A decaying tropical system entered Louisiana from the east. Far Southeast Texas was on the very edge of this system, however enough instability and moisture worked into the area to produce flooding and a severe storm.
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.
A decaying tropical system entered Louisiana from the east. Far Southeast Texas was on the very edge of this system, however enough instability and moisture worked into the area to produce flooding and a severe storm.
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 Aug 13, 3:29 PM CST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
429 PM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016
.DISCUSSION...
Pesky Low pressure system over NE LA progged to continue WWD while
slowly weakening and eventually merging with/and or becoming
absorbed into a mid-latitude trof on Monday. Scattered to Numerous
showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop within the
convergent flow on the southern flank of this system. If trends of
the past couple of days hold, ongoing convection will continue
through the evening while gradually decreasing a bit in coverage,
with a burst of renewed and more widespread convection developing
around 06Z or so. Confidence is not overly high on where the
heaviest rainfall will occur tonight, but generally speaking the
risk area is expected to shift WWD in tandem with the low.
Widespread flooding rains have already occurred over parts of East
and South Central LA, with any additional rain serving to
exacerbate ongoing flooding. Rain has not been nearly as prolific
farther west into West Central and Southwest LA or East Texas,
though activity ongoing on radar may be setting the stage for a
more widespread flooding risk to materialize should the bulk of
rain tonight develop in these areas. Given the antecedent
conditions and current uncertainty, opted to leave the inherited
Flash Flood Watch as is, though an extension west and/or an
extension in time over Western LA was considered. Locally heavy
rainfall is mentioned in the forecast for East TX and Western LA
through tomorrow, as individual convective cells will be capable
of very high rainfall rates, with cell mergers/training also
posing a localized risk.
Deep layer ridging is expected to build over the SE CONUS and
expand WWD in the wake of the departing low, resulting in a deep
and moist SE fetch prevailing through the upcoming week. Convection
should become more diurnally driven, though rain chances will
remain above climo given the high moisture content (PWAT>2") while
temperatures fall slightly below due to the increase in
clouds/rain.
13
&&
.MARINE...
Numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue tonight and on
into Sunday, diminishing by early next week as an area of low
pressure slowly moves westward and weakens. A moderate onshore
flow will continue through tonight, with a Small Craft Advisory in
effect for the Gulf waters. A ridge of high pressure will build
westward in the wake of the low with a generally light onshore
flow prevailing next week.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 74 81 73 86 / 90 90 40 60
LCH 75 82 75 86 / 90 90 40 60
LFT 74 83 74 87 / 90 80 40 50
BPT 76 83 76 86 / 90 90 40 60
&&
.LCH Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
LA...Flash Flood Watch through Sunday morning for LAZ027>033-041>045-
052>055-073-074.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Sunday for GMZ450-452-455-
470-472-475.
SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION from Sunday morning through Sunday
afternoon for GMZ450-452-470-472.
SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION through Sunday morning for GMZ430-
432-435.
&&
PUBLIC...04HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 528 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-141030- 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- 528 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA. AN ADDITIONAL 4 TO 7 INCHES OF RAINFALL...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS...IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL FLASH FLOODING...PARTICULARLY ACROSS LOWER ACADIANA. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO CONTINUE MONITORING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TO BE ALERT FOR RISING WATER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY RAINFALL CHANCES WILL DECREASE THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE EXITS THE REGION. HOWEVER...DAYTIME RAIN CHANCES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST EACH DAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGE TO REPORT FLOODING AND HEAVY RAINFALL TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-141030- TYLER-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-NORTHERN JASPER-NORTHERN NEWTON- SOUTHERN JASPER-SOUTHERN NEWTON- 528 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS LATER TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. TOTAL RAINFALL IS FORECAST TO RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY WITH DECREASING COVERAGE THROUGH NEXT WEEK. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-141030- 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- 528 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF GULF OF MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY OVER THE COASTAL WATERS FOR SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY HIGHER SEAS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...WATERSPOUTS AND HEAVY RAINFALL REDUCING VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE NAUTICAL MILE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH NEXT WEEK. THE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DECREASE BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. ANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY HIGHER SEAS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1110 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1109 AM FLASH FLOOD JENNINGS 30.22N 92.66W
08/13/2016 JEFFERSON DAVIS LA LAW ENFORCEMENT
JEFF DAVIS SHERIFF REPORTS THAT NEARLY ALL STATE ROADS
HAVE WATER ON THEM AND MANY PARISH ROADS ARE IMPASSABLE.
I-10 EXIT 64 AND OFF RAMPS ARE FLOODED. JENNINGS MAYOR
SAID THAT SOUTH MAIN STREET AND JEFFERSON STREET ARE
FLOODED.
&&
DJONESPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
139 PM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0138 PM FLASH FLOOD ABBEVILLE 29.97N 92.12W
08/13/2016 VERMILION LA EMERGENCY MNGR
VERMILION PARISH EMERGENCY MANAGER ESTIMATES 1500 HOMES
FLOODED THROUGHOUT VERMILION PARISH.
&&
DJONESSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
451 PM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016
TXZ215-216-132230-
JEFFERSON TX-ORANGE TX-
451 PM CDT SAT AUG 13 2016
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
AT 450 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
BEAUMONT...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BEAUMONT...PORT ARTHUR...NEDERLAND...GROVES...PORT NECHES...VIDOR...
CENTRAL GARDENS...ROSE CITY...PINE FOREST...PORT ACRES...
SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT...LA BELLE AND FANNETT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3019 9400 2999 9383 2998 9383 2999 9385
2999 9386 2997 9384 2997 9386 2995 9386
2996 9387 2993 9386 2987 9392 2974 9422
3009 9430
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 337DEG 14KT 3006 9417
TINGLERThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The media relayed reports of one trailer flipped and another crushed by a falling tree near Vidor.
High rainfall rates moved into Orange County during the late afternoon of the 13th. While flooding was generally minor across much of the county, in Vidor roadways were flooded and impassable for a short time including under an overpass of Interstate 10.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2016
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: 655616, 655615.