A cut off upper low slowly moved across Texas and produce multiple days of stormy weather. One lightning fatality occurred and wind damage.
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 LCH wrote it up.
A cut off upper low slowly moved across Texas and produce multiple days of stormy weather. One lightning fatality occurred and wind damage.
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 27, 11:49 AM CST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1249 PM CDT Wed May 27 2020 .AVIATION... Storms continue down along the south-central Louisiana coast this afternoon. Storms are producing small hail... gusty winds... and frequent cloud to ground lightning with the stronger storms. Storms are moving to the northeast for the most part. There is indications of a few showers trying to develop north of AEX w/ an easterly overall movement. This activity will be slow to build and will be monitored. Back further to the west northwest a storm complex near Waco is moving towards the southeast. If this holds together it will take at least another four to five hours to move into the lakes region of southeast Texas. Currently all sites are VFR and this should hold as storms around ARA are exiting off to the northeast. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1101 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020/ UPDATE... A few showers and storms have quickly developed along an axis of moisture convergence acrs S cntl LA. Convection should remain isolated to widely sctd as it moves east through midday. A brief respite from convection is expected acrs the area through much of today as slightly drier air moves in behind last nights disturbance. Upper low near the ArkLaTex remains nearly stationary, and this will be the impetus for more showers and storms again late this aftn and into the evening as another lobe of vort energy rounds the west and southwest side of the system. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected today and this will help warm temperatures into the middle/upper 80s this aftn. Made some minor adjustments to Pops for today based on radar trends/short term guidance, along with slight tweaks to hourly temps/dewpoints to reflect recent obs. Updated text products have been sent. 24 PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 624 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020/ AVIATION... Predominately VFR conditions are expected through the day with SCT/BKN cumulus ranging from 4000-6000 feet. Showers and a thunderstorm or two will be possible at KARA and KLFT from 1600Z-2100Z. Winds will generally be out of the W/WSW at 5-10 knots throughout the day. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 328 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020/ DISCUSSION... As of early this morning, showers and thunderstorms have ended. Upper low centered over the ArkLaTex will remain nearly stationary through the day with most of the showers and thunderstorms expected underneath and to the east of the feature today. For the daytime period, best chances for showers and thunderstorms will be across South Central Louisiana. A vort lobe rounding the upper low this afternoon and evening is forecast to spark showers and thunderstorms across South Central Texas late in the day and move into portions of the area this evening. Best chances for precipitation still looks to be on Thursday as low begins to open up and lift out with a weak cool front moving into the area. Some residual rain chances Friday, but rain chances go down late week into the weekend with little if any precipitation forecast through the remainder of the forecast period. Temperatures will be a little cooler than average next few days but warm to near average by early next week. MARINE... No issues expected at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 63 83 64 86 / 30 40 20 20 LCH 69 86 69 88 / 30 40 20 20 LFT 68 86 69 87 / 10 30 30 30 BPT 70 85 69 87 / 30 40 20 20 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && AVIATION...19
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
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1003 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
LAZ033-043>045-271545-
Acadia LA-Lafayette LA-St. Landry LA-Upper St. Martin LA-
1003 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 1002 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Carencro, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, Scott, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Krotz Springs, Leonville,
Arnaudville, Sunset, Henderson, Grand Coteau, Cankton, Cecilia, Mire,
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge and Atchafalaya Welcome Center.
LAT...LON 3017 9211 3033 9222 3063 9175 3056 9176
3051 9173 3051 9175 3050 9176 3050 9170
3044 9164 3040 9162 3038 9163 3037 9165
3035 9162 3034 9163
TIME...MOT...LOC 1502Z 238DEG 22KT 3030 9209
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1054 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
LAZ033-044-045-271630-
Lafayette LA-St. Landry LA-Upper St. Martin LA-
1054 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN LAFAYETTE...
NORTHWESTERN ST. MARTIN AND SOUTHEASTERN ST. LANDRY PARISHES UNTIL
1130 AM CDT...
At 1054 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Krotz Springs to near Breaux Bridge.
Movement was northeast at 25 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Krotz Springs, Leonville,
Arnaudville, Henderson, Grand Coteau, Butte La Rose, Cecilia,
Atchafalaya Welcome Center and Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3018 9206 3052 9202 3060 9175 3056 9176
3051 9173 3051 9175 3050 9176 3050 9170
3044 9164 3039 9162 3036 9165 3035 9163
3032 9163 3028 9160
TIME...MOT...LOC 1554Z 241DEG 22KT 3050 9184 3030 9187
K. KuyperSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1114 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
LAZ052-053-271700-
Iberia LA-Vermilion LA-
1114 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL IBERIA AND EAST
CENTRAL VERMILION PARISHES UNTIL NOON CDT...
At 1114 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Intracoastal City, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Abbeville, Avery Island, Intracoastal City, Forked Island, Erath,
Delcambre, Esther and Henry.
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 2981 9239 3002 9205 2986 9183 2983 9186
2984 9196 2982 9199 2980 9198 2974 9211
2977 9213 2977 9215 2975 9216 2976 9216
2976 9217 2974 9217 2976 9221 2972 9220
2970 9218 2967 9226
TIME...MOT...LOC 1614Z 243DEG 18KT 2972 9220
K. KuyperSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1132 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
LAZ045-271715-
Upper St. Martin LA-
1132 AM CDT Wed May 27 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ST. MARTIN PARISH
UNTIL 1215 PM CDT...
At 1132 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Catahoula, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Catahoula, Atchafalaya Welcome Center and Butte La Rose.
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 3015 9174 3025 9185 3041 9163 3039 9162
3036 9165 3035 9162 3033 9163 3031 9162
3028 9159 3026 9159 3024 9156 3024 9150
TIME...MOT...LOC 1632Z 235DEG 17KT 3022 9173
K. KuyperSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1216 PM CDT Wed May 27 2020
LAZ045-053-271800-
Iberia LA-Upper St. Martin LA-
1216 PM CDT Wed May 27 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN IBERIA AND CENTRAL
ST. MARTIN PARISHES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1213 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms near
Henry, or near Avery Island and northeast of Loreauville, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
New Iberia, Jeanerette, Avery Island, Delcambre, Loreauville, Lydia,
Lake Fausse Pointe and Acadiana Regional Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 2984 9189 2985 9193 2984 9190 2984 9191
2982 9196 2983 9196 2985 9198 2996 9199
3015 9175 3024 9153 3023 9148 3020 9149
3019 9147 3014 9147 3013 9146 3011 9147
3010 9147 3010 9138 3007 9137
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 236DEG 17KT 2989 9200
K. KuyperThe Houston radar (KHGX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:01 UTC.
1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A construction worker was building an outdoor kitchen in the Diamond D Ranch Subdivision near China when he was struck by lightning. He was hospitalized for 2 week before passing in early June.
KBMT 12 relayed a report of trees downed near China.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Jefferson | 2020-06-06 | 51 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 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: 895786, 895783.