Tornado in Louisiana, May 12, 2017

Name: Tornado in Louisiana, May 12, 2017
Start: 2017-05-12T03:06
End: 2017-05-12T03:12
Location: Louisiana

May 12, 2017 · NWS LCH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A weakening and broken line of showers and scattered embedded thunderstorms ahead of a front moved through the area. One thunderstorm produced a tornado.

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: $15,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 weakening and broken line of showers and scattered embedded thunderstorms ahead of a front moved through the area. One thunderstorm produced a tornado.

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 May 11, 10:59 PM CST, 4 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 10:59 PM CST, 4 hours 7 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1159 PM CDT Thu May 11 2017

.AVIATION...
VFR ceilings will gradually decrease to MVFR ceilings through the
night tonight with a cold front approaching from the NW. The cold
front could trigger some showers and thunderstorms. This package
included thunderstorms for AEX and while it is possible for
thunderstorms to extend further south, was not confident enough to
include at the other sites at this time. The front is forecast to
clear AEX/BPT/LCH by 12Z and LFT/ARA by 16Z. Ceilings will improve
to VFR behind the passage of the front and winds will shift to the
NW.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  84  68  83  62 /  30  70  40  10
LCH  82  70  85  64 /  10  50  40  10
LFT  84  72  85  67 /  10  40  60  20
BPT  83  71  88  64 /  20  50  30  10

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&

AVIATION...26

Hazardous weather outlook, May 11, 4:36 AM CST, 22 hours 30 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
536 AM CDT Thu May 11 2017

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-
121045-
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-
536 AM CDT Thu May 11 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
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible mainly across
southeast Texas. There will be a low risk for a few isolated
severe storms, with the primary threats being small hail and gusty
winds. Occasional to frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes
will be possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday
An upper level low will progress eastward Friday as a cold front
at the surface moves through the area. Ahead of the front, showers
and thunderstorms will become more numerous across the area. A few
isolated severe thunderstorms may be possible in the afternoon,
especially in our eastern zones. Primary severe threats will be
small hail and gusty winds.

In addition, storms will be capable of producing occasional to
frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rainfall.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation may be needed Friday afternoon.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-121045-
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-
536 AM CDT Thu May 11 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight
No hazardous weather is expected today and tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday
Scattered to numerous showers and storms will develop over the
coastal waters Friday as a cold front moves through the area. A
few strong storms will be possible, mainly during the day Friday
into Friday evening. The primary risks with these stronger storms
will be strong wind gusts and small hail.

In addition, storms will produce occasional to frequent cloud to
water lightning and heavy rainfall capable of reducing
visibilities to one mile or less.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation will not be needed.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 12, 12:55 AM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
155 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

TXZ180-201-120745-
Hardin TX-Tyler TX-
155 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN TYLER AND NORTHEASTERN
HARDIN COUNTIES UNTIL 245 AM CDT...

At 155 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Wildwood, moving east at 40 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Wildwood around 205 AM CDT.
  Warren and Village Mills around 210 AM CDT.
  Fred around 230 AM CDT.
  Spurger around 235 AM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this storm include Ivanhoe and Hillister.

LAT...LON 3083 9418 3082 9419 3080 9418 3079 9415
      3077 9413 3073 9414 3069 9413 3069 9409
      3066 9409 3066 9407 3064 9405 3062 9408
      3058 9409 3052 9407 3047 9409 3049 9454
      3071 9459
TIME...MOT...LOC 0655Z 260DEG 33KT 3058 9456

13

Special weather statement, May 12, 2:13 AM CST, 53 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
313 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

LAZ030-TXZ259>262-120900-
Beauregard LA-Southern Newton TX-Northern Newton TX-
Northern Jasper TX-Southern Jasper TX-
313 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL BEAUREGARD PARISH...
SOUTHWESTERN NEWTON AND EAST CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM
CDT...

At 312 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Kirbyville to near Call to 6 miles northwest of
Buna. Movement was east at 35 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Kirbyville, Call, Wrights Settlement, Devils Pocket, Trout Creek,
Bivens, Bancroft, Old Salem and Bleakwood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3049 9408 3051 9408 3053 9407 3054 9407
      3055 9409 3056 9409 3070 9401 3071 9355
      3059 9359 3040 9377 3048 9409
TIME...MOT...LOC 0812Z 267DEG 29KT 3066 9392 3058 9396 3049 9405

13

Special weather statement, May 12, 2:35 AM CST, 31 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
335 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

TXZ180-201-259-261-120900-
Hardin TX-Northern Jasper TX-Southern Jasper TX-Tyler TX-
335 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN TYLER...NORTHEASTERN
HARDIN AND SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT...

At 335 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles south of Mt. Union to near Caney Head.
Movement was east at 40 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Buna, Fred and Caney Head.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3066 9422 3062 9388 3035 9390 3043 9442
TIME...MOT...LOC 0835Z 270DEG 33KT 3057 9402 3042 9421

13

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Beauregard

When: May 12, 3:06 AM CST to 3:12 AM CST
Where: Beauregard County, 1.78 mi E of Fields to 3.94 mi NW of Oretta
Rating: EF1
Path length: 3.04 mi
Path width: 267 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.570, -93.570

The tornado started in the forest southwest of Raymond Spike Rd, then crossed |Raymond Spikes Rd at a sharp bend where the tornado was at its widest point. |The tornado continued on just to the north of the road where it crossed HWY 109. To the west of HWY 109 the tornado damaged numerous trees and a power pole. After crossing 109 the tornado started weakening and making a southwest turn towards Lucy Ln. where the tornado damaged more trees and a power pole. One of the trees caused severe damage to a barn after falling onto it along Lucy Lane. The maximum estimated wind were 105 MPH.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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 The tornado archive for Louisiana, 2017 Warnings in Louisiana, May 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: 701976.