLOWED BY ADDITIONAL SHORT WAVES IN THE NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN. A BROAD LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN STATES WILL ALLOW FOR THE MAIN ENERGY TO MOVE EAST WHILE THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PART OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SLOW AND BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY. RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER MEXICO AND THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AMPLIFIES NORTH OVER THE WESTERN STATES. THE STATIONARY FRONT WILL LIFT BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT AND DISTURBANCES RIDING AROUND THE EASTERN TROUGH AND NORTHWEST FLOW AROUND THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE ALOFT...KEEPING RAIN CHANCES ELEVATED THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. BY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...ENERGY FROM DISTURBANCES MOVING AROUND THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES THE FRONT BACK THROUGH AS A COLD FRONT BRINGING A BRIEF END TO THE RAIN CHANCES. AROUND MID WEEK RAIN CHANCES WILL BE HIGHER OVER THE SOUTHERN ZONES ASSOCIATED WITH A SHEAR AXIS ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES AND DOWN THE TEXAS COAST. WILL INCLUDE MENTION OF POSSIBLY SEVERE WEATHER FOR SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. /06/ && .AVIATION... CONCERNING THE ARKLATEX...AREAS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING NW WINDS GUSTING 30-40 KTS OVER NE TX AND RECENTLY JUST INTO NW LA. MOVEMENT SE 20KTS WILL AFFECT KSHV BEFORE NEXT ISSUANCE. THE COLD FRONT WILL DROP FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE I-30 CORRIDOR IN THE WAKE OF THIS STRONG CONVECTION. IT WILL LIKELY TAKE SOME TIME AND HEATING TO RECOVER...BUT MORE DEVELOPMENT SEEMS IMMINENT LATER TODAY. SURFACE WIND BECOMING WESTERLY AROUND 10 KTS FRIDAY AS THE FRONT MOVES INTO THE AREA. ALOFT WE ARE SW-NW ALL THE WAY UP WITH SPEEDS 15 TO 35KTS. /24/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 94 74 88 70 90 / 60 60 60 50 60 MLU 94 71 89 69 88 / 50 60 60 50 60 DEQ 91 68 87 68 87 / 50 30 60 40 30 TXK 93 70 87 69 87 / 40 30 60 50 40 ELD 93 69 87 67 87 / 50 60 60 50 40 TYR 96 74 89 73 87 / 40 50 60 50 60 GGG 95 74 88 71 88 / 40 50 60 50 60 LFK 96 75 90 73 90 / 60 60 60 50 50 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. LA...NONE. OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && 06/24
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 608 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-171700- SEVIER-HOWARD-LITTLE RIVER-HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-MILLER-LAFAYETTE- COLUMBIA-UNION AR-CADDO-BOSSIER-WEBSTER-CLAIBORNE-LINCOLN- UNION LA-DE SOTO-RED RIVER-BIENVILLE-JACKSON-OUACHITA-SABINE LA- NATCHITOCHES-WINN-GRANT-CALDWELL-LA SALLE-MCCURTAIN-BOWIE- FRANKLIN-TITUS-CAMP-MORRIS-CASS-WOOD-UPSHUR-MARION-SMITH-GREGG- HARRISON-CHEROKEE-RUSK-PANOLA-NACOGDOCHES-SHELBY-ANGELINA- SAN AUGUSTINE-SABINE TX- 608 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST LOUISIANA... SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...AND EAST AND NORTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR OVER THE FOUR STATE REGION ALONG AND NEAR A BOUNDARY OVER NORTHEAST TEXAS AND NORTH LOUISIANA AS AN UPPER DISTURBANCES MOVES OVERHEAD. A COLD FRONT WILL FOLLOW OVERNIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL CONVECTION FORMING ALONG AND NEAR IT. STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AND INTO THE EVENING. WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG WITH ISOLATED LARGE HAIL WILL BE PRIMARY CONCERNS...AS WELL AS DEADLY LIGHTNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE FOUR STATE REGION DURING THE WEEKEND WITH A COLD FRONT AND SUPPORT FROM DISTURBANCES ALOFT. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SUNDAY WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL. STRONGER STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREAS PROVIDING A LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH FROM NORTH TO SOUTH SUNDAY...WITH ISOLATED CONVECTION STILL POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THE FRONT BECOMES STATIONARY OVER EAST TEXAS AND NORTH LOUISIANA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS...AND STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT...AND AGAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON SATURDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY. 06
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
258 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
TXZ108-110-124-125-136-170900-
CAMP-FRANKLIN-SMITH-UPSHUR-WOOD-
258 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 400 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST TEXAS...
FRANKLIN...SMITH...UPSHUR...WOOD AND CAMP...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
GOLDEN...HAINESVILLE...HOARD...LEESBURG...LINDALE...MINEOLA...
NEWSOME...PITTSBURG...PLEASANT GROVE...QUITMAN...SCROGGINS AND
WINNSBORO...
AT 254 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PLEASANT
GROVE TO CANTON...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES WEST OF
WINNSBORO TO CANTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
410 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
TXZ125-126-136>138-149>151-171015-
CHEROKEE-GREGG-HARRISON-MARION-PANOLA-RUSK-SMITH-UPSHUR-
410 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 515 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...
IN NORTHEAST TEXAS...
GREGG...HARRISON...MARION...PANOLA...RUSK...SMITH...UPSHUR AND
CHEROKEE...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
ARP...BULLARD...CLARKSVILLE CITY...DIANA...EAST MOUNTAIN...
GLADEWATER...HALLSVILLE...HARLETON...HENDERSON...JOINERVILLE...
KILGORE...LIBERTY CITY...LONGVIEW...MARSHALL...MIXON...MOUNT
SELMAN...NEW LONDON...OVERTON...PONTA...TATUM...TROUP...
TURNERTOWN...WHITE OAK...WHITEHOUSE AND WOODLAWN...
AT 408 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HARLETON
TO WHITEHOUSE...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF
LONGVIEW TO WHITEHOUSE...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
453 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
LAZ001-002-171100-
BOSSIER-CADDO-
453 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
PARISHES...
IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...
CADDO AND BOSSIER...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BENTON...BLANCHARD...BOSSIER CITY AND HAUGHTON...
AT 452 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BENTON...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF
BOSSIER CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
516 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
LAZ001-TXZ138-150-151-171115-
CADDO-HARRISON-PANOLA-RUSK-
516 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES AND PARISHES...
IN NORTHEAST TEXAS...
HARRISON...PANOLA AND RUSK...
IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...
CADDO...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
GREENWOOD...BECKVILLE...CARTHAGE...DEBERRY...ELYSIAN FIELDS...
MARSHALL...MINDEN...PINEHILL...TATUM AND WASKOM...
AT 511 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MARSHALL
TO MINDEN...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MARSHALL TO 8 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF HENDERSON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
550 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
LAZ006-014-171115-
OUACHITA-UNION-
550 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
PARISHES...
IN NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
UNION AND OUACHITA...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BERNICE...FARMERVILLE AND STERLINGTON...
AT 547 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES EAST OF BERNICE...OR 16 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF JUNCTION CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
24SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
554 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
LAZ001>003-010-171200-
BOSSIER-CADDO-DE SOTO-WEBSTER-
554 AM CDT FRI AUG 17 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY...EFFECTIVE UNTIL 700 AM CDT...FOR THE FOLLOWING
PARISHES...
IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...
DE SOTO...CADDO...BOSSIER AND WEBSTER...
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
BOSSIER CITY...DIXIE INN...DOYLINE...DUBBERLY...HAUGHTON...
HEFLIN...MINDEN...SHREVEPORT...SIBLEY AND STONEWALL...
AT 552 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
DETECTING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES
NORTHEAST OF HAUGHTON TO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GREENWOOD...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES WEST OF MINDEN TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
SHREVEPORT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
24The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was downed on a home on Harvard Street in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Numerous streets were flooded and closed due to high water. Numerous cars were stalled in high water on Benton Road near Old Minden Road where the water was as high as the door handles on the vehicles. Numerous cars were also stalled out on Shed Road at Doctor's Drive as well as another car stalled out on Shed Road near the railroad tracks.
Numerous streets were flooded all across Shreveport and several were closed. High water rescues were needed for stalled vehicles on Southern Avenue as well as Caddo and Common Streets. Two feet of water entered the cafeteria at Fair Park High School.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, August 2012
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: 400012, 400013, 400014.