Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of July 3rd, as an upper level low pressure area and its associated trough of low pressure, drifted west across much of Louisiana and Southern Arkansas, before entering East Texas late in the day. Temperatures climbed into the upper 90s to in excess of 100 degrees by early afternoon once these showers and thunderstorms developed,…
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 SHV wrote it up.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of July 3rd, as an upper level low pressure area and its associated trough of low pressure, drifted west across much of Louisiana and Southern Arkansas, before entering East Texas late in the day. Temperatures climbed into the upper 90s to in excess of 100 degrees by early afternoon once these showers and thunderstorms developed, further enhancing instability and allowing some of these storms to become severe as they interacted with other storms across portions of extreme Southwest Arkansas and East Texas. These storms produced several damaging downbursts which downed trees and power lines across portions of East Texas, as they spread west throughout the late afternoon hours. These storms eventually moved out of the area and weakened during the evening.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 3, 2:04 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 304 PM CDT Tue Jul 3 2018 .SHORT TERM.../Tonight through Wednesday Night/ Scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed across portions of southwest AR, deep east TX and central and northern LA late this aftn, courtesy of increased UL supported provided by a retrograding TUTT low moving across southern LA this aftn, coupled with daytime destabilization and an ample moist atmosphere /PWATs of 1.5-2.0 inches/. Mid-upper level thicker cloud cover associated with the precip and moderately unstable airmass, has enveloped the eastern-half of the CWA, thus causing a slight temp gradient /upper 80s to lower 90s across portions of central, northeast LA and southwest AR versus upper 90s to near 100 degrees across portions of east TX, northwest LA and southeast OK. The well above normal warmth across the western zones has also led to Heat Indices of 99-107 degrees. Patrons are urged to take the necessary Heat Safety precautions such as: drinking plenty of water, taking frequent breaks in the shade and wearing light- weighted clothing. A moderately unstable airmass in place and the nearby disturbance may yeild strong to severe storms that could produce gusty winds but, do not expect a widespread severe weather threat to take place. With the UA low continuing to progress westward whilst its sfc counterpart translates right along the southern fringes of the CWA, the best conglomerate of precip have been noted across southern and central LA thus nearest to the disturbance and best large scale ascent. Should see best precip chances shift farther westward later this aftn/early this evening to across portions of east TX and deep east TX, as model solutions hint at the potential for some locales to experience moderate to possibly heavy rainfall /some training cells possible/. The loss of daytime heating and the continued westward progression of the UA low will lead to a lull in precip tonight, but rainfall will become renewed tomorrow late morning/early aftn with the onset of daytime destabilization /more so across portions of east TX and deep east TX/. Elsewhere, the broad UA ridge centered across the mid-west will maintain its influence across northern and northeastern zones, hence a lower confidence of rainfall for those locales by tomorrow. Increased cloud cover will lead to a much welcomed seasonal normal day tomorrow aftn /upper 80s to lower 90s/, though thin/lack of extensive cloud cover /and lack of rainfall/ across portions of southwest AR and southeast TX will allow for better heating and subsequently warmer temps /lower to middle 90s/. /29/ .LONG TERM.../Thursday through Tuesday/ Upper ridge to reinforce itself over the Central Plains Thursday, and perturbations rounding the ern/sern periphery of the ridge will provide some lift to aid in diurnally enhanced sct shwrs/tstms through the end of the work week. Model blends for temps through this pd have continue to trend warmer over the last few runs, and this seems reasonable. Coverage of convection/clouds just doesn't appear to be enough to make the significant impact on daytime temps that was advertised a few days ago. However, we should see temps top out a few degrees cooler than what we've observed the last few days. Deepening upper trof over ern Canada to deepen and force the ridge ewd over the Four Corners region Saturday, which will allow for additional disturbances and a cold front to drift swd across our region through the weekend. Trof will move offshore as we start the next work week, which will allow the ridge to expand ewd, but remain well to our n. The weak and nearly diffuse front will likely linger despite the exit of the trof, which will provide some additional aiding for diurnal convection through the end of the pd. Temps likely to remain very near climo through the remainder of the pd as well. /12/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 76 92 76 96 / 40 20 20 40 MLU 74 94 75 94 / 30 10 20 40 DEQ 74 93 74 94 / 20 10 10 30 TXK 75 93 75 94 / 20 10 10 30 ELD 74 94 74 95 / 20 10 20 30 TYR 75 91 74 94 / 30 40 10 30 GGG 75 90 73 95 / 40 40 20 30 LFK 74 87 73 94 / 60 60 20 50 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && 29/12
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 646 AM CDT Tue Jul 3 2018 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-041200- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto- Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn- Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp- Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk- Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 646 AM CDT Tue Jul 3 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southern Arkansas, for northern Louisiana, for eastern Texas and southeast Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible today across the region as an Easterly wave of tropical moisture moves Westward along the Gulf coast. Any thunderstorms could produce dangerous lightning and gusty winds near heavy downpours. Isolated severe activity may be possible during the mid to late day heat and could bring down damaging winds. Otherwise, the heat will continue in the middle to upper 90s in eastern Texas, southeast Oklahoma and adjacent southwest Arkansas. This above average heat along with the humidity will push the heat index values from 100 to 105 degrees. If you must be outside, remember to take frequent shade breaks and drink plenty of water. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Coverage of thunderstorms will remain scattered south of I-20 while becoming more isolated for areas north of I-20 on the Fourth of July. However, the coverage will increase for northern areas and linger over the south as a slow moving cold front approaches the region. The main threat from any strong thunderstorms in this heat will be for some damaging winds and dangerous lightning into next week. If thunder roars, move indoors. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency managers, amateur radio operators and storm spotters will not be needed through tonight. 24
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 206 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 LAZ002>004-031945- Bossier LA-Claiborne LA-Webster LA- 206 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL WEBSTER...WEST CENTRAL CLAIBORNE AND NORTHEASTERN BOSSIER PARISHES UNTIL 245 PM CDT... At 205 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles southeast of Shongaloo, or 10 miles west of Homer, moving southwest at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Cotton Valley, Shongaloo, Evergreen, Rocky Mount, Leton, Ivan, Bellevue and Couchwood. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3295 9320 3279 9311 3258 9349 3282 9363 TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 063DEG 17KT 3284 9324 12
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 324 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 LAZ001>003-010>012-032115- De Soto LA-Bossier LA-Bienville LA-Red River LA-Caddo LA-Webster LA- 324 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN WEBSTER... NORTHEASTERN DE SOTO...NORTHWESTERN RED RIVER...SOUTHERN CADDO...WEST CENTRAL BIENVILLE AND SOUTHERN BOSSIER PARISHES UNTIL 415 PM CDT... At 323 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Eastwood, or near Bossier City, moving southwest at 20 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible both with this storm and ahead of this storm. Locations impacted include... Shreveport, Bossier City, Haughton, Blanchard, Benton, Sibley, Doyline, Heflin, Eastwood, Fosters, Ferguson, Curtis, Fillmore, Cross Lake, Bodcau, Plum Orchard Landing, Koran, Ninock, Noles Landing and Lake Bistineau North. LAT...LON 3277 9363 3250 9324 3209 9353 3259 9403 TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 063DEG 16KT 3256 9358 12
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 350 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 LAZ001-002-010>012-TXZ138-151-032130- De Soto LA-Bossier LA-Bienville LA-Red River LA-Caddo LA-Panola TX- Harrison TX- 350 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL DE SOTO...NORTHWESTERN RED RIVER...SOUTHERN CADDO...WEST CENTRAL BIENVILLE AND SOUTHERN BOSSIER PARISHES...SOUTHEASTERN HARRISON AND NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT... At 350 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Bossier City, moving southwest at 25 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible ahead of and with this storm. Locations impacted include... Shreveport, Bossier City, Mansfield, Greenwood, Blanchard, Waskom, Stonewall, Elysian Fields, Fosters, South Mansfield, Keachi, Grand Cane, Keat Chie, Carmel, Ferguson, Spring Ridge, Grand Bayou, Cross Lake, Kingston and Loggy Bayou. LAT...LON 3268 9383 3235 9335 3188 9351 3242 9430 TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 039DEG 20KT 3243 9369 12
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
403 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018
ARZ050-051-032145-
Howard AR-Sevier AR-
403 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SEVIER AND HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL
445 PM CDT...
At 402 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Center Point, or 8 miles south of Dierks, moving southwest at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
De Queen, Nashville, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Horatio, Lockesburg,
Tollette, Gillham, Ben Lomond, Corinth, Center Point, Oak Grove,
Silver Ridge, Geneva, Central, Lebanon, Muddy Fork, Burg, Provo and
West Line.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3420 9392 3419 9392 3419 9389 3416 9382
3385 9383 3375 9395 3375 9404 3378 9404
3379 9412 3378 9414 3380 9417 3379 9419
3381 9419 3381 9423 3400 9448 3412 9447
3419 9429 3419 9425 3421 9424 3427 9409
TIME...MOT...LOC 2102Z 060DEG 16KT 3400 9402
12Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
442 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018
TXZ152-165-032230-
Angelina TX-Nacogdoches TX-
442 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN NACOGDOCHES AND
ANGELINA COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
At 442 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Huntington, or 14 miles east of Lufkin, moving southwest at 5 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lufkin, Diboll, Hudson, Huntington, Burke, Zavalla, Shawnee, Homer
and Dolan.
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.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3104 9449 3107 9459 3110 9465 3109 9467
3110 9474 3115 9485 3123 9486 3126 9490
3149 9455 3108 9421 3103 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 040DEG 5KT 3123 9452
05Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 451 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 ARZ059-OKZ077-TXZ097-032230- Little River AR-McCurtain OK-Bowie TX- 451 PM CDT TUE JUL 3 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN LITTLE RIVER... SOUTHEASTERN MCCURTAIN AND NORTHWESTERN BOWIE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... At 451 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Foreman. This storm was nearly stationary. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Foreman, Arkinda, Wallace, Tom, Almont, Arden, Beaverdams, America and Goodlake. 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 3387 9450 3369 9421 3347 9445 3367 9474 TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 040DEG 4KT 3368 9446 05
The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:59 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed across the Texas side of Texarkana.
A picture was posted to Twitter of a tree that was blown down onto a home and a car on Farm to Market Road 36 in Queen City.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down onto mobile homes and along/across West Fairlane Drive near Pine Tree Road.
Numerous trees were blown down in White Oak. Utility poles and transformers were also downed across White Oak, including at the U.S. Post Office on South White Oak Road.
Numerous trees were blown down across the western half of Gregg County.
Trees and power lines were downed throughout Kilgore. A downed power line and utility pole temporarily closed Highway 259 near Stone Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, July 2018
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: 754731, 754732, 754733, 754734, 754735, 754736.