Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 5, 2025

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Louisiana, April 5, 2025
Start: 2025-04-05T09:05
End: 2025-04-05T23:45
Location: Louisiana

April 5, 2025 · NWS SHV · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 SHV wrote it up.

A stationary front extended across portions of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas during the early morning hours on April 4th, but lifted north into Southeast Oklahoma and Western Arkansas during the day. This was in response to an intensifying low level jet that developed ahead of a large upper trough that extended from the Intermountain West into the Plains, which provided the necessary lift across the very warm, moist, and unstable air mass in place south of this front across much of the region. As a result, numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the area during the afternoon and evening, which produced damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. These storms moved slowly east into North Louisiana throughout the day on the 5th, with a few isolated storms also becoming severe, producing damaging winds. Locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding also accompanied these storms, with widespread rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches, with isolated higher amounts falling.

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 5, 5:17 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 5:17 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
617 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Saturday through Sunday)
Issued at 230 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

Very active day expected once again today as we await the ejection
of the vigorous upper level trough out of the Intermountain West
and into the Southern Plains. It's this feature and the forcing
in advance of it, combined with a nearly stationary frontal
boundary across NE TX and SW AR that will combine with ample pre-
frontal instability to produce another volatile severe weather
day across much of the region.

The frontal boundary currently near a Jacksonville, to Longview,
Texas to near Camden, Arkansas has shown a tendency over the last
couple hours to move very slowly south and east, likely getting a
push from post-frontal convection. Progs are in good agreement
that this feature will likely stall and may return back north just
slightly but not to the extreme this boundary returned back
northward (north of even our far northwest zones) on Friday. This
does not mean that areas north of the boundary will be spared from
at least the possibility of large hail as convection moves our
way from the west but at this time, the greatest tornado potential
will be along and southeast of the boundary (the warm-sector)
which should reside near or just south and east of the I-30
Corridor as we go through the day. This matches up well with SPC's
Enhanced Convective Risk today across mainly East Central and
Deep East Texas as well as all of Northern Louisiana and South
Central Arkansas. Upstream convection is currently lined up west
of the I-35 Corridor across NC TX into Central OK and will rapidly
move eastward into our region through the day and may even slow
down across N LA/SC AR later this afternoon. As it does, any warm
sector convection, given the amount of low level directional and
deep layer shear, will result in embedded and/or discrete
supercells that will have the potential to produce tornadoes once
again like we saw on Friday but this time, further east across SC
AR and N LA as well as extreme EC and Deep East Texas. Lapse rates
will support large hail once again with bowing line segments
supporting a damaging wind theat. The severe weather threat should
rapidly decrease across our western half by early afternoon and
across our eastern half by this evening with the heavy rainfall
threat ending during the late evening hours as well across our
eastern most zones.

Speaking of the heavy rainfall threat, contemplated expanding the
current Flood Watch further south to encompass the I-20 Corridor
of N LA where 2-3 inch rainfall amounts will be possible later
today but given that this area has received virtually no rainfall
thus far, decided to keep the current configuration of the Flood
Watch in tact. Otherwise, areas that have been inundated with
rainfall over the last 24-48 hours which includes the Middle Red
River Valley of NE TX, SE OK and SW AR could see an additional 1-3
inches with isolated higher amounts which will only further
exacerbate an already dangerous and ongoing flooding situation
across these areas.

Much cooler weather will infiltrate the region in the wake of the
cold front but we may not be completely done with the rainfall as
models are continuing to hang on to some very light precipitation
across most of the region (especially northern areas) as the
upper trough axis very slowly moves into our region from the west
on Sunday. This precipitation will likely continue into Sunday
Night as well.

13

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday Night through Saturday)
Issued at 230 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

Held only slight chance pops across our eastern half Sunday Night
but feel like much of the forcing in association with the
remainder of the trough axis will be located far enough east not
to carry any small pop across our eastern zones into Monday. Kept
the region dry through the extended even though we should see
another frontal passage by sometime late next work week as an
upper level trough swings out of the Central Plains and into the
Ohio Valley. The big story in the wake of this current storm
system will be the return of cold temperatures with lows Sunday
Night in the 30s near but especially north and west of the I-30
Corridor and it would not be surprising to see temperatures near
freezing across our far northwest zones if we can get the skies to
clear. Colder temperatures may be felt across our region Monday
Night where patchy frost will be likely across at least our
northern half. Southerly winds return for Tue thru Thu ahead of
late next week's cold front which will result in a rapid return to
more April like temperatures.

13

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 612 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

For the 04/12z TAF update...Radar imagery this morning has calmed
down some, however, we are seeing more widespread light returns
showing up across other portions of the area. Nonetheless, this
TAF period is going to be one filled with widespread MVFR, IFR and
even LIFR flight conditions due to low CIGs and lower visibilities
thanks to an increase in showers and thunderstorms throughout the
day. Aside from this, gusty conditions will prevail for most
terminals throughout this TAF period. /33/

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Issued at 230 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

Spotter activation will be needed today and this evening across
East TX, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest AR, and Northern LA for
the potential for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding.

13

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  78  53  59  44 / 100  70  20  20
MLU  84  57  64  45 / 100  90  30  20
DEQ  63  44  54  35 / 100  70  40  20
TXK  69  50  56  41 / 100  70  30  20
ELD  77  49  58  40 / 100  90  40  20
TYR  65  46  54  40 / 100  30  20   0
GGG  71  47  55  40 / 100  30  20  10
LFK  78  49  58  43 / 100  40  20   0

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for ARZ050-051-059>061-
     070>073.

LA...None.
OK...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for OKZ077.

TX...Flood Watch through Sunday morning for TXZ096-097-108>112.

&&

SHORT TERM...13
LONG TERM....13
AVIATION...33

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:02 AM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
702 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-051300-
McCurtain OK-Upshur TX-Cass TX-Camp TX-Bowie TX-Red River TX-
Marion TX-Wood TX-Franklin TX-Morris TX-Titus TX-
702 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL MCCURTAIN...
NORTHWESTERN MARION...WESTERN CASS...FRANKLIN...NORTHEASTERN WOOD...
BOWIE...NORTHERN UPSHUR...MORRIS...TITUS...CAMP AND SOUTHERN RED
RIVER COUNTIES THROUGH 800 AM CDT...

At 702 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bogata to near Hagansport to near Mount
Pleasant to near Pittsburg to near Gilmer to near Gladewater.
Movement was northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Pittsburg, Goodlake, Cason, Winnsboro, Daingerfield, Us 259 And I 30
Intersection, Fairview, Miller's Cove, Hagansport, Scroggins, Mount
Vernon, Rocky Branch, Ore City, Avinger, Bettie, Johntown, Midway,
Lone Star, Hainesville, and Almont.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3296 9537 3296 9531 3346 9531 3384 9466
      3344 9434 3324 9430 3287 9433 3266 9540
TIME...MOT...LOC 1202Z 236DEG 41KT 3346 9527 3331 9516 3318 9507 3306
9501 3281 9497 3258 9499

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

19

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:43 AM CST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
743 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

ARZ050-051-059-060-070-OKZ077-TXZ097-051345-
Howard AR-Hempstead AR-Sevier AR-Little River AR-Miller AR-
McCurtain OK-Bowie TX-
743 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LITTLE RIVER...CENTRAL
HEMPSTEAD...NORTHWESTERN MILLER...SEVIER...HOWARD...SOUTHEASTERN
MCCURTAIN AND BOWIE COUNTIES THROUGH 845 AM CDT...

At 743 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles south of Idabel to 7 miles east of
Naples. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Eagletown, Bright Star, Moon, Cerrogordo, Goodlake, Central,
Goodwater, Shinewell, Arkinda, Haworth, McNab, Red Lick, Tollette,
Provo, West Line, Ogden, Corinth, Winthrop, Bellview, and Bokhoma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3419 9392 3418 9382 3401 9382 3400 9373
      3357 9354 3327 9457 3371 9475 3372 9473
      3373 9474 3372 9475 3398 9486 3419 9434
      3419 9425 3423 9424 3435 9394
TIME...MOT...LOC 1243Z 239DEG 48KT 3378 9480 3324 9456

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

19

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 7:36 AM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
836 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

ARZ070-LAZ001-TXZ112-126-138-150-151-051430-
Miller AR-Caddo LA-Panola TX-Harrison TX-Cass TX-Marion TX-Rusk TX-
836 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MILLER COUNTY...
NORTHWESTERN CADDO PARISH...MARION...EASTERN CASS...HARRISON...
NORTHERN PANOLA AND NORTHEASTERN RUSK COUNTIES THROUGH 930 AM CDT...

At 836 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles northwest of Queen City to near
Beckville. Movement was east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Deberry, Bivins, Nesbitt, Front, Elysian Fields, Ida, Fouke, Vivian,
Lodi, Darco, Red Hill, Leigh, Fairview, Domino, Carthage, Uncertain,
Smithland, Midyett, Tatum, and Atlanta.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3331 9381 3215 9412 3215 9465 3322 9433
TIME...MOT...LOC 1336Z 274DEG 20KT 3321 9426 3222 9454

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

19

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 7:44 AM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
844 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

ARZ050-051-059>061-070-071-TXZ097-112-051445-
Howard AR-Hempstead AR-Lafayette AR-Sevier AR-Little River AR-
Miller AR-Nevada AR-Cass TX-Bowie TX-
844 AM CDT Sat Apr 5 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LITTLE RIVER...
HEMPSTEAD...NORTHERN MILLER...EASTERN SEVIER...NORTH CENTRAL
LAFAYETTE...HOWARD...NEVADA...NORTHEASTERN CASS AND SOUTHEASTERN
BOWIE COUNTIES THROUGH 945 AM CDT...

At 843 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Athens to 7 miles east of Lockesburg to
near Ogden to near Redwater. Movement was northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Bright Star, Bodcaw, McNab, Redwater, Red Lick, Tollette, Genoa,
Morris, Provo, Piney Grove, Ogden, Corinth, Blevins, Bellview,
Lockesburg, Mount Pleasant, Ben Lomond, Sutton, Oak Grove, and
Wilton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3435 9394 3419 9392 3418 9382 3401 9382
      3401 9375 3395 9353 3396 9347 3396 9338
      3390 9330 3384 9329 3383 9323 3380 9318
      3382 9314 3378 9310 3374 9311 3333 9371
      3322 9432 3357 9420 3393 9417 3435 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 1343Z 212DEG 54KT 3433 9413 3399 9406 3360 9411 3335
9421

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

19

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bossier

When: April 5, 9:05 AM CST
Where: Bossier County, 0.96 mi S of Plain Dealing
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.906, -93.703

A tree was blown down in Plain Dealing.

Flash Flood, Ouachita

When: April 5, 6:49 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Ouachita County, 0.73 mi W of Claiborne to 0.47 mi WSW of Claiborne
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.518, -92.192

High water covered Butler Avenue near the Zaxby's in West Monroe.

Flash Flood, Ouachita

When: April 5, 6:49 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Ouachita County, 1.19 mi W of Claiborne to 1.26 mi NW of Claiborne
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.523, -92.200

Various roadways in the Claiborne community in West Monroe were covered in high water.

Flash Flood, Ouachita

When: April 5, 7:34 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Ouachita County, 3.47 mi E of Caderville to 3.4 mi NE of Okaloosa
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.438, -92.291

Portions of Caples Road was flooded, forcing a vehicle off the roadway.

Flash Flood, Ouachita

When: April 5, 7:57 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Ouachita County, 0.83 mi E of Claiborne to 1.73 mi ESE of Claiborne
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.518, -92.166

Portions of Cypress Street was flooded, with water reportedly entering a restaurant.

Flash Flood, Ouachita

When: April 5, 8:45 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Ouachita County, 1 mi W of Highland Park to 0.75 mi ESE of Lamkin
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.548, -92.137

Widespread flooding across the city of Monroe, including the residential areas. High water blocked the entrance of the Monroe Civic Center, and high water covered portions of Louisville Avenue.

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Louisiana in 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history Warnings in Louisiana, April 2025

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: 1256740, 1256742, 1256743, 1256745, 1256746, 1256750.