A series of upper disturbances and a slow moving cold front created multiple days of stormy weather across portions of Louisiana. Severe weather and flooding occurred.
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 series of upper disturbances and a slow moving cold front created multiple days of stormy weather across portions of Louisiana. Severe weather and flooding occurred.
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 Mar 29, 11:12 AM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1212 PM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A flood watch remains in effect for a portion of the area
- A marginal to slight risk of severe weather Sunday
afternoon/evening
- A cold front is expected Monday
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Monday night)
Issued at 354 AM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
A disturbance aloft is moving east across Louisiana this morning
with scattered showers and a few thunderstorms still affecting the
local region. Another disturbance aloft is pushing into the
plains with a surface low developing over eastern CO and western
KS.
With the weakness aloft over the area, showers and storms will
remain possible through the day, however the higher probabilities
will gradually shift east. While the risk of flooding is
decreasing, storm motion is fairly slow. If training sets up for
any length of time flooding may occur. Kept the FFA in place for
the I-10 corridor to the coast in LA where this remains possible.
The upper disturbance responsible for the convection today and
yesterday will shift east and weaken through the afternoon, but
the next system will take shape in the plains. The south flow
will remain in place keeping moisture streaming north from the
gulf. Tonight is expected to be generally quiet minus patchy fog,
but as temps warm back into the low to mid 80s during Sunday
afternoon convection may redevelop. The best dynamics are expected
to be removed to the north of the local region, however with
ample moisture and heating, a strong to severe storm can not be
ruled out ahead of the approaching system late Sunday. SPC has
highlighted areas generally north of HWY 190 as a slight risk for
svr wx and a marginal risk south to the coast.
The next disturbance and associated cold front will move through
the area Monday. Showers and storms will be possible as the cold
front moves through.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 354 AM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
CAA will decrease temps into Tuesday, albeit briefly. High
pressure will shift east of the area into Tuesday with the return
flow beginning. Temperatures and moisture will increase from mid
to late week.
Guidance varies somewhat for late in the week with the placement
of an upper ridge and how far south the next system gets before
stalling. The NBM is on the wetter side if comparing to the GFS
which has the upper ridge closer the north central gulf coast
where as the ECM has the ridge centered east of FL.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1209 PM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are seen in the vicinity of
several TAF sites. This activity will decrease through the
afternoon hours and should be over by this evening. Fog and low
ceilings will become a problem later tonight, so IFR is expected
to prevail.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 354 AM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
Winds are gradually decreasing across the coastal waters this
morning. Headlines will be dropped as seas and winds subside
through the morning to mid day.
A light to moderate onshore flow will remain in place into early
Monday ahead of a cold front. The front will push offshore late
Monday with northeast winds expected into Tuesday before the
return flow begins Tuesday afternoon.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 79 65 84 65 / 70 0 10 80
LCH 79 67 81 70 / 80 0 10 30
LFT 79 69 83 71 / 80 20 10 50
BPT 81 67 81 70 / 60 0 0 10
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Flood Watch until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for LAZ044-045-055-073-
074-141>143-152>154-241>243-252>254.
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...05
LONG TERM....05
AVIATION...15Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1126 AM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
LAZ073-291700-
West Cameron LA-
1126 AM CDT Sat Mar 29 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CAMERON PARISH
THROUGH NOON CDT...
At 1126 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Johnsons Bayou, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern
Cameron Parish.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 2982 9387 2983 9381 2989 9377 2996 9376
2999 9377 3002 9375 3002 9374 2998 9359
2978 9373
TIME...MOT...LOC 1626Z 193DEG 18KT 2986 9375
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SlaughterThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:34 UTC.
7 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Street flooding occurred in Rayne with multiple streets covered by water. Water was also approaching several homes.
Heavy rain flooded multiple roads in Jennings.
An off duty NWS Meteorologist observed numerous secondary roads along Highway 92 flooded west of Maurice.
Repeated thunderstorms caused 5 to 13 inches of rain to fall over areas near Rayne. Widespread rapid onset flooding occurred creating impassable conditions over numerous roadways, including Highway 90 and Highway 35. An estimated 155 structures were flooding, however, an estimated 30% of homes in the city had a least minor water intrusion. Numerous vehicles flooded or were stalled during the event.
Underpasses along I-10 were flooded near Henderson.
The tornado began near Saint Peter Catholic Church at the intersection of Highway 363 and Highway 748. Damage to covered walkways and trees was noted along with a large section of roof removed. At Pointe Verte Road, an RV was flipped and the entire 2nd story of a home was completely ripped off. The tornado continued to Old Hickory Road before lifting. A few branches were broken and one tree was down on Old Hickory. Maximum estimated wind speeds were 120 mph.
A NWS survey concluded that damage in the LeBeau area to trees, outbuildings, and awnings was from straight line winds of near 70mph.
A large tree branch fell onto an outdoor patio causing damage to a roof.
Water covered multiple roads in Breaux Bridge including Cormier Road which became impassable.
A portion of Beacon Road flooded from excessive rainfall.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2025Warnings in Louisiana, March 2025
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: 1246859, 1246862, 1246892, 1246890, 1246893, 1246871, 1246874, 1246876, 1246894, 1246895.