Funnel Cloud, Acadia
- When
- July 15, 4:42 PM CST to 4:43 PM CST
- Where
- Acadia County, 1.51 mi NNE of Evangeline
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 30.290, -92.560
Several pictures of a funnel cloud were taken near Evangeline in Acadia Parish.
Funnel Cloud in Louisiana, July 15, 2021
As thunderstorm outflow boundaries collided a funnel cloud developed.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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.
As thunderstorm outflow boundaries collided a funnel cloud developed.
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 Jul 15, 3:04 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 3:04 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 404 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 .SHORT TERM [Tonight through Saturday]... Notable increase in diurnal convective coverage today versus yesterday amid a relatively higher PW airmass as depicted on the morning KLCH RAOB which showed precipitable water has once again climbed above 2 inches. Bulk of the activity tied to the sea breeze is in the process of lifting north of the area, but there is still scattered convection continuing/developing farther south. Most of the convection will wane prior to sunset, but at least some small PoPs were retained into mid evening or so. I really wish I could write something a little different than I have over the past few days, but frankly the pattern just is not going to change much in the near term, with the region remaining on the western flank of a low to mid level western Atlantic ridge underneath a persistent weakness/trof axis aloft. With the very moist airmass in place and expected to remain so (GFS progs show PWAT staying generally AOA 2 inches for the next couple of days), convection will continue to initiate mid to late morning along the sea-breeze and near the coast, with subsequent development/movement farther inland by afternoon. High temperatures will continue to be moderated a little below seasonal normals by the convective activity, reaching the upper 80s to around 90 each afternoon. Morning lows in the lower to mid 70s are expected. 13 .LONG TERM [Sunday through Thursday]... Very little change in the long term forecast as we look to remain within a wet pattern through the next several days. The forecast period starts off like the last several have, with a slight weakness aloft, southeasterly flow, and scattered showers and thunderstorms expected. On Sunday, a diurnally driven pattern of convection initializing through the morning, peaking in coverage in the afternoon, and tapering off in the evening is once again expected. Things become a bit more interesting as we head into the new week, as an elongated upper trough is progged to dig southward across the eastern CONUS. The digging trough will bring an uptick in rain chances beginning Monday and continuing into the mid-week, mainly resulting in less of a diurnally driven pattern than we've been experiencing. The trough will attempt to slide a front into the MS Valley on Tuesday, with the boundary expected to stall somewhere north of the I-10 corridor. The nearby boundary will provide an additional focus for shower and thunderstorm initiation, which will help to increase rain chances a bit more through the midweek. Better rain coverage and more cloud cover will keep temps slightly below seasonal norms, with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 expected Mon through Wed. By Thursday, models begin to break down the trough and build a ridge across the Gulf Coast in its place. There is still plenty of time for this to change, but if it pans out it could mean a return of some drier weather for the end of the week. 17 && .MARINE... A light to moderate onshore flow will prevail through the forecast period. Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible each day through early next week. Locally higher winds and seas are possible in and near storm activity. 13 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 73 91 73 92 / 20 70 30 70 LCH 76 90 76 90 / 30 70 20 70 LFT 75 90 75 90 / 30 70 30 70 BPT 76 89 76 91 / 20 70 30 60 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:08 PM CST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 408 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-162115- 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- 408 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue into early evening. No severe thunderstorms are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Scattered to at times numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected through the forecast period. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-162115- 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- 408 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms can be expected across the coastal waters through tonight. No severe thunderstorms are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Scattered to at times numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected through the forecast period. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. 13
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 3:14 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
414 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021
LAZ028-152145-
Rapides LA-
414 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 414 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Timber Trails to near Esler Regional
Airport to near New Era. Movement was north at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Pineville, Boyce, Lena, Alexandria International Airport,
Ball, Deville, Libuse, Tioga, Timber Trails, Esler Regional Airport,
Kingsville, Kolin, Holloway and Paradise.
This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 82 and 109.
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.
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 3149 9270 3150 9268 3145 9271 3145 9268
3140 9269 3140 9267 3139 9266 3148 9220
3147 9216 3141 9215 3135 9207 3130 9216
3133 9219 3133 9222 3124 9223 3127 9257
3142 9285 3143 9285 3152 9272
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 160DEG 18KT 3138 9252 3144 9233 3134 9182
LandreneauSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 3:16 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
416 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021
LAZ030-152145-
Beauregard LA-
416 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 416 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near De Ridder to near Ragley. Movement was
northeast at 10 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
De Ridder, Dry Creek, Sugartown, Ragley, Longville, Tulla and Bundick
Lake.
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.
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 3088 9301 3081 9297 3060 9298 3060 9313
3047 9313 3044 9323 3086 9348 3088 9342
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 241DEG 10KT 3083 9338 3055 9321
LandreneauSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 4:31 PM CST, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 531 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 LAZ031-032-152315- Evangeline LA-Allen LA- 531 PM CDT Thu Jul 15 2021 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... At 531 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Elton to Oberlin to Duralde. Movement was northeast at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Mamou, Kinder, Basile, Oberlin, Elton, Allen Parish Airport, Bond and Duralde. 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. 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 3064 9236 3048 9249 3049 9284 3080 9282 TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 226DEG 12KT 3052 9277 3061 9278 3052 9250 Landreneau
The radar
The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:42 UTC.
Event by event
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, July 15 to 17, 2021
- Flash Flooding in North Dakota, July 15, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 15, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 15, 2021
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Indiana, July 15, 2021
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Kansas, July 15 to 17, 2021
- Damaging Wind in Wisconsin, July 15, 2021
- Flash Flood and Flood in Texas, July 15 to 17, 2021
- Hail in Wyoming, July 15, 2021
- Damaging Winds in Idaho, July 15, 2021
- Flash Flooding in Illinois, July 15, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Colorado, July 15, 2021
More
Every storm in Louisiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, July 2021
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: 974998.