Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 17 to 18, 2016

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, March 17 to 18, 2016
Start: 2016-03-17T13:00
End: 2016-03-18T20:49
Location: Louisiana

March 17 to 18, 2016 · NWS LIX · 13 events in 6 counties and zones

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: 1
Injuries: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 LIX wrote it up.

A stationary front provided a focus for thunderstorms in Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi March 17th and 18th. On the 17th thunderstorms along the front resulted in an outflow boundary causing strong wind gusts and isolated damage across the area. A cold front finally swept the former stationary front through the area during the early morning hours on the 19th.

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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 17, 7:24 AM CST, 5 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 17, 7:24 AM CST, 5 hours 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISSCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
824 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

...SOUNDING DISCUSSION...

SOUNDING LOOKS PRETTY ACTIVE THIS MORNING AND THE AIR COLUMN
ABOVE IS VERY MOIST. THE SATURATED LAYER BELOW 1000 FT SHOULD MIX
OUT BY LATER THIS MORNING. THE PWAT VALUE OF 1.38 INCHES PUTS US
IN THE 90 PERCENTILE RANGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. CAPE VALUES ARE
3000-2000 J/KG WHICH IS FAIRLY HIGH AND CONDUCIVE OF STRONG
UPDRAFTS. THE FZL LEVEL IS BELOW 13 KFT AND WITH LAPSE RATES
APPROX. 7 C/KM...PEA TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL COULD BE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE FORECASTED ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS ARE WSW AT 45
KTS AT 500 MB (19 KFT) AND 125 KTS AT 200 MB (40 KFT). THESE MID
AND UPPER LEVEL WINDS WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE
STORMS LATER TODAY.

DRJ

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 359 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016/

DISCUSSION...
ANOTHER ACTIVE WEATHER PERIOD WILL BEGIN TODAY. CURRENT SURFACE
ANALYSIS INDICATES A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY IS CURRENTLY
STRETCHED ROUGHLY ALONG THE LA/MS BORDER AND IT WILL MEANDER
AROUND THE AREA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS SERVING AS A FOCUS FOR
CONVECTION UNTIL IT IS FINALLY PUSHED OFF SHORE AS A STRONGER
FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA SATURDAY.

THERE ARE A COUPLE POTENTIAL CONCERNS WITH THE EXPECTED
CONVECTION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. FIRST...RAINFALL. AREA
AVERAGE RAINFALL IS GENERALLY EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 1 TO 2.5 INCH
RANGE...BUT AS IS USUALLY THE CASE WITH CONVECTIVE STORMS LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. MUCH OF THE RAIN WILL BE
IMMEDIATELY CONVERTED TO RUNOFF IN AREAS WHERE THE GROUND REMAINS
SATURATED FOLLOWING LAST WEEK/S HEAVY RAINFALL. IF THE RAIN FALLS
TOO QUICKLY OVER THESE AREAS...IT COULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL
FLOODING OR EXACERBATE ONGOING FLOODING IN AREAS WHERE THE WATER
HAS NOT YET RECEDED.

SECOND CONCERN WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
PRIMARILY THIS AFTERNOON. DESPITE WEAK FORCING IN THE AREA...THE
STALLED BOUNDARY WILL SERVE AS A FOCUS AND VERTICAL WIND SHEAR
APPEARS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT A FEW STRONG/SEVERE STORMS. WITH DECENT
MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES...IT LOOKS LIKE HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY
THREAT. SPC HAS INTRODUCED A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR
AREAS GENERALLY ALONG/NORTH OF THE I-10/12 CORRIDOR AND A MARGINAL
RISK FOR PARTS OF THE SOUTH SHORE. THIS IS ROUGHLY IN THE VICINITY
OF THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY...WHERE MOST OF THE CONVECTION
SHOULD BE FOCUSED TODAY.

FRIDAY...THE FRONT CONTINUES TO MEANDER AROUND THE AREA WITH THE
SAME CONCERNS AS TODAY...THOUGH SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS A BIT LESS
LIKELY AS VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE. CAN/T RULE
OUT ONE OR TWO STRONG/SEVERE STORMS...THOUGH...AND SPC IS
INDICATING A MARGINAL RISK ACROSS ALL OF SE LA AND S MS.

BY SATURDAY...AN UPPER LOW MOVING INTO THE MIDDLE/UPPER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL FORCE A STRONGER COLD FRONT THROUGH THE
AREA PUTTING AN END TO THE RAIN AFTER IT PASSES. IN ALL...STORM
TOTAL RAINFALL IS NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES AS
THE HIGHEST TOTALS ARE CURRENTLY EXPECTED ACROSS THE MS COASTAL
COUNTIES WESTWARD THROUGH THE SOUTH SHORE AREA. HOWEVER...AS
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED...IF THE RAINFALL SHIFTS A BIT TO THE
NORTHWEST...FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING CONCERNS WOULD BE
GREATER.

FOLLOWING SATURDAY/S FRONTAL PASSAGE IT LOOKS LIKE WE/LL SEE ONE
LAST GASP OF WINTER-LIKE MORNING TEMPERATURES AS A COLD CANADIAN
HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE AREA. THE COLDEST MORNING LOOKS TO
BE MONDAY WITH TEMPS FALLING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 30S ALONG/NORTH
OF THE I-10/12 CORRIDOR AND INTO THE 40S SOUTH OF THE TIDAL LAKES.
NORTHERNMOST AREAS MAY EVEN SEE SOME FROST DURING THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S CAN BE EXPECTED
SUNDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE THE HIGH SHIFTS EASTWARD AND SETS OFF A
WARMING TREND.

AVIATION...
VARIABLE CONDITIONS AROUND THE AREA THIS MORNING WITH SOME TERMINALS
VFR AND OTHERS MVFR OR IFR. EXPECT CONDITIONS TO CONSOLIDATE IN THE
LOW END OF MVFR WITH MOST CEILINGS FL010-015 PRIOR TO SUNRISE.
CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW IN THE IFR RANGE THROUGH ABOUT 14Z BEFORE
THINGS GENERALLY IMPROVE TO VFR BY LATE MORNING. THERE WILL BE A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS ONCE CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED PRIOR TO 17Z.
MOST LIKELY AREAS FOR THE CONVECTION WILL BE NEAR THE INTERSTATE
10/12 CORRIDOR. THIS WOULD INCLUDE ALL TERMINALS EXCEPT KHUM AND
KMCB. WILL CARRY VCTS IN THOSE TERMINALS FOR THE AFTERNOON
HOURS...AND AMEND TO PREVAILING WHERE NECESSARY ONCE STORMS DEVELOP.
THREAT OF CONVECTION SHOULD EASE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH
MOST AREAS VFR 00Z-08Z. COULD SEE SOME DEGRADATION OF CONDITIONS
BEYOND 08Z.

MARINE...
RELATIVELY QUIET CONDITIONS ON THE COASTAL WATERS FOR ABOUT THE NEXT
48 HOURS...UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT DURING THE DAY
SATURDAY. ANTICIPATE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS BY LATE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR SATURDAY EVENING...CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT BEFORE EASING. A BRIEF BREAK IN THE ACTION FOR MONDAY AND
TUESDAY BEFORE MODERATE ONSHORE FLOW RETURNS.

DECISION SUPPORT...
DSS CODE....BLUE.
DEPLOYED...NONE.
ACTIVATION...NONE.
ACTIVITIES...MODERATE RIVER FLOODING.

DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) CODE LEGEND
GREEN  = NO WEATHER IMPACTS THAT REQUIRE ACTION
BLUE   = LONG FUSED WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORY IN EFFECT OR HIGH
         VISIBILITY EVENT
YELLOW = HEIGHTENED IMPACTS WITH SHORT FUSED WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORY
         ISSUANCES; RADAR SUPPORT
ORANGE = HIGH IMPACTS - SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK SEVERE; NEARBY
         TROPICAL EVENTS; HAZMAT OR OTHER LARGE EPISODES
RED    = FULL ENGAGEMENT FOR MODERATE RISK SVR AND/OR DIRECT
         TROPICAL THREATS; EVENTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB  77  59  73  57 /  60  60  60  50
BTR  80  64  75  60 /  60  50  60  50
ASD  79  64  73  61 /  60  50  70  60
MSY  79  65  75  62 /  60  50  70  60
GPT  76  64  73  61 /  60  60  70  60
PQL  77  61  74  61 /  60  60  70  60

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...NONE.
GM...NONE.
MS...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 17, 3:17 AM CST, 9 hours 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
417 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

GMZ530-532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572-575-577-LAZ034>037-
039-040-046>050-056>072-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-172130-
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-MISSISSIPPI SOUND-
LAKE BORGNE-CHANDELEUR SOUND-BRETON SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT FOURCHON LA TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER
LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO PORT FOURCHON LOUISIANA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BOOTHVILLE LA TO SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI TO STAKE ISLAND OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT FOURCHON LOUISIANA TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA
RIVER LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO
PORT FOURCHON LOUISIANA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM STAKE ISLAND LA TO SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI TO STAKE ISLAND
LOUISIANA OUT 20 TO 60 NM-POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-
EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-IBERVILLE-
WEST BATON ROUGE-EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-ASSUMPTION-
ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-ST. CHARLES-
UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-
UPPER TERREBONNE-LOWER TERREBONNE-LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-
LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-NORTHERN TANGIPAHOA-
SOUTHERN TANGIPAHOA-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER-
HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
417 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA...SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI NEAR A
STATIONARY FRONT. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE ALONG AND
NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 10 AND 12 CORRIDOR. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA. THE MAIN THREAT WITH ANY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WOULD BE LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION...GUSTY
WINDS TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN MAY
RESULT.

NUMEROUS RIVERS ARE IN FLOOD. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION CONSULT
THE LATEST FLOOD WARNINGS AND FLOOD STATEMENTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

RIVER FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION
CONSULT THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. A FEW STORMS
COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY NIGHT WITH
THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS WELL AS
BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. DEPENDING ON WHERE THE HEAVIER RAINS
ALIGN...SOME OF THE FLOOD AREAS MAY BE EXPANDED OR EXTENDED FOR
LONGER DURATION.

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BE FOLLOWED BY STRONG
NORTHERLY WINDS THAT WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS WAVE CONDITIONS FOR
SMALL CRAFT SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY.

SCATTERED FROST WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA NORTH OF INTERSTATE 12 MONDAY
MORNING AS OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE MIDDLE 30S.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NO LONGER REQUIRED AT THIS TIME BUT RIVER
LEVEL READINGS FROM FLOOD AREAS ARE STILL REQUESTED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 17, 8:55 AM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
955 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0945 AM     HAIL             10 NNW TYLERTOWN        31.25N 90.21W
03/17/2016  E1.50 INCH       WALTHALL           MS   PUBLIC

&&

Local storm report, Mar 17, 9:34 AM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1034 AM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0950 AM     HAIL             8 NNW SALEM             31.34N 90.17W
03/17/2016  E2.75 INCH       WALTHALL           MS   PUBLIC

&&

Special weather statement, Mar 17, 12:17 PM CST, 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
117 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

LAZ050-058-072-171845-
LIVINGSTON LA-SOUTHERN TANGIPAHOA LA-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST LA-
117 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN TANGIPAHOA...
SOUTHEASTERN LIVINGSTON AND NORTHEASTERN ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
PARISHES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...

AT 117 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
PONCHATOULA...OR 11 MILES SOUTH OF HAMMOND...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PONCHATOULA...SPRINGFIELD AND KILLIAN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS.

&&

LAT...LON 3031 9029 3030 9031 3025 9034 3026 9043
      3028 9040 3029 9040 3030 9043 3031 9042
      3032 9043 3032 9045 3034 9048 3031 9053
      3040 9056 3051 9036
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 253DEG 5KT 3034 9047

32

Special weather statement, Mar 17, 12:19 PM CST, 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
119 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

LAZ034-035-171845-
WEST FELICIANA LA-POINTE COUPEE LA-
119 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WEST FELICIANA AND
EAST CENTRAL POINTE COUPEE PARISHES UNTIL 145 PM CDT...

AT 119 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
NEW ROADS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NEW ROADS...ST. FRANCISVILLE AND MORGANZA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS.

&&

LAT...LON 3093 9142 3074 9129 3073 9130 3072 9129
      3071 9131 3070 9131 3070 9132 3069 9131
      3065 9153 3076 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 1819Z 239DEG 8KT 3073 9151

32

Special weather statement, Mar 17, 12:31 PM CST, 29 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
131 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

MSZ077-080-081-171900-
PEARL RIVER MS-HANCOCK MS-HARRISON MS-
131 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL PEARL RIVER...
NORTHWESTERN HARRISON AND NORTHEASTERN HANCOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM
CDT...

AT 131 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10
MILES EAST OF MCNEIL...OR 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF PICAYUNE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EAST CENTRAL PEARL
RIVER...NORTHWESTERN HARRISON AND NORTHEASTERN HANCOCK COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS.

&&

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI.

LAT...LON 3065 8934 3065 8924 3068 8924 3068 8915
      3051 8946 3065 8959 3087 8934
TIME...MOT...LOC 1831Z 230DEG 24KT 3063 8946

32

Special weather statement, Mar 17, 12:35 PM CST, 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
135 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

LAZ039-171900-
WASHINGTON LA-
135 PM CDT THU MAR 17 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON PARISH UNTIL
200 PM CDT...

AT 135 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
FRANKLINTON...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
FRANKLINTON AND ENON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...CONTACT YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN NEW ORLEANS.

&&

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA.

LAT...LON 3072 9019 3085 9021 3096 8996 3069 8990
TIME...MOT...LOC 1835Z 258DEG 8KT 3079 9013

32

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washington

When: March 17, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 0.59 mi E of Franklinton Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.820, -90.110

Quarter sized hail was reported between Franklinton and Enon along Hwy 1072.

Thunderstorm Wind, East Baton Rouge

When: March 17, 4:46 PM CST
Where: East Baton Rouge County, 2.49 mi NNW of Milldale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 30.703, -91.047

A large tree was downed across the road at 12201 Port Hudson-Pride Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, East Baton Rouge

When: March 17, 4:46 PM CST
Where: East Baton Rouge County, 1.07 mi ESE of Milldale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 30.667, -91.012

Trees were damaged and an aluminum awning was blown into power lines near 14244 Milldale Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, West Baton Rouge

When: March 17, 5:39 PM CST
Where: West Baton Rouge County, 1.38 mi ENE of Belmont
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.510, -91.210

A power pole was knocked down north of Port Allen.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tangipahoa

When: March 17, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Tangipahoa County, 2.38 mi W of Natalbany
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 30.550, -90.520

Several trees were blown down in the Hammond and Natalbany areas. One tree fell on a power line on LA Hwy 1064 just west of I-55, starting a grass fire. 5 power poles were blown over and a tree was fell on a house roof.

Hail, Terrebonne

When: March 18, 8:58 AM CST
Where: Terrebonne County, 1.38 mi S of Gray
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 29.680, -90.780

Half dollar sized hail was reported in Gray.

Hail, Terrebonne

When: March 18, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Terrebonne County, 1.51 mi NNE of Houma
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.620, -90.710

Quarter sized hail reported in Houma.

Hail, Lafourche

When: March 18, 9:08 AM CST
Where: Lafourche County, 1.93 mi WSW of Rousseau
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 29.740, -90.760

Quarter sized hail reported near Thibodaux.

Hail, Lafourche

When: March 18, 9:14 AM CST
Where: Lafourche County, 0.6 mi E of Lafourche
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.770, -90.760

Hail slightly larger than golf balls reported near Thibodaux.

Hail, Lafourche

When: March 18, 9:17 AM CST
Where: Lafourche County, Raceland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 29.730, -90.600

Golfball sized hail was reported along Hwy 1 just north of Raceland.

Hail, Terrebonne

When: March 18, 9:32 AM CST
Where: Terrebonne County, 1.38 mi S of Gray
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.680, -90.780

Half dollar sized hail was reported in Gray.

Hail, Lafourche

When: March 18, 11:11 AM CST
Where: Lafourche County, 0.92 mi NW of Galliano
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 29.480, -90.310

Half dollar sized hail was reported near Cut Off.

Lightning, Lafourche

When: March 18, 8:49 PM CST
Where: Lafourche County, 0.92 mi NE of Larose
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 29.580, -90.390

A lightning strike at the T-Bois Blues Festival in Larose led to one fatality and two additional injuries. All three of the women had taken cover in a small personal tent. One dog was also killed by the lightning strike.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Lightning, Lafourche	2016-03-18	28	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Louisiana in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Louisiana, March 2016

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 617746, 617753, 617754, 617747, 617748, 617767, 617768, 617769, 617770, 617771, 617772, 617773, 617774.