A slow moving upper level disturbance and cold front produced widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain. Some storms became severe and flooding also occurred.
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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 slow moving upper level disturbance and cold front produced widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain. Some storms became severe and flooding also occurred.
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 Mar 29, 5:30 AM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
630 AM CDT Wed Mar 29 2017
.AVIATION...Spotty MVFR conditions are occurring this morning and
will continue, however ceilings are expected to lower more this
afternoon and into tonight. Rain and thunderstorms will occur this
afternoon and tonight across the region which will lower the vis.
Strong gusty winds are also expected. Winds will be generally SSE
this morning and become SW tonight.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 547 AM CDT Wed Mar 29 2017/
DISCUSSION...
Vigorous upper low nearing the TX panhandle per latest water vapor
satellite imagery, with latest sfc analysis showing an elongated
area of low pressure over northern TX, with a leading dryline/front
extending south through Central TX and a trailing cold front
stretching west across north TX into NM.
Elevated winds over coastal SE TX/SW LA are finally starting to
settle down a bit. This looks to be short lived, however, as winds
are forecast to increase this afternoon across most of the area
along/south of I-10 and over parts of E Central LA owing to the
tight pressure gradient and a 30-40KT LLJ. Went ahead an issued a
wind advisory from noon through 6 pm, though it is possible an
extension in time may be needed for locations near the coast.
Gusts could reach into the 35-40 mph range.
Initial band of convection raced eastward across Central and into
Eastern TX overnight and early this morning, weakening and pushing
out an extensive outflow which is currently generating light
returns over interior SE TX. This scenario was depicted fairly
well in high resolution CAM guidance, albeit the guidance was a
little slower than what actually materialized. There has and
continues to be greater disparity in convective evolution today,
however. Examining the overall progged environment and the
guidance that did perform well with this initial round continues
to yield the general idea that significant convection will hold
off spreading into and/or developing over E TX until later this
afternoon with the arrival of more favorable lapse rates and
greater lift accompanying a coupled/split jet structure. All
severe modes continue to look possible per forecast
soundings/parameters. Convection will then spread/move into W LA
during the evening and continue TWD the Atchafalaya through the
overnight period. The trailing CDFNT, which will eventually
overtake/merge with the leading boundary, is forecast to be
pushing east of the Sabine River by early THU morning, and will
exit east of the Atchafalaya by late afternoon/early evening. Bulk
of convection is progged to occur well ahead of the actual
boundary, however, and latest guidance continues to accelerate its
departure such that PoPs THU were trended downward.
Flat ridging in the wake of the departing upper low will result
in quiet weather on FRI, with good rain chances returning late SAT
through SUN night with the approach and passage of another upper
low.
13
MARINE...
Strong and gusty south winds along with rough seas are expected
to persist today as a low pressure area and an associated cold
front approach the area. Winds are forecast to gradually subside
from west to east tonight as the front nears and then pushes
through the region. A brief period of west winds will follow the
frontal passage, with an onshore flow returning Thursday night
into Friday. South winds will increase again over the weekend in
association with another storm system forecast to affect the area.
13
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 67 75 54 81 / 80 40 10 0
LCH 66 77 57 81 / 80 40 10 0
LFT 72 80 61 84 / 70 60 10 0
BPT 63 79 58 83 / 70 30 0 0
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Wind Advisory from noon today to 6 PM CDT this evening for
LAZ031>033-041>045-052>055-073-074.
TX...Wind Advisory from noon today to 6 PM CDT this evening for
TXZ215-216.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ450-452-455-
470-472-475.
Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for GMZ430-432.
Small Craft Advisory from noon today to 10 PM CDT this evening
for GMZ435.
SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION until noon CDT today for GMZ435.
&&
AVIATION...05Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 618 AM CDT Wed Mar 29 2017 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262- 301130- 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- 618 AM CDT Wed Mar 29 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana, and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms today and tonight. While uncertainty exists with the exact timing and evolution, scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop or spread into East Texas this afternoon, with activity continuing to spread east into Louisiana tonight. All modes of severe weather are possible, which includes tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail. South winds are forecast to increase and become gusty this afternoon across areas generally along and south of I-10 and over parts of East Central Louisiana. A wind Advisory is in effect for these areas from noon through 6 pm, and may need to be extended further in time for areas near the coast. Another upper level storm system will affect the region Saturday night through Sunday night. Considerable variability is present in model guidance at this time, but it appears that at least some severe weather and/or locally heavy rainfall risk will accompany this system as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorms are expected to continue over East Central and South Central Louisiana early Thursday morning before pushing across the Atchafalaya River as a cold front sweeps through the area. Severe weather will continue to be possible with this activity. Another upper level storm system will affect the region Saturday night through Sunday night. Considerable variability is present in model guidance at this time, but it appears that at least some severe weather and/or locally heavy rainfall risk will accompany this system as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Storm spotter activation may be needed later today and tonight. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-301130- 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- 618 AM CDT Wed Mar 29 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Gusty south winds and rough seas are expected to continue today, and small craft advisories are in effect today and into this evening. Winds are expected to gradually subside from west to east tonight. In addition, an upper level storm system crossing the region will bring a risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight. All modes of severe weather will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorms are expected to continue over the Gulf waters into Thursday morning, pushing east of the area by afternoon as a cold front sweeps through the area. Severe weather will continue to be possible with this activity. Another upper level storm system will affect the region Saturday night through Monday. Considerable variability is present in model guidance at this time, but it appears that at least some severe weather and/or locally heavy rainfall risk will accompany this system as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. 13
The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:58 UTC.
7 hail, 4 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Acadia Parish dispatch was notified of a bridge washed out on Riverside Road near St Jules Road near the town of Evangeline. Many roads were also flooded in other portions of the parish including Iota. 4 to 8 inches of rain fell during the morning.
Four to 8 inches of rain fell during the morning of the 29. Numerous roads were underwater between Eunice and Opelousas.
Numerous roads were flooded around Jennings after 6 to 8 inches of rain fell on the town during the morning.
Several tree were reported down in Grand Lake.
A tornado touched down on the south side of Oakdale by the Wal-Mart, damaging the gas station canopy. The storm moved northeast, crossing Highway 165 and moved through Oakdale, blowing down or snapping numerous large trees. Some trees landed on homes and businesses. Some buildings received roof damage from the tornado. The strongest wind damage occurred at the Immigration Office of the Federal Department of Homeland Security, where a large section of the metal roof was removed. The tornado dissipated a little north of this location. The maximum winds were estimated at 115 MPH. The tornado was 100 yards wide and 3.57 mile long.
A tree was reported down along with 3 barns damaged.
Many streets in Sulphur, Lake Charles, and Moss Bluff flooded and became impassable after 4 to 8 inches of rain fell. At least 69 homes in Sulphur and Lake Charles had minor flooding.
Quarter size hail was reported through social media.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2017Warnings in Louisiana, March 2017
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: 689045, 689046, 689050, 688019, 688020, 688028, 688027, 688021, 688022, 688029, 688023, 688024, 689051, 688025.