Hail and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, January 20, 2017

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, January 20, 2017
Start: 2017-01-20T22:45
End: 2017-01-20T23:13
Location: Louisiana

January 20, 2017 · NWS LCH · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A strong short wave and a rapid return of moisture allowed scattered thunderstorms to develop in Southwest Louisiana. A few storms turned severe producing a high wind gust and large hail.

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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 LCH wrote it up.

A strong short wave and a rapid return of moisture allowed scattered thunderstorms to develop in Southwest Louisiana. A few storms turned severe producing a high wind gust and large hail.

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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 20, 5:53 PM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 20, 5:53 PM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
553 PM CST Fri Jan 20 2017

.DISCUSSION...
21/00Z TAF Issuance.

&&

.AVIATION...
A cluster of showers and tstms currently approaching
Houston/Galveston Bay will move northeast into the area, and
expected to reach the BPT terminal by 02Z. This activity will
spread east acrs the area during the evening and overnight, with
minimal changes with respect to timing as convection reaches LCH
between 02-04Z and LFT/ARA by 04-06Z. Although not depicted in
TAFs at this time, there is the potential for some strong or svr
storms, capable of producing strong gusty winds and large hail.
Activity should remain a little more sctd near AEX but anticipate
a period of TSRA between 04-08Z. The typical lowering of
cigs/vsbys with convection can be expected (into MVFR/IFR
categories) but LIFR cigs/vsbys are expected to develop once the
convection exits to the east late tonight. Vsbys should improve to
VFR with cigs lifting to MVFR by 16Z Saturday while southwesterly
winds develop and strengthen to around 10 kt.

24

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 334 PM CST Fri Jan 20 2017/

DISCUSSION...Another very mild day ongoing which seems to have
become more of the norm this winter season. Surface obs showing
temps generally in the mid 70s, about 15 degrees above climo.
Morning LCH sounding indicating a very dry atmosphere overhead on
a west to southwest flow through the column. Precipitable water
very low coming in at 0.61 inches. Changes are on the way and
beginning to see that with showers and thunderstorms forming just
inland of the Texas coast.

Water vapor imagery showing mid and upper level moisture
beginning to advance into the region along and ahead of incoming
associated southern trof. Eastward advancing feature progged
similarly by models to move across the forecast area through the
overnight hours. Impressive wind fields noted ahead of trof with
100-120 kt southwest upper jet, southwest 50-60 kt at 500 mb and a
30-40 kt low level southerly jet. Latter feature will bring a
rapid influx of moisture which will add to the already then
established mid and upper moisture with precipitable water values
rocketing up to above 1.5 inches. Deep ascent is expected to
develop and will continue to maintain high end pops. Plenty of
shear will be available for development of initially elevated
rotating storms transitioning to possibly surface based with time
and eastward progression. SPC carrying the western half of the
forecast area within a slight risk of severe thunderstorms and the
eastern half in a more ominous enhanced outlook. Damaging winds
and hail will be possible, as well as isolated tornadoes.
Progressive nature of system will keep the severe threat
relatively short and rain totals generally under one inch.
Saturday expected to be very mild once again and just a slight
chance for a few showers and thunderstorms. Next weather maker
then moving through Saturday night.

Next trof will advance across the southwest conus Saturday with
rapid and deep cyclogenesis occurring as feature advances into the
Texas panhandle. Continuing deepening and vigorous low will
maintain an eastward trek advancing into the lower Mississippi
valley Saturday night. An associated cold front will sweep across
the area during this time-frame. Another severe weather threat
will emerge as wind fields remain impressive with increasingly
sharp lapse rates developing. Moisture return at this time however
appears somewhat limited and maintaining lower pops with this
next system. SPC is maintaining a slight risk of severe
thunderstorms for all of Louisiana and into the lakes area of
interior southeast Texas. Over the remainder of southeast Texas, a
lesser marginal risk is in place. Sunday them looks dry but
breezy to windy as tight pressure gradient comes into play
associated with 990 plus low moving through the lower Mississippi
valley and into the southeast conus.

Temperatures then cool for the first few days of the new week, but
will trend back upward beginning Tuesday ahead of a more robust
cold front advancing across the area late Wednesday.

MARINE...Moderate southerlies will remain in place overnight and
Saturday. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight as
a vigorous upper level disturbance advances across the gulf
waters. Rain chances will then taper off Saturday but increase
Saturday night as strong low pressure advances through the lower
Mississippi valley and into the southeast conus sending a cold
front through the northwest gulf. Dangerously strong winds are
expected to develop in the wake of the front along with unusually
high seas. A gale watch is in effect.

23

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  58  72  54  65 /  50  30  50  10
LCH  63  74  58  68 /  80  20  40  10
LFT  65  76  59  69 /  80  30  50  10
BPT  63  76  57  69 /  80  20  40  10

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Gale Watch from late Saturday night through late Sunday night
     for GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475.

&&

AVIATION...24

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 20, 4:57 PM CST, 5 hours 48 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
457 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-
212300-
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-
457 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
LOUISIANA, SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, WEST
CENTRAL LOUISIANA, AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AS A SIGNIFICANT
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE ADVANCES ACROSS THE REGION. THE STORM
PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST
AREA WITHIN A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE EASTERN
PORTION OF THE AREA IS WITHIN A SLIGHTLY HIGHER ENHANCED THREAT.
DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL AS AN ISOLATED
TORNADO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

PATCHY FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE EARLY SATURDAY WITH RAINS TAPERING OFF.
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN AGAIN FOR SATURDAY
NIGHT AS A COLD FRONT SPEEDS ACROSS THE AREA. COOLER TEMPERATURES
AND DRIER AIR WILL THEN BE IN PLACE FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON THE INCREASE FOR MID-WEEK
AHEAD OF A MORE ROBUST COLD FRONT ADVANCING ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE
REQUIRED TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-212300-
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-
457 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF GULF OF MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AS A SIGNIFICANT
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE ADVANCES ACROSS THE REGION. SOME LATE
NIGHT FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE AS RAINS DIMINISH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

EARLY MORNING FOG WILL BE POSSIBLE. OTHERWISE ANOTHER ROUND OF
POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ON THE DOCKET FOR SATURDAY
NIGHT AS A COLD FRONT SPEEDS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST GULF. THIS
FRONT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DANGEROUSLY STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS FOR
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...AS WELL AS UNUSUALLY HIGH SEAS AS DEEP
LOW PRESSURE ADVANCES THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND
INTO THE SOUTHEAST CONUS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 20, 8:16 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
816 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

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

0814 PM     HAIL             ORANGE                  30.10N 93.76W
01/20/2017  E1.00 INCH       ORANGE             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SD REPORTS DIME TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

&&

MOGGED

Local storm report, Jan 20, 8:39 PM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
839 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

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

0835 PM     HAIL             MAURICEVILLE            30.22N 93.87W
01/20/2017  E0.25 INCH       ORANGE             TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

MOGGED

Local storm report, Jan 20, 9:05 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
905 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

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

0840 PM     HAIL             ORANGE                  30.10N 93.76W
01/20/2017  E1.75 INCH       ORANGE             TX   PUBLIC

&&

MOGGED

Special weather statement, Jan 20, 9:38 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
938 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

LAZ030-031-041-210415-
Calcasieu-Allen-Beauregard-
938 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
BEAUREGARD...CENTRAL CALCASIEU AND SOUTHWESTERN ALLEN PARISHES...

At 938 PM CST, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Oretta to near Buhler to near
Edgerly. Movement was northeast at 35 mph.

Winds in excess of 30 mph and dime size hail are possible with these
storms.

Locations impacted include...
Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Dry Creek, Moss Bluff, Ragley,
Dequincy, Longville, Buhler, Lebleu Settlement and Gillis.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

LAT...LON 3071 9303 3044 9306 3042 9307 3042 9313
      3038 9313 3038 9307 3025 9308 3017 9350
      3055 9342
TIME...MOT...LOC 0338Z 247DEG 29KT 3053 9334 3038 9336 3022 9345

24

Special weather statement, Jan 20, 10:21 PM CST, 24 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1021 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

LAZ032-033-043-210445-
Acadia-St. Landry-Evangeline-
1021 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN EVANGELINE...
NORTHEASTERN ACADIA AND CENTRAL ST. LANDRY PARISHES...

At 1021 PM CST, a strong thunderstorm was located over Lawtell, or
near Opelousas, moving northeast at 50 mph.

Winds in excess of 30 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Opelousas, Church Point, Port Barre, Washington, Lawtell, Swords,
Prairie Ronde, Savoy, Grand Prairie and Lebeau.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 200 AM CST for central and
southwestern Louisiana.

LAT...LON 3037 9220 3051 9236 3081 9205 3055 9180
TIME...MOT...LOC 0421Z 224DEG 44KT 3051 9220

24

Special weather statement, Jan 20, 10:44 PM CST, 1 minute before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1044 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

LAZ041-042-074-210515-
Calcasieu-Jefferson Davis-East Cameron-
1044 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS AND
SOUTHEASTERN CALCASIEU PARISHES...

At 1044 PM CST, a strong thunderstorm was located near Hayes, moving
northeast at 35 mph.

Winds in excess of 30 mph and dime size hail are possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Welsh, Iowa, Hayes, Thornwell, Holmwood, Lacassine, Bell City and
Roanoke.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 200 AM CST for southwestern
Louisiana.

LAT...LON 2998 9297 3011 9312 3039 9286 3013 9263
TIME...MOT...LOC 0444Z 226DEG 32KT 3010 9299

24

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Allen

When: January 20, 10:45 PM CST
Where: Allen County, 0.59 mi E of Oberlin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.620, -92.760

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When: January 20, 10:48 PM CST
Where: Allen County, 8.39 mi SW of Reeves
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.430, -93.110

A tree was downed across Topsy Bel Road near Texas Eastern.

Hail, Jefferson Davis

When: January 20, 11:13 PM CST
Where: Jefferson Davis County, 0.91 mi NE of Welsh
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.240, -92.810

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Louisiana in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Louisiana, January 2017

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: 674598, 674600, 674599.