Hurricane Laura spawned a tornado while it tracked west across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
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 LIX wrote it up.
Hurricane Laura spawned a tornado while it tracked west across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 26, 12:21 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
121 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
.UPDATE...
.18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION...
Conditions have begun to deteriorate at some of the southernmost
terminals as Laura continues towards a landfall near the
Texas/Louisiana border and outer bands move into the area. Expect
periods of gusty winds and heavy rain possible at all terminals
with the higher likelihood as you move towards the coast. Will
handle TAFs with amendments as needed.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB 78 86 76 87 / 80 90 40 70
BTR 80 86 78 90 / 80 90 40 80
ASD 79 89 76 90 / 80 90 40 80
MSY 82 89 79 90 / 80 90 40 80
GPT 80 87 78 87 / 70 70 40 60
PQL 79 89 76 90 / 60 60 40 70
&&
.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Tropical Storm Warning for LAZ034-046-047-056-059-065>069.
Storm Surge Warning for LAZ056-059-065>069.
Flash Flood Watch through Thursday evening for LAZ034>037-
046>050-056>059-065>067-071-072.
Storm Surge Watch for LAZ040-058-062>064-069-070-072.
Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for LAZ035>037-040-048>050-
057-058-060>064-070>072.
GM...Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ550-552-555-570-572-575.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ530-532-534-
536-538-557-577.
MS...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday evening for MSZ068>070.
Storm Surge Watch for MSZ080-081.
Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for MSZ068-069.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for MSZ082.
GM...Tropical Storm Warning for GMZ552-555-570-572-575.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ532-534-536-
538-557-577.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
933 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ066-261600-
Lower Terrebonne-
933 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A SQUALL LINE OF TROPICAL SHOWERS WILL AFFECT TERREBONNE PARISH...
At 931 AM CDT, radar indicated tropical showers were located along a
line extending from 37 miles south of Ellerslie to 18 miles
southeast of Burns Point to 24 miles south of Cocodrie. Movement was
northwest at 65 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers.
Locations impacted include...
Dulac, Montegut, Chauvin, Cocodrie, Tambour Bay Buoy and Lumcon
Center Buoy.
Torrential rainfall and tropical funnels will also be possible with
this squall band.
LAT...LON 2916 9093 2930 9132 2937 9124 2926 9115
2926 9116 2925 9116 2925 9113 2933 9113
2954 9127 2949 9057 2936 9038 2932 9043
2934 9045 2927 9048 2929 9054 2922 9054
2925 9061 2915 9065 2909 9086
TIME...MOT...LOC 1431Z 128DEG 56KT 2913 9175 2936 9133 2892 9054
24/RRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
1130 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ065-066-261800-
Lower Terrebonne-Upper Terrebonne-
1130 AM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A LINE OF TROPICAL SHOWERS WILL AFFECT TERREBONNE PARISH...
At 1129 AM CDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from 7 miles south of Burns Point to 14 miles southwest of
Dulac to 15 miles southwest of Port Fourchon. Movement was northwest
at 50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers. Tropical
funnels and waterspouts over the inundated marshes are also
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Dulac, Cocodrie, Chauvin, Tambour Bay Buoy and Lumcon Center Buoy.
LAT...LON 2927 9094 2933 9094 2933 9100 2928 9097
2929 9099 2933 9117 2937 9119 2935 9126
2936 9125 2938 9120 2954 9127 2960 9119
2965 9096 2937 9046 2936 9052 2931 9052
2933 9050 2932 9050 2913 9069
TIME...MOT...LOC 1629Z 132DEG 43KT 2947 9153 2928 9092 2898 9040
24/RRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
1228 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ067-068-261800-
Lower Jefferson-Lower Lafourche-
1228 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN LAFOURCHE AND
SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON PARISHES...
At 1228 PM CDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from 9 miles southwest of Golden Meadow to near Port
Fourchon to 27 miles west of Burrwood. Movement was northeast at 20
mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers.
Locations impacted include...
Galliano, Cut Off, Golden Meadow, Leeville and Grand Isle.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these showers, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 2918 9026 2921 9026 2919 9028 2934 9035
2934 9036 2931 9034 2929 9037 2929 9036
2925 9039 2936 9038 2941 9044 2954 9026
2940 9003 2937 9005 2935 8999 2927 8995
2912 9016
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 239DEG 19KT 2932 9041 2917 9012 2893 8988
24/RRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
1244 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ046-049-056-059-065>067-261815-
Lower Terrebonne-Iberville-Ascension-Upper Terrebonne-Lower
Lafourche-Assumption-Upper Lafourche-
1244 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN ASCENSION...
NORTHEASTERN TERREBONNE...SOUTHERN IBERVILLE...NORTHWESTERN LAFOURCHE
AND ASSUMPTION PARISHES...
At 1242 PM CDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from near Patterson Memorial Airport to Stephensville to 6
miles southeast of Montegut. Movement was northwest at 45 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers.
Locations impacted include...
Houma, Thibodaux, Napoleonville, St. Gabriel, Lockport, White Castle,
Mathews, Schriever, Gray, Paincourtville, Supreme, Raceland, Bayou
Sorrel, Labadieville, Montegut, Bayou Cane, Belle Rose, Chauvin and
Chackbay.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these showers, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 3029 9160 3024 9112 3008 9108 3006 9096
2998 9096 2998 9093 2994 9093 2975 9057
2932 9035 2968 9102 2964 9110 2981 9110
2986 9120 2997 9126 3004 9122 3006 9137
3010 9138 3010 9146 3023 9148 3024 9157
TIME...MOT...LOC 1742Z 139DEG 38KT 2975 9132 2978 9115 2941 9047
24/RRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
108 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ059-067-261845-
Lower Lafourche-Upper Lafourche-
108 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT EASTERN LAFOURCHE PARISH...
At 108 PM CDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from near Larose to 10 miles east of Port Fourchon.
Movement was northwest at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers.
Locations impacted include...
Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, Golden Meadow, Des Allemands and Bayou
Gauche.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these showers, and may
cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 2934 9035 2933 9037 2988 9062 2976 9038
2970 9035 2967 9016 2959 9015 2955 9019
2947 9013 2946 9006 2938 9003 2930 9004
2933 9010 2931 9013 2929 9012 2928 9010
2921 9010 2921 9005 2916 9009
TIME...MOT...LOC 1808Z 153DEG 30KT 2954 9046 2915 9001
24/RRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
139 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
LAZ034-046>050-056>059-067-261945-
Iberville-Livingston-Ascension-Pointe Coupee-Lower
Lafourche-Assumption-St. John The Baptist-West Baton Rouge-Upper
Lafourche-St. James-East Baton Rouge-
139 PM CDT Wed Aug 26 2020
...A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST...
ASCENSION...ST. JAMES...WEST BATON ROUGE...SOUTHWESTERN POINTE
COUPEE...SOUTHWESTERN LIVINGSTON...IBERVILLE...NORTHEASTERN
LAFOURCHE...SOUTH CENTRAL EAST BATON ROUGE AND NORTHERN ASSUMPTION
PARISHES...
At 137 PM CDT, radar indicated showers were located along a line
extending from 9 miles east of Lake Fausse Pointe to Chackbay to 9
miles northeast of Port Fourchon. Movement was northwest at 35 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these showers. Tornadoes
may develop and move rapidly within this squall line.
Locations impacted include...
Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Plaquemine, Port Allen,
Napoleonville, Cut Off, Oak Hills Place, Galliano, Larose, Reserve,
St. Gabriel, Gramercy, Addis, Lutcher, Brusly, Lockport, Golden
Meadow, White Castle and Livonia.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Stay tuned
for possible tornado warnings if rotation is noted on radar.
LAT...LON 3060 9175 3039 9076 3002 9052 2990 9054
2979 9046 2976 9037 2940 9009 2925 9011
2926 9012 2982 9072 2995 9125 3004 9123
3010 9146 3023 9148 3026 9159 3045 9164
3050 9175
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 151DEG 30KT 3005 9149 2988 9076 2919 9005
24/RRThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado touched down near Paincourtville. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2020Warnings in Louisiana, August 2020
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: 916072.