Louisiana, 2023

Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, April 15 to 16, 2023

April 15 to 16, 2023 · NWS LCH · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Multiple short waves moved across the region producing severe weather across Louisiana.

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
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Multiple short waves moved across the region producing severe weather across Louisiana.

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 Apr 15, 5:35 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 15, 5:35 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 15, 3:51 AM CST, 3 hours 49 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 15, 5:39 AM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before
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Special weather statement, Apr 15, 6:38 AM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Apr 15, 7:29 AM CST, 11 minutes before
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The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:36 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Allen

When
April 15, 7:40 AM CST
Where
Allen County, 4.87 mi N of Kinder
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
30.550, -92.840

A NWS storm survey concluded that 65 to 75 MPH wind gusts occurred in a swath around 4 miles north of Kinder. Several trees and a home were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
April 15, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 1.51 mi NNW of Carencro
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
30.340, -92.060

A large branch was snapped.

Hail, Rapides

When
April 15, 8:54 PM CST
Where
Rapides County, 1.9 mi WNW of Alexandria Southwest
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.310, -92.510

Quarter size hail reported by the Rapides Parish Emergency Management Director.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cameron

When
April 15, 10:24 PM CST
Where
Cameron County, 3.86 mi WNW of Grand Chenier Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.750, -92.890

A 50 kt wind gust recorded by a PWS.

Thunderstorm Wind, Vermilion

When
April 15, 11:24 PM CST
Where
Vermilion County, 2.77 mi WNW of Esther
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.870, -92.220

A personal weather station recorded a 58 MPH wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iberia

When
April 16, 12:03 AM CST
Where
Iberia County, 1.38 mi ESE of Lydia
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
29.910, -91.780

Numerous tree branches snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iberia

When
April 16, 12:15 AM CST
Where
Iberia County, 0.69 mi N of Jeanerette Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
29.910, -91.670

A roof damaged and awning of a recreation center destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Iberia

When
April 16, 12:18 AM CST
Where
Iberia County, 0.69 mi N of Jeanerette Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
29.910, -91.670

Multiple trees and power lines down.

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, April 2023

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1095971, 1095972, 1095970, 1095976, 1095977, 1095973, 1095974, 1095975.