Multiple upper disturbances moved across the region from the 12th through the 16th causing a rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms which produced numerous reports of damage, flooding, and high winds.
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.
Multiple upper disturbances moved across the region from the 12th through the 16th causing a rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms which produced numerous reports of damage, flooding, and high winds.
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 12, 10:25 AM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1125 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 ...New UPDATE... .UPDATE... Issued at 1125 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 After collaboration with WPC, the Moderate Risk for excessive rainfall area was expanded ewd to cover much of cntl LA (had previously stopped in w-cntl LA)...thus, the Flood Watch has also been expanded ewd. Otherwise, no significant changes to inherited grids/zones this morning. Update already issued. 25 && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 436 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 WV imagery and UA analysis shows an active subtropical jet transporting moisture across old Mexico into the NW Gulf states. To the north of the jet, a large mid/upper low system continues to spin over the southern CO. Meanwhile, the surface pattern across the region is marked by a generally weak wind field, with high pressure centered just east of the area and a frontal boundary situated just off the coast. Conditions are generally on par with where they were 24 hours ago, with temperatures in the middle 60s to lower 70s and dewpoints in the lower 60s. KLCH and KPOE radars show a band of convection persisting across our northern zones, with some lighter showers further south, although activity has diminished some since a few hours ago. This activity marks the beginning of what is expected to be a fairly active period today through Monday night. This will unfortunately result in more rainfall for areas that really do not need it, namely portions of SE TX and SW LA north of I-10. The latest Day 1 outlook from WPC now includes a Moderate Risk (Level 3 out of 4) for portions of SE TX into W LA, with a Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 4) across all but the Acadiana region. A Flood Watch has been issued for Hardin and Tyler Counties east to Beauregard and Vernon Parishes in SW LA, with the watch in effect through Tuesday morning as multiple rounds of rainfall are expected. 24 && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tuesday night) Issued at 436 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 The low pressure system over the Rockies will slowly emerge over the KS plains today through tonight, helping to generate a weak surface low over the southern plains. As this low takes shape, it will help lift the frontal boundary near the coast northward as a warm front. Strengthening 850 MB jet will support moisture transport over the region, with PWATs progged to increase to near 2 inches through tonight (well above the 90th percentile and nearly 2 to 3 standard deviations from the mean). PWATs could increase further on Monday, with guidance suggesting values as high as 2.2-2.3 inches. For today, convection is expected to focus along the warm front as it moves inland across SE TX into SW LA. Sounding profiles show deep moisture, strong deep layer shear and sufficient instability to support storms capable of both heavy rainfall and severe weather. In addition to the aforementioned MDT risk of excessive rainfall, there is a SLGT risk for severe storms as well, with the primary threat damaging wind gusts. If storms can become surface based, sufficient low level helicity would support an isolated tornado or two. A brief respite is expected this evening and overnight, with another round of convection expected on Monday as the upper low slowly crosses KS toward the mid MS Valley. As the warm front lifts further inland, the region will become entrenched within the warm sector, with instability becoming much more robust over the area. This combined with deep layer shear will provide favorable conditions for a few strong to severe storms to develop Monday afternoon across SE TX. This activity is expected to progress east into the evening. Damaging wind gusts and hail will be the primary threats, and SPC has outlined the entire area in a SLGT risk. Meanwhile, the heavy rain threat will also continue across the area, as the atmosphere remains anomalously moist. PWATs are progged to exceed 2 inches, which would allow for storms capable of high rainfall rates on top of today's rain. While guidance hasn't fully aligned with respect to the axis of highest rainfall amounts, recent CAM guidance suggests a swath of higher QPF totals across the region marked by the Moderate ERO today. HREF LPMM precip accumulations depict amounts between 2 and 4 inches through Monday evening, but training cells and redevelopment could produce localized amounts of 6 inches or greater. Convection should begin to taper off considerably late Monday night into Tuesday morning as the lead impulse moves east. A weak cold front is expected to move through the region on Tuesday, allowing for a short-lived break in the wet pattern. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 436 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 Welcome dry weather expected to start the period on Wednesday. Moisture begins to return late Wednesday into Wednesday night as high moves off to the east. As the next disturbance moves into the region early Thursday the signals for heavy rainfall returns to the region as PW's get above 2 inches. While much of the area is under the risk for very heavy rainfall most signals continue across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana which have been hit by multiple rounds of heavy rainfall the past month and half. The GFS is by far the driest model for Thursday and has waffled from last night while the ECMWF and the CMC remain bullish on precipitation. Questions also still remain on what happens Friday into Saturday as the front slows. The GFS has this as the period of heavier rains while ECMWF moves most of the activity to the east. For now blends have lower POPS Friday and Saturday, but things could tend more wet with future updates. Temperatures will be slightly below seasonal norms through Thursday then trend warmer than normal the remainder of the period. 27 && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 640 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 VFR conditions have prevailed across the area this morning, although the latest ob at BPT suggests some MVFR cigs are beginning to manifest across lower SE TX into SW LA. This trend is expected to continue, with MVFR cigs becoming prevalent at BPT/LCH by 15-16Z. Further east and north, VFR should hang in there, at least through mid afternoon at AEX and through the evening at LFT/ARA. A band of SHRA/TSRA north of AEX could provide some short-lived effects at this terminal over the next couple of hours, but today's convection will be increasing from SW to NE through the day. This will produce periods of MVFR to IFR cigs/vsbys during the afternoon and evening before activity diminishes by 03-04Z tonight, with cigs lowering to IFR thereafter. Winds will be E-SE today, strengthening to 10-15 KT with gusts between 20-25 KT this afternoon. 24 && .MARINE... Issued at 436 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024 Moderate to strong east to southeast winds will become more southerly tonight, with winds gradually diminishing Monday morning. Exercise caution headlines have been inserted for the coastal waters for today and tonight due to the elevated winds and increased seas. Shower and thunderstorm chances will also increase through tonight, with the highest chances expected Monday into Monday night ahead of a cold front. A few strong storms will be possible Monday afternoon into Monday night. Winds will shift westerly on Tuesday, then offshore Tuesday night with the passage of the front. Winds will turn back to the east and southeast by Wednesday night, with rain chances returning by Thursday as another low pressure system approaches the area. 24 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 78 66 85 65 / 80 80 60 40 LCH 82 72 84 70 / 70 40 60 50 LFT 84 74 86 73 / 60 60 60 60 BPT 82 74 86 70 / 70 30 60 40 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for LAZ027>032. TX...Flood Watch through Tuesday morning for TXZ180-201-259>262. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....27 AVIATION...24
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
925 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
LAZ027-TXZ259-260-121500-
Vernon LA-Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-
925 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN VERNON PARISH...
NORTHERN NEWTON AND NORTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 AM
CDT...
At 925 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pineland, or 14 miles northeast of Ebenezer, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Anacoco, Toledo Bend Dam, Hornbeck, and Browndell.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3112 9331 3110 9404 3112 9405 3114 9403
3116 9391 3118 9362 3117 9358 3119 9355
3123 9354 3124 9356 3125 9354 3128 9353
3128 9344 3135 9340 3136 9338
TIME...MOT...LOC 1425Z 262DEG 31KT 3119 9398
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
CalhounSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
948 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
LAZ027-028-121530-
Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
948 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RAPIDES AND
NORTHEASTERN VERNON PARISHES THROUGH 1030 AM CDT...
At 948 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Slagle, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Slagle, Sieper, Hutton, Clifton, Gardner, Otis, and Simpson.
This includes Interstate 49 near mile marker 105.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3119 9267 3115 9320 3127 9325 3135 9299
3135 9295 3136 9295 3143 9273
TIME...MOT...LOC 1448Z 256DEG 31KT 3123 9310
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
Calhoun/CKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1148 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
LAZ027-TXZ259-260-121730-
Vernon LA-Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-
1148 AM CDT Sun May 12 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN VERNON PARISH...
NORTHERN NEWTON AND NORTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM
CDT...
At 1148 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pineland, or 13 miles northeast of Ebenezer, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Newton, Toledo Bend Dam, Burkeville, Hornbeck, Browndell, Jamestown,
Farrsville, Harrisburg, Mayflower, Sam Rayburn Dam, and Wiergate.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3134 9330 3086 9371 3109 9417 3111 9406
3114 9403 3116 9391 3118 9362 3117 9358
3119 9355 3123 9354 3124 9356 3128 9353
3128 9344 3135 9340
TIME...MOT...LOC 1648Z 283DEG 40KT 3122 9406
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CalhounSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1228 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024
TXZ180-201-259>262-121800-
Hardin TX-Southern Newton TX-Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-
Southern Jasper TX-Tyler TX-
1228 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN TYLER...WEST
CENTRAL NEWTON...NORTHEASTERN HARDIN AND EAST CENTRAL JASPER COUNTIES
THROUGH 100 PM CDT...
At 1228 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fred, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Kirbyville, Call, Fred, Spurger, Caney Head, Trout Creek, Magnolia
Springs, Village Mills, Mt. Union, and Bleakwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3049 9443 3077 9432 3078 9373 3047 9383
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 262DEG 25KT 3056 9416
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CalhounPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1250 PM CDT Sun May 12 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM Hail Fannett 29.93N 94.25W
05/12/2024 M1.50 Inch Jefferson TX Public
Video of ping pong ball size hail at
Fannett.
&&
MKCThe Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:06 UTC.
56 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 11 flash flood, 5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Several photos and reports were received from around Bunkie of hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
An off duty NWS Employee observed golf ball sized hail.
Ping pong ball size hail busted a window on a camper.
Multiple reports of trees and power poles down in the Ragley area.
Golf ball size hail reported near Bell City.
A photo was submitted through social media of a hail stone that was roughly 2.5 inches in diameter.
Large hail reported in downtown Jennings.
Golf ball size hail was reported through social media.
Hail near 2.25 inches in diameter was reported through social media.
A tree was blown down onto a truck.
Numerous trees down along Highway 109 between Vinton and Starks.
An EF-2 tornado touched down north of Orphan Village Road in Sulphur, then tracked southeast damaging homes and businesses. On East Napoleon St. two warehouses were destroyed by the tornado. On N Cities Service HWY a gas station awning was damaged along with a strip mall. In the Maplewood community several houses were damaged with trees uprooted or snapped and parts of roofs blown off. The last reported damage was on Bayou Dinde Pass where several trees were snapped. Along the path trees and power lines were also downed. Max estimated winds were 120 mph winds.
An EF-1 tornado touched down in Westlake, causing roof and exterior wall damage to several homes and businesses. The tornado crossed I-10 into downtown Lake Charles, where it caused additional roof damage to a business. Along the path, trees and power lines were also downed. A semi trailer truck was overturned on the top of the Interstate 10/Calcasieu River Bridge where the tornado passed. Max estimated winds were 100 mph.
Numerous trees were downed in south sections of Lake Charles including the Prien area. Some were downed onto homes.
A tree was snapped off at its base and blown approximately 30 to 40 feet across Prien Lake Road.
The river gauge at Oberlin indicated the Calcasieu briefly exceeded bank full and flooded nearby fields and roads.
A power pole was downed in Mermentau.
Several vehicles were blown off the road or flipped in Crowley.
Acadia Chiropractic received moderate roof damage.
A large piece of sheet metal was ripped from a structure and wrapped around a power pole.
The public works director reported several areas with trees and power lines down in Lake Charles.
Photos were received of damage to a home, a shed, a porch, and trees in Lafayette.
An 80 mph wind gust was recorded on a personal weather station near South College and Bendel Road.
Recorded at the Lafayette Regional Airport.
A tornado touched down just west of Bayou Teche causing tree damage. The tornado then tracked across southern portions of Cecilia, crossed I-10, and into Henderson damaging numerous homes and some businesses. Damage consisted of roof damage, rolled manufactured homes and RVs, destroyed outbuildings, and at least one partial wall collapse to a structure. The Motel 6 also had the roof removed. Additional tree and powerline damage was noted in these areas as the tornado reached peak intensity of|EF2 120 MPH. The tornado finally pushed east then slightly north of due east into Henderson Lake and the Atchafalaya Basin where it ended.
Recorded at the Acadiana Regional Airport.
A line of storms produced heavy rain around Lafayette flooding several roads. A report from MPING indicated some streets were closed with a video from social media showing roads and sidewalks flooded on the southwest side of the city.
Damage path of apparent tornado based on NDVI differencing in high resolution satellite imagery. The maximum width and strength of the tornado in the Atchafalaya Basin is unknown. The tornado only affected trees.
Damage path of apparent tornado based on NDVI differencing in high resolution satellite imagery. The width and strength is unknown and the tornado only affected trees in the Atchafalaya Basin.
A DD6 gauge on the Little River indicated that the stream flooded Holbrook Park and neighboring roadways.
A report of flooding north of Duson was received through MPING of flooding of streets and yards during the passing storm.
The gauge WHTL1 on Cocodrie Bayou indicated the water level exceeded flood stage and flooded near by roads and fields.
Power poles were snapped along Highway 171 south of Deridder.
Beauregard Electric reported numerous power outages across the parish with trees down on power lines and some poles snapped.
Power poles were snapped along Highway 165 south of Oakdale.
A tree was downed along Highway 26 south of Oberlin.
Power lines were downed along Old River Road north of Starks.
A tree was downed onto Highway 109 near Starks.
A large tree was downed into Bayou Chicot.
A tree was downed onto Reneau Road northeast of DeQuincy.
A large oak tree was downed onto Front Street.
Tree down near the intersection of Perkins Ferry and Joe Miller Roads.
Water approached some homes in the Sulphur area with numerous streets flooded in Sulphur, Moss Bluff, and Lake Charles during the storm. Some road ways were closed as water became too deep.
The 911 call center for Allen Parish reported numerous power lines down near Kinder.
Numerous roads were flooded in Jennings during the passing storm. A few vehicles were also reported stranded. Flooding was also reported in Hathaway and Elton.
Beauregard Electric reported damage to transmission lines near the substation for Elizabeth, Pitkin, and Sugartown.
The DeRidder Police Department reported roads along Palmetto Creek flooded including Loftin, Hayes, and Graybow Roads.
The Allen Parish Sheriff's Department reported several street underwater and impassable from Oberlin to Mittie, and Oakdale.
A large oak limb was downed onto power lines in Arceneaux.
Recorded at the mesonet station LSU03 in Crowley.
Numerous tree damaged near Vatican.
Numerous trees damaged near Ossun.
Numerous trees damaged with some snapped near Mills Street.
A personal weather station recorded a wind gust of 61 mph with the passing storm.
A tree was downed onto a small home on Saint Mary Street.
A large tree was snapped during a thunderstorm.
A large tree was blocking a roadway in Carencro after a storm.
A local media station recorded a wind gust of 70 mph at their studio.
A large tree downed onto Lyman Ave in Rayne.
A tree was blown down in a Raising Canes parking lot.
A photo of a tree snapped was received through social media.
Recorded on a personal weather station at a residence.
Power poles snapped in Lafayette.
Multiple trees downed onto a road in Breaux Bridge.
A large tree was down and blocking a road in Sunset.
Several streets around Crowley were reported flooded including portions of highway 13.
Recorded at the Acadiana Regional Airport.
Recorded at the Lafayette Regional Airport.
A report of a window sucked out of its frame as the line of storms passed.
Several trees were blown down in Parks with a section of fence also broken.
A roof of a home was partly removed in Saint Martinville.
A home received roof damage from the passing line of storms.
Numerous trees down between Breaux Bridge and Parks.
The emergency manager of Saint Landry Parish reported three homes damaged by falling trees.
Numerous trees were downed in the Catahoula area.
The emergency manager of Saint Landry Parish reported numerous trees damaged throughout the east side of the parish. Numerous power outages were also reported.
Street flooding was reported in New Iberia with some streets impassable.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2024Warnings in Louisiana, May 2024
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: 1184207, 1184208, 1184210, 1184211, 1184459, 1184212, 1184215, 1184216, 1184217, 1184218, 1184219, 1184220, 1184221, 1184460, 1184222, 1184464, 1184462, 1184461, 1184470, 1185110, 1184471, 1186720, 1184466, 1184467, 1184468, 1184469, 1184465, 1184473, 1185111, 1185112, 1185115, 1185113, 1184223, 1184463, 1185114, 1186723, 1186706, 1186705, 1186724, 1186740, and more.