Louisiana, 2024

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Louisiana, July 17 to 18, 2024

July 17 to 18, 2024 · NWS LCH · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

An upper low meandered over the region allowind scattered afternoon thunderstorm to develop. A couple 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
5

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.

An upper low meandered over the region allowind scattered afternoon thunderstorm to develop. A couple 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 Jul 17, 6:14 AM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 6:14 AM CST, 3 hours 32 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 8:44 AM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
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The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 funnel cloud, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Cameron

When
July 17, 9:46 AM CST
Where
Cameron County, 11.7 mi ENE of Sweet Lake
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
30.020, -92.980

A funnel cloud was observed southeast from the National Weather Service office.

Funnel Cloud, St. Landry

When
July 17, 11:59 AM CST
Where
St. Landry County, 1.19 mi W of Lewisburg
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
30.450, -92.190

A spotter reported a funnel cloud near Church Point.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calcasieu

When
July 17, 3:21 PM CST
Where
Calcasieu County, 1.51 mi SSE of Lake Charles
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
30.210, -93.190

A power line was blown down on 12th street.

Lightning, Calcasieu

When
July 17, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Calcasieu County, 0.6 mi E of Chloe
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
State Official
Coordinates
30.230, -93.110

Lightning struck a home causing a fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calcasieu

When
July 18, 7:44 AM CST
Where
Calcasieu County, 2.16 mi SSE of Buhler
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
30.300, -93.360

Trees were blown down onto Highway 27.

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Louisiana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, July 2024

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: 1203807, 1203808, 1203810, 1203809, 1203811.