Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, May 26 to 28, 2020

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, May 26 to 28, 2020
Start: 2020-05-26T17:30
End: 2020-05-28T16:01
Location: Louisiana

May 26 to 28, 2020 · NWS LCH · 13 events in 6 counties and zones

A slow moving upper level low produced multiple days of thunderstorms across the region. Some of the storms became severe.

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: $7,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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 slow moving upper level low produced multiple days of thunderstorms across the region. Some of the storms became severe.

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 26, 2:40 PM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 26, 2:40 PM CST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 2:00 PM CST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
300 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-272000-
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-
300 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south
central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana and
southeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to return by late
afternoon and linger through tonight. Cloud-to-ground lightning and
brief heavy rains will be the primary concerns with the storms,
although the possibility exists for some gusty winds as well.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

A few showers and thunderstorms will be possible before coverage
increases for late Wednesday night and Thursday as another weak cool
front crosses the region. Cloud-to-ground lightning and brief heavy
rains will again be the primary concerns with the storms.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-272000-
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-
300 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the
coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected...with winds and
seas higher near the storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible through most of
the period...winds and seas will be locally higher near storms.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

25

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 26, 2:33 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
333 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

TXZ180-259-262115-
Northern Jasper TX-Tyler TX-
333 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

At 332 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Colmesneil, moving east at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Jasper, Colmesneil, Ebenezer, Town Bluff and Sam Rayburn Dam.

LAT...LON 3078 9440 3095 9443 3109 9404 3078 9400
TIME...MOT...LOC 2032Z 262DEG 14KT 3088 9434

24

Special weather statement, May 26, 3:26 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
426 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

TXZ259-260-262200-
Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-
426 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL NEWTON AND EAST
CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...

At 426 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Roganville, or 8 miles south of Jasper, moving east at 15 mph.

Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Newton and Roganville.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 9399 3083 9400 3090 9375 3074 9371
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 261DEG 14KT 3080 9396

Jones

Special weather statement, May 26, 5:17 PM CST, 13 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
617 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

LAZ027-028-270000-
Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
617 PM CDT Tue May 26 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN RAPIDES AND
SOUTHEASTERN VERNON PARISHES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

At 617 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Cravens, or 8 miles northwest of Pitkin, moving east at 35 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Pitkin, Hineston, Fullerton, Leander, Elmer, Cravens, Calcasieu and
Union Hill.

LAT...LON 3091 9313 3110 9315 3123 9264 3090 9259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 259DEG 30KT 3099 9307

Rua

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Vernon

When: May 26, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Vernon County, 2.07 mi S of Fullerton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.990, -92.980

A report of marble to quarter size hail was relayed by the media.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rapides

When: May 26, 5:48 PM CST
Where: Rapides County, 4.19 mi SW of Hineston
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.100, -92.810

A couple of trees were downed by a thunderstorm.

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 0.6 mi W of De Quincy
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 30.450, -93.440

A NWS employee received quarter size hail.

Hail, Beauregard

When: May 26, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Beauregard County, 3.65 mi SE of Kernan
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.460, -93.230

Hail up to golf ball size was reported through social media.

Hail, Beauregard

When: May 26, 6:22 PM CST
Where: Beauregard County, 0.69 mi S of Ragley
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.510, -93.230

Hail, Beauregard

When: May 26, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Beauregard County, 0.69 mi S of Fulton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.510, -93.200

KPLC 7 relayed a report of quarter size hail east of Ragley.

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 8:04 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 1.38 mi S of Lake Charles
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 30.210, -93.200

Several NWS meteorologist reported hail up to quarter size across Lake Charles.

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 2.76 mi N of (Lch)lk Charles Muni
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.170, -93.220

Ping pong ball size hail was reported southwest of Lake Charles.

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 2.16 mi SSW of Lake Charles
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 30.200, -93.210

A NWS employee reported half dollar size hail near I-210 and Ryan Street.

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 8:14 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 0.91 mi SW of Lake Charles
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.220, -93.210

Hail, Calcasieu

When: May 26, 8:23 PM CST
Where: Calcasieu County, 0.91 mi SW of Chloe
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.220, -93.130

Hail up to ping pong ball size was reported east of Lake Charles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cameron

When: May 27, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Cameron County, 4.41 mi WSW of Hackberry
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 29.980, -93.440

The media relayed a report of dime size hail and winds near 60 mph in Hackberry.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Mary

When: May 28, 4:01 PM CST
Where: St. Mary County, 5.54 mi WSW of Louisa
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.730, -91.850

A report of roof and awning damage at Cypremort Point was received through social media.

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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Louisiana, May 2020

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 895564, 895779, 895565, 895566, 895567, 895568, 895569, 895570, 895571, 895572, 895573, 895781, 895780.