Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Louisiana, April 2 to 3, 2017

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
429 AM CDT Sun Apr 2 2017

.DISCUSSION...
The potential for a widespread heavy rain event tonight is looking
more and more likely. WPC has issued a slight to moderate risk for
excessive rainfall over much of the forecast area. In addition to
heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms will be possible as well with a
slight to moderate risk.

An upper low is currently moving east across northern Mexico into
West Texas will track east into Central Texas today before moving
northeast to the southern plains tonight. This will put the local
area between the jet wrapping around the upper low and subtropical
jet. Low level convergence and upper divergence will be very strong
in the general region of difluence across Louisiana and Mississippi.
Gulf moisture will surge northward into the area ahead of the
approaching system this evening and overnight. Surface dewpoints are
expected to reach into the lower 70s. Looking at GFS and NAM model
soundings, atmospheric moisture levels will be EXTREMELY HIGH with
peak precip water values ranging from 1.8-2" as convection moves
across the CWA. For reference, the 90th percentile for this time of
year is less than 1.5". So hitting the 2" mark is well into record
territory. Seeing numbers like that definitely increases the concern
for a heavy rainfall event. The ECMWF has been the most consistent
model from run to run, suggesting the heaviest rain to be over
southern and southeast LA vs the GFS's solution of central MS. Areal
coverage of 3-6" will be possible with isolated amounts possibly
reaching upwards of 8-10". Those amounts are roughly over about a 12-
18 hour period from this afternoon through Monday morning.
Convection may start nudging into western zones this afternoon
before 00z, so have increased pops to 60% there. A flash flood watch
remains in effect with no changes made to that product.

As noted earlier, there is a slight to moderate risk for severe
weather tonight. Before the column becomes completely saturated, mid
level dry air will still be in place. Mid level cooling and
increasing surface moisture will steepen mid level lapse rates and
decrease LI's. The close proximity of the upper low to the CWA will
result in quite strong winds throughout the boundary layer and thus
increase shear values to 30-50 knots. SRH at the same time should be
over 200 m2/s2. Those parameters suggest increased threat for
damaging winds and a few tornadoes. The window of opportunity for
surface based convection will be relatively short if model soundings
are correct in showing a warm nose developing around 03Z. This trend
will progress east with time. A general lowering of severe threat
will take place in eastern zones as well. The best chance for
strongest storms at this times appears to be NW of a Donaldsonville
to Franklinton line.

There will even more weather impacts to the CWA besides possible
flash flooding and severe weather. The pressure gradient over the
region will be tightening as a sub-1000mb sfc low develops and moves
across northeast TX and eastern OK tonight. This enhance low level
flow and elevate southeasterly winds significantly. MAV guidance
indicated sustained winds near 25 mph reaching as far north as I-12.
Therefore, will be issuing a wind advisory for coastal MS and much
of SELA. Additionally, increasing astronomical tides in combination
with strong onshore flow will likely result in minor coastal
flooding. Thinking that tides will be 1-2 feet above normal. Thus,
will be issuing a coastal flood advisory for SE facing shores of the
CWA.

The heavier rain threat should be rapidly moving east Monday as the
upper trough races ENE. Will likely have sunny skies by the
afternoon, especially for western portions of the CWA.

A return to warmer temperatures and no rainfall is expected Monday
through Tuesday. Models show a much deeper long wave trough tracking
across the country through the middle of the week. This will bring
the threat of rainfall back to the region Wednesday. Much colder air
will filter into the forecast area Thursday and Friday behind a cold
front associated with that system. Expect a 15 to 20 degree drop in
temps Thurs with a gradual moderation thereafter.

MEFFER
&&

.AVIATION...
Conditions will begin to slowly deteriorate today. Ceilings to be
prevailing at BKN010 OVC060. These decks will begin to lower and
thicken through the day and overnight to BKN003 OVC030. Will also
start TS as prevailing conditions for all sites with a west to
east timing.

&&

.MARINE...
Extended the areal coverage of exercise caution conditions to
include all coastal waters. Small craft advisories will also be
posted with this package and include all areas starting around 6pm
today going through roughly noon Monday. Winds are expected to
remain sustained tonight at 25 to 30kt with gusts to gale force
tonight and a portion of Monday. Seas will follow suite and remain
rather high all the way to the surf zone. Once winds become more
offshore, seas will show an evolving pattern from nearshore to
offshore.

As the front pushes east of the region Monday night and Tuesday
winds will turn westerly gradually and fall back to 10 to 15 knots.
Seas will also gradually ease, and should be in the 3 to 5 feet
range by Tuesday afternoon.  A ridge of high pressure will shift
east of the area by Tuesday night allowing winds to shift back to
the south-southeast.  The winds should increase back to between 15
and 20 knots and possibly higher by Wednesday afternoon as a cold
front moves through the region.  Strong northwest flow of 20 to 25
knots should then develop over all of the waters Wednesday night and
Thursday as a colder and drier airmass advects in behind the front.
Seas will also increase from 3 to 5 feet back up to 5 to 7 feet due
to these winds.

&&

.DECISION SUPPORT...
DSS CODE...Blue.
DEPLOYED...SWERV deployed to Harrison County to support MS
Bicentennial.
ACTIVATION...None.
ACTIVITIES...Monitoring Severe Weather and Flooding Potential
through Monday.

Decision Support Service (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 of severe weather;
         Nearby tropical events, HAZMAT or other large episodes
RED    = Full engagement for moderate risk of severe weather; Direct
         tropical threats; events of national significance.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB  82  68  79  58 /  50 100  40  10
BTR  82  69  80  59 /  60 100  20   0
ASD  81  71  80  62 /  40  90  70  10
MSY  81  71  81  63 /  50  90  60  10
GPT  79  73  79  65 /  30  70  90  10
PQL  80  70  79  62 /  20  60 100  10

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Flash Flood Watch from 1 PM CDT this afternoon through Monday
     afternoon for LAZ034>037-039-040-046>050-056>072.

     Coastal Flood Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT
     Monday for LAZ040-050-058-062-064-066>070-072.

     Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Monday for
     LAZ040-046>050-056>070-072.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 1 PM CDT Monday
     for GMZ530-532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572-575-577.

MS...Flash Flood Watch from 1 PM CDT this afternoon through Monday
     afternoon for MSZ068>071-077-080.

     Coastal Flood Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT
     Monday for MSZ080>082.

     Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Monday for
     MSZ080>082.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 1 PM CDT Monday
     for GMZ532-534-536-538-550-552-555-557-570-572-575-577.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
608 AM CDT Sun Apr 2 2017

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>082-022315-
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-
608 AM CDT Sun Apr 2 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Southeast
Louisiana...South Mississippi and the adjacent coastal waters.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A moderate risk of severe thunderstorms exists through tonight
for Wilkinson County, West Feliciana Parish, and Pointe Coupee
Parish. An enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms exists through
tonight for areas along and west of line from Napoleonville in
Assumption Parish to Bogalusa in Washington Parish; while a
slight risk of severe thunderstorms will exist for areas to the
east of this line during the same time. Severe thunderstorms
associated with this scenario will be capable of producng
tornadoes, strong damaging winds, and large hail. The most likely
timeframe for severe thunderstorms will be this afternoon through
Monday morning.

A moderate risk of excessive rainfall exists through Monday
morning for Wilkinson County, East and West Feliciana Parishes,
East and West Baton Rouge Parishes, Pointe Coupee Parish, and
Iberville Parish. Elsewhere, a slight risk of excessive rainfall
will exist during the same time.

A flash flood watch is in effect through 3 pm Monday. Total
rainfall accumulations through Monday are expected to be 3 to 6
inches with isolated higher amounts possible.

A wind advisory will begin at 7 pm today through 10 am Monday for
winds around 25 mph with higher gusts. This will include all areas
along and south of the interstate 10/12 corridor.

A coastal flood advisory will begin at 1 pm today through 7 pm
Monday for most coastal counties and parishes as tides should rise
to 1 to 2 feet above normal.

A small craft advisory will begin at 6 pm today through 1 pm
Monday.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

All warnings, advisories, and risk levels are expected to lower
through the day Monday. Otherwise, no hazardous weather is
expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be requested this afternoon through Monday
morning.