An upper trough stalled over the Southwest States for multiple days while several short waves rotated around the base of the larger trough. This produced periods of severe storms and flooding in Southeast Texas.
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 upper trough stalled over the Southwest States for multiple days while several short waves rotated around the base of the larger trough. This produced periods of severe storms and flooding in Southeast Texas.
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 24, 6:09 AM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
709 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015
.DISCUSSION...
FOR 12Z TAF ISSUANCE.
&&
.AVIATION...
PRIMARY AVIATION ISSUE THIS MORNING IS TIMING THE ARRIVAL OF
THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH APPROACHING MCV CROSSING METRO
HOUSTON ATTM. EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO GET INTO KBPT TOWARD 15Z AND
KLCH 17Z. HRRR SHOWS THIS LINE BREAKING UP AFTER IT PASSES KLCH SO
HAVE ELECTED FOR NOW TO NOT CARRY PREVAILING PRECIP FOR REMAINING
SITES. OTHERWISE PRIMARY ISSUE REMAINS STRONG SRLY WINDS EXPECTED
TO DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO AS A TIGHT GRADIENT REMAINS IN
PLACE THANKS TO DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE OVER THE TX/OK PANHANDLE
REGION...AS WELL AS STRONGER WINDS ALOFT MIXING DOWN.
25
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 445 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015/
..FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...
DISCUSSION...THE FIRST ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN FOR OUR AREA IS
APPROACHING. THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF SHORT WAVES ROTATING AROUND
THE LARGER WEST U.S. TROUGH WILL PUSH INTO THE REGION THIS
MORNING. CURRENTLY OVER TX STORMS ARE STRETCHED FROM BROWNSVILLE
TO DFW. THE PORTION OF WX THAT CONCERNS SE TX AND LA IS MOVING
ACROSS THE CENTRAL TX COAST AND WILL ARRIVE ROUGHLY AT 9 AM TO
JEFFERSON, HARDIN, AND TYLER COUNTIES. ALREADY SATURATED GROUND,
HIGH RAINFALL RATES, AND POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF RAIN
PROMPTED THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH ACROSS SE TX, SW AND CENTRAL LA
FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING, HOWEVER RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS MAY STRETCH IN TUESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING. WITH THE
HIGHER MOISTURE CONTENT AIR MASS AND HIGHER AMOUNT OF FORECASTED
QPF REMAINING JUST WEST OF LOWER ACADIANA THE WATCH WAS NOT EXPANDED
TO THAT AREA, HOWEVER ANY TRAINING STORM, IF IT DOES OCCUR, WILL
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE FLOODING.
BEHIND THE SHORT WAVE CURRENTLY OVER TX ANOTHER UPPER LOW OVER
SOUTH CA IS ROTATING AROUND THE LARGER TROUGH. THIS WILL CAUSE
RAIN CHANCES TO REMAIN HIGH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY
MORNING AS THIS DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. DURING
TUESDAY THE MAIN TROUGH WILL FINALLY MOVE ACROSS THE REGION WITH
DECREASING RAIN CHANCES THROUGH THE EVENING AS THIS OCCURS. A
SLIGHT DRYING OF THE AIR MASS WILL OCCUR ALOFT AS THE MAIN TROUGH
SHIFTS EAST.
ALSO DURING THE PERIOD OF TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY... WHILE FLOODING
WILL REMAIN THE MAIN THREAT OF THIS EVENT, THERE IS A MARGINAL TO
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER. INSTABILITY MAY REMAIN LIMITED,
HOWEVER STRONG GUSTY WINDS MAY BE POSSIBLE AS THE LINES OF STORMS
MOVE THROUGH.
MAINLY SCT AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED WED AND THU
EVEN AS MODEST RIDGING OCCURS. THE MODEST RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO
BREAK DOWN AGAIN BY FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH ANOTHER, YET
WEAKER, UPPER TROUGH MOVING FROM THE WESTERN STATES INTO THE
PLAINS.
MARINE...A FAIRLY TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT IS OCCURRING ACROSS
THE GULF THIS MORNING WITH NEAR SCA CRITERIA WINDS OCCURRING. THE
MODERATE ONSHORE FLOW WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT
AND SLOWLY DECREASE THROUGH TUESDAY AS THE SURFACE LOW OVER THE
PLAINS LIFTS NE ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES.
NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS
THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. STRONG GUSTY WINDS, CLOUD TO WATER
LIGHTNING, LOCALLY HIGHER SEAS, AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED. MARINERS SHOULD REMAIN AWARE OF THE LATEST WEATHER AND
BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF A STRONG STORM APPROACHES.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 84 70 82 70 / 80 80 70 70
LCH 83 73 84 73 / 80 80 60 70
LFT 85 73 84 73 / 60 80 70 60
BPT 80 74 83 74 / 80 80 70 70
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR LAZ027>032-041-042-
073-074.
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR TXZ180-201-215-216-
259>262.
GM...SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR GMZ450-
452-455-470-472-475.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262- 251000- VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY- CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN- VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-WEST CAMERON- EAST CAMERON-TYLER-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-NORTHERN JASPER- NORTHERN NEWTON-SOUTHERN JASPER-SOUTHERN NEWTON- 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA...EAST CENTRAL TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD THIS MORNING AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. GUSTY WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY OCCUR IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS AS THIS LINE OF STORMS MOVES THROUGH. A BRIEF BREAK FROM THE RAINFALL MAY OCCUR IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EVENING, HOWEVER MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY, HOWEVER THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR AGAIN MONDAY INTO TUESDAY MORNING WITH A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. GUSTY WINDS MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY SOME THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE WEEK. SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT FLOODING OR ANY SEVERE WEATHER. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-251000- 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 FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 459 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE THIS MORNING ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS. STRONG GUSTY WINDS MAY OCCUR ALONG WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HIGHER SEAS. A FAIRLY TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL KEEP A MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE FLOW IN PLACE THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY WEEK. GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY STORM. RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE PAST TUESDAY, HOWEVER ISOLATED STORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
756 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015
TXZ201-215-216-261-241345-
ORANGE TX-SOUTHERN JASPER TX-JEFFERSON TX-HARDIN TX-
756 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 754 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR DEVERS TO NEAR HIGH ISLAND...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BEAUMONT...PORT ARTHUR...PORT
NECHES... LUMBERTON...VIDOR...SILSBEE...SOUR LAKE...NOME...CENTRAL
GARDENS... HAMSHIRE...EVADALE...SABINE PASS...BEVIL
OAKS...CHINA...ROSE CITY... PINE FOREST...LAKEVIEW AND LA BELLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3047 9404 2999 9384 2999 9386 2997 9384
2982 9393 2982 9394 2981 9393 2981 9395
2968 9384 2967 9405 2956 9435 2989 9436
2989 9444 3011 9444 3011 9460 3018 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 1254Z 232DEG 33KT 3000 9456 2953 9439
TWHThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:42 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Jasper County Police Department reported several trees down along County Roads 634 and 1004.
A tree was blown down onto northbound Highway 69 northwest of Kountze.
A tree was blown down across Highway 92 in Spurger.
A tree was blown down on Highway 1013 west of Kirbyville.
The Hardin County Sheriffs Department reported trees down along Highway 69 in Kountze.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of Highway 87 and County Road 3154 south of Trout Creek.
A tree was blown down on to FM 1943 near Warren.
The Newton County Sheriffs Department reported trees down along County Road 4076 near Bon Weir.
Trees blown down onto FM 1943 near Fred.
Beaumont Media relayed a report of quarter size hail in Lumberton.
Heavy rain across Lumberton flooded roads and at least one home on the southeast side of the city.
The Emergency Manager of Tyler County reported 11 large oak trees down along highway 69 near Colmesneil.
The Jasper County Sheriffs Department reported trees down along FM 1007 and 2799 and along County Road 82.
The Sheriffs Department of Tyler County reported trees down county wide.
The Tyler County Sheriffs Department reported several roads impassable due to high water.
A picture of flooded roadways was received from Beaumont. The image showed water around one foot deep over roadways and becoming impassable.
The Texas Department of Transportation reported numerous trees down on roadways in Newton County.
Trees were blown down onto Main and International streets.
Flooding along wolf creek caused water to enter a camp around 3 feet deep.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2015
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: 573673, 573674, 573676, 573692, 573695, 573700, 573702, 573707, 573709, 573671, 573747, 573716, 573718, 573719, 573748, 573750, 573721, 573724, 573749.