A cold front moved in and stalled while multiple upper level disturbances moved through. High moisture levels and ample lift provided a few days of flooding and severe thunderstorms.
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 cold front moved in and stalled while multiple upper level disturbances moved through. High moisture levels and ample lift provided a few days of flooding and severe thunderstorms.
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 17, 5:33 AM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
633 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021
.DISCUSSION...
For the 17/12Z TAF Issuance.
&&
.AVIATION...
Moisture convergence and favorable upper level conditions will
allow for clusters of showers and thunderstorms to develop through
the day today. MVFR/IFR conditions with gusty winds will be
possible with the convection. A little bit of a break by 18/00Z
with VFR conditions. Then the potential for MVFR ceilings and
shower development overnight.
Rua
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 448 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021/
SYNOPSIS...
A wet and active period through mid week with the possibility of
heavy rainfall along with strong storms.
Excessive Rainfall...with coordination from WPC...
Through Tonight...Slight (level 2 out of 4) Risk.
Tuesday and Tuesday Night...Slight (level 2 out of 4) Risk.
Wednesday and Wednesday Night...Moderate (level 3 out of 4) Risk
for Southeast Texas and Slight into Southwest Louisiana.
No Flash Flood Watch is in effect at this time. Will monitor how
much rain falls today. However, usually it is suggested that when
a Moderate Risk is in effect that a Flash Flood Watch be issued.
So if trends continue, there is the potential for a Flash Flood
Watch to be issued before the Moderate Risk goes into effect on
Wednesday.
Severe Weather...
Today...Marginal (level 1 out of 5) Risk, mainly for rotating
cells offshore moving into the coast with large hail, damaging
winds, and some tornadic potential.
Tuesday and Wednesday...Marginal (level 1 out of 5) Risk, for
mainly damaging wind gusts and large hail.
Rua
SHORT TERM (Through Tuesday Night)...
A very moist airmass will be in place with PWAT values over 1.75
inches, over the 90th percentile from SPC climo for this time of
year, and nearing 2 inches. Good southeast inflow will keep
elevated moisture values in place.
An upper level trough will remain west of the forecast area, with
a series of disturbances pushing out from it that will initiate
occasional widespread showers and thunderstorms.
With the high moisture content, strong convection will have high
precipitation efficiency with high rainfall rates. Therefore,
there will be a hazard for heavy rainfall with a potential for
flash flooding. With each round, antecedent conditions will
become more saturated and the potential for flooding will
increase.
Will also have to watch this morning for rotating supercell like
features moving onshore as they could produce strong winds, large
hail, and a quick spin up waterspout/tornado.
Rua
LONG TERM (Wednesday through Monday)...
A stationary front will linger to our south mid-week with an inflow
of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. WPC has significant rainfall
accumulations expected Wednesday for western parts of our area.
However, the GFS, HREF, and ECMWF do not agree with less
precipitation expected. This forecast will align with WPC due to the
expected inflow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Rain chances
will persist into Friday, especially for western parts of our area.
A marginal risk of severe weather may be possible later in the week.
However, it appears much of the precipitation expected through
Friday will not be severe. Shear will be expected to be low during
the week.
The stationary front will eventually start moving out of our area
Friday into Saturday with skies expected to clear out over the
weekend with an area of high pressure moving southward into the
Southeast U.S.
55
MARINE...
Pressure gradient will remain rather tight across the northwest
Gulf of Mexico through mid week as a high pressure will remain
over the southeast US coast and a lower pressure will be located
east of the Rockies. This will allow for moderate to occasional
strong southeast to south winds with building rough seas. Small
Craft Exercise Caution will be headlined through at-least Tuesday,
with the possibility of it being upgraded to a Small Craft
Advisory for Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night.
The long duration and fetch of the southeast flow will allow tide
levels to become elevated and this will be monitored for the
possibility of a coastal flood advisory as we get into Tuesday
and Wednesday.
Rua
HYDROLOGY...
The potential for flooding will increase over the next few days as
antecedent conditions become more conducive for run-off issues,
along with elevated southeast flow along the coast not allowing
for proper drainage of the main stem river system, to go along
with potential releases from local dam structures.
QPF through Thursday show rainfall amounts averaging 3 to 5 inches
across the entire forecast area, with some locations in southeast
Texas averaging 5 to 9 inches.
Probabilistic QPF data shows a 20 to 40 percent chance of greater
than 4 inches for southwest Louisiana through Thursday, with a 50
to 70 percent chance of greater than 4 inches for southeast
Texas. Meanwhile, this data also shows a 5 percent chance of
greater than 8 inches for southeast Texas through Thursday.
Please monitor the latest river flood forecasts and statements.
Rua
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 80 69 82 69 / 80 40 80 40
LCH 81 71 83 73 / 80 20 70 40
LFT 81 70 83 71 / 70 40 70 30
BPT 81 73 83 73 / 70 30 70 50
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Exercise Caution through Tuesday evening for GMZ450-
452-455-470-472-475.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 507 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262-181100- 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- 507 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. There is the potential for heavy rainfall and strong to severe thunderstorms. The Risk levels are as follows... Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 4) for Excessive Rainfall. Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5) for Severe Weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. The potential for heavy rainfall and strong to severe thunderstorms will continue through Thursday. The Risk levels are as follows... Tuesday...Slight Risk for Excessive Rainfall. Marginal Risk for Severe Weather. Wednesday...Moderate Risk (Level 3 out of 4) for Excessive Rainfall for southeast Texas, Slight Risk for southwest Louisiana. Marginal Risk for Severe Weather. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-181100- 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- 507 AM CDT Mon May 17 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Moderate southeast flow with breezy winds and rough seas. Small craft should exercise caution. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Moderate to strong southeast flow and rough seas will persist through mid week with the possibility of small craft advisory conditions. Also, tides will be elevated with some potential for a coastal flood advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
957 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 W JASPER 30.92N 94.05W
05/17/2021 JASPER TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
FM 2799 CLOSED
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
958 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0957 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 W JASPER 30.92N 94.06W
05/17/2021 JASPER TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
FM 2799 CLOSED
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1001 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0957 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 S BROWNDELL 31.10N 93.99W
05/17/2021 JASPER TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
US 96 FLOODED AND CLOSED.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1002 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 AM FLASH FLOOD 2 S BROWNDELL 31.10N 93.99W
05/17/2021 JASPER TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROADS FLOODED AND CLOSED
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1004 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1003 AM FLASH FLOOD CALL 30.61N 93.87W
05/17/2021 NEWTON TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROADS FLOODED BUT NOT CLOSED YET
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1005 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1003 AM FLASH FLOOD BURKEVILLE 31.00N 93.67W
05/17/2021 NEWTON TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
ROADS FLOODED BUT NOT CLOSED YET.
&&The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:08 UTC.
7 tornado, 4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple roads were flooded and impassible in Dequincy.
Thunderstorms moved very slowly across Lake Charles and the surrounding area while back building during the late morning to mid afternoon of the 17th. One rain gage recorded near 22 inches of rain in South Lake Charles during the event, but a large swath received 10 inches or more. Most streets were flooded and impassable. Numerous vehicles were flooded and some were swept off the roads into ditches and and bayous. One person drown when their car floated into a ditch. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded in South Lake Charles some of which were still being repaired from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Some schools and churches in the area also flooded.
A video of a thin and brief tornado near Arnaudville was sent in. No damage occurred.
Broadcast media relayed a picture or a thin tornado near Port Barre. No damage occurred.
A picture of a tornado was sent through social media. The tornado was brief, narrow, and did not cause damage.
A home was hit by a tornado on Tank Farm Road causing roof damage. Meteorologist at the National Weather Service office witnessed the brief tornado from the office.
Minor damage from a tornado occurred to a home on Highway 13. Pictures of a thin tornado were also sent in through social media.
Pictures of a rope tornado were posted to social media. The tornado remained in a field and no damage occurred.
A spotter reported a brief tornado in a field that did not cause damage.
Lightning struck a transformer resulting in a fire of a near by tree and fence.
Numerous streets were flooded around Lafayette with cars stranded at several intersections.
Heavy rain produced flooding in northeast Vermilion Parish into the city of Lafayette. Several streets were flooded around the community of Maurice where a driver ran off the road. The motorist was found the next day in the ditch near his car.
A strong wind gust from a thunderstorm caused a chimney to collapse.
The Lake Charles Regional airport recorded a wind gust of 69 mph.
Camper trailers were flipped near Iowa.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Calcasieu | 2021-05-17 | 61 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Vermilion | 2021-05-17 | 46 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2021Warnings in Louisiana, May 2021
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: 960707, 960716, 960899, 960924, 960912, 960956, 960946, 961041, 961044, 960703, 960849, 961426, 960704, 960706, 960705.