Showers and thunderstorms, some of which contained heavy rainfall, continued from the evening hours on April 30th through the early morning hours of May 1st, along and ahead of a weak cold front that slowly advanced southeast into portions of East Texas and Southern Arkansas. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-5+ inches fell from April 30th through the early morning hours of May 1st generally…
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 SHV wrote it up.
Showers and thunderstorms, some of which contained heavy rainfall, continued from the evening hours on April 30th through the early morning hours of May 1st, along and ahead of a weak cold front that slowly advanced southeast into portions of East Texas and Southern Arkansas. Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-5+ inches fell from April 30th through the early morning hours of May 1st generally along the I-20 corridor of East Texas and North Louisiana, resulting in continued instances of flash flooding especially across the Shreveport/Bossier City areas, before the flood threat subsided prior to daybreak. Additional isolated severe thunderstorms did manage to develop though farther south during the early morning hours across Winn and Grant Parishes, producing damaging winds before weakening shortly thereafter. The weak surface boundary lingered across portions of Lower East Texas south of I-20 into Northwest Louisiana to along the Louisiana/Arkansas border through the afternoon of the 1st, with very warm, moist, and unstable conditions again developing along and south of the front. The unstable air mass along and southeast of the front coupled with weak forcing aloft contributed to the development of a few isolated supercell thunderstorms over portions of Deep East Texas into Northwest Louisiana during the late afternoon and early evening, with these storms producing multiple instances of large hail before weakening.
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 30, 11:23 PM CST, 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1223 AM CDT Thu May 1 2025
...New AVIATION...
.UPDATE...
Issued at 446 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
Quick zone update to expand TOR Watch #198 for Union County AR,
as well as Union, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Jackson Parishes in North
LA, based on the extrapolation of the line of severe storms over
Srn AR/extreme NW LA as it shifts E near 30kts, and should affect
these areas by/prior to 01Z. Also had to beef up pops/add severe
wording for these areas as the convection movement continues to
outpace the hi-res progs. Thus, have expanded categorical/likely
pops E into these areas. Have also cancelled TOR Watch #197 for
much of NE TX/SE OK/SW AR where the convective line has moved
through these areas and stabilized the air mass. Will have to send
another update once TOR Watch #197 expires at 22Z.
15
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Thursday Night)
Issued at 157 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
For the rest of this afternoon: All eyes in the office remain
hyperfocused on the line of thunderstorms approaching from the
west and currently moving through east Texas and far southwest
Arkansas. As such, Tornado Watch 197 and 198 remain in effect for
portions of the area through later this afternoon and into the
early evening hours. Short range guidance suggests that this
activity will slowly meander through our region well into the
overnight hours, although there is some uncertainty on how severe
it will remain the later it gets.
Main additional piece of information is that the Flood Watch has
been extended southward to the I-20 corridor through late Thursday
morning. Please see our social media pages or website for the
latest on the watches. Latest guidance suggests that showers and
thunderstorms will be ongoing through Thursday morning, before
starting to clear the area to the southeast around noon. From
here, we wait to see if things can reignite during the afternoon
hours. Model guidance indicates that there could be some isolated
storms develop across portions of the area that could become
strong to severe. There is some decent instability across our
region, but the forcing is weak, and we are going to have to
compete with a cap over the area. So this could limit our storm
production during Thursday afternoon.
Things could get interesting once again Thursday night into Friday
morning as models are showing another MCS moving through southern
Oklahoma and possibly into northeast Texas. There does remain some
uncertainty with how far into our area this MCS could get, maybe
just touching our northern zones. Nonetheless, with the rainfall
received, and more coming, this could bring some additional
flooding concern to our northern zones, with the entire area at
least in a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall for Thursday into
Thursday night. /33/
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through next Tuesday)
Issued at 157 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
Wish I could say that Thursday would be the end of our showers and
thunderstorms, but that just is not the case. A cold front will
gradually push through the area on Friday, bringing additional
showers and thunderstorms to the area. While severe weather seems
to be limited right now for Friday, there is still a chance for a
strong thunderstorm or two. Flooding will also be a concern on
Friday, depending on how much rain we get today and Thursday.
Showers linger into Friday night before exiting the area by
Saturday morning with some drier conditions to follow as some weak
ridging builds into the area.
One thing to note about next week, should the long-range models
verify, it looks like an Omega Blocking pattern could set up by
the middle of next week, according to the GFS anyways. Guess it
can't really be considered a blocking pattern yet because it does
not look to stick around very long. For reference, I think I would
be ok with this pattern not setting up as this would bring warmer
temperatures and no rain for our region depending on where it
would set up if it should set up. Anywho, the bottom line is that
the long-term might start off with some rain before drying up for
much of the rest of it. /33/
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1222 AM CDT Thu May 1 2025
For the 01/06Z TAFs, a complex of thunderstorms continues to slowly
progress eastward through ArkLaTex airspace, along a line roughly
oriented from KLFK to KSHV and KELD as of 01/05Z. These storms have
been producing very heavy rainfall leading to significant VSBY
reductions, as well as gusty winds, which can be expected at KMLU in
the coming hours, reflected in a TEMPO group. Behind the passage of
these storms, IFR/MVFR CIGs will continue through the night, with
the morning seeing a marked increase to VFR conditions. Outside of
storms, winds will remain variable and fairly light overnight,
developing a southwest orientation during the day and picking up
to sustained speeds of 5 to 15 kts.
/26/
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Issued at 1247 AM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
Spotter activation is expected later today.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 87 68 83 64 / 30 10 70 80
MLU 84 66 84 65 / 60 20 60 70
DEQ 83 62 75 55 / 10 20 80 50
TXK 84 65 78 60 / 20 20 80 60
ELD 83 63 80 60 / 50 20 70 70
TYR 85 67 80 62 / 10 10 80 80
GGG 86 66 81 62 / 20 10 80 80
LFK 87 68 84 64 / 40 10 70 80
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for ARZ061-070>072.
LA...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for LAZ001>004.
OK...None.
TX...Flood Watch until 7 AM CDT this morning for TXZ112-124>126-
136>138-149>151.
&&
SHORT TERM...15
LONG TERM....33
AVIATION...26Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1136 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1124 PM Flash Flood 1 SW Shreveport 32.46N 93.81W
04/30/2025 Caddo LA Law Enforcement
Water rescue at Hollywood Avenue and Kennedy
Drive.
&&
15Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1138 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 PM Flash Flood 1 E Shreveport 32.47N 93.78W
04/30/2025 Caddo LA Law Enforcement
Hearne Avenue just south of Midway Avenue
under the railroad overpass was flooded.
&&
15Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1141 PM CDT Wed Apr 30 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Shreveport 32.48N 93.78W
04/30/2025 Caddo LA Law Enforcement
Multiple roads were covered in high water
across Shreveport, including Hearne Avenue
at I-20, West 70th at Bert Kouns, and Youree
Drive and East Stoner Avenue.
&&
15Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1221 AM CDT Thu May 1 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 AM Flash Flood 3 W Hallsville 32.51N 94.63W
05/01/2025 Harrison TX Law Enforcement
Highway 80 near Lansing Switch Road is
closed due to flooding.
&&
15Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1224 AM CDT Thu May 1 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 AM Flash Flood 4 W Nesbitt 32.58N 94.52W
05/01/2025 Harrison TX Law Enforcement
FM 449 near Franklin Road is closed due to
flooding.
&&
15Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1225 AM CDT Thu May 1 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 AM Flash Flood 1 NW Marshall 32.55N 94.37W
05/01/2025 Harrison TX Law Enforcement
Multiple county roads across Harrison County
are flooded and closed.
&&
15The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:57 UTC.
11 hail, 5 flash flood, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous residential roads were flooded in multiple neighborhoods near Barksdale Air Force Base.
A home behind the Brookshire's on Airline Drive had water approaching the front door. High water also covered the street, and was not drivable.
High water covered Kennedy Drive and Hollywood Avenue, requiring a water rescue.
Hearne Avenue under the railroad overpass south of Midway Avenue was flooded and closed.
Multiple roads were covered in high water across Shreveport, including Hearne Avenue and I-20, West 70th Street and Bert Kouns, and Youree Drive and East Stoner Avenue.
Trees were blown down near Highway 167 and Pacton-Alexandria Road.
Trees were blown down near the intersection of Highway 167 and LA 472.
Penny size hail fell in the Galbraith community.
Trees were blown down near the intersection of Highways 167 and 123 in Dry Prong.
Trees were blown down near the intersection of LA 500 and LA 472.
A picture was posted to social media of penny size hail that fell in Logansport.
Nickel size hail fell in the Grand Cane community.
Golfball size hail fell on Long Road south of Red Bluff Road.
Ping pong ball to golfball size hail fell in the Plantation Hills Subdivision.
Penny to nickel size hail fell along Barron Road in Keithville.
Quarter size hail fell in the St. Charles Place subdivision off of Norris Ferry Road in extreme Southeast Shreveport.
Quarter size hail fell off of Southern Loop. Report from mPING.
Half dollar size hail in the Southgate Estates subdivision in Southeast Shreveport.
A picture was posted to social media of golfball size hail that fell near Sun City Elementary.
Golfball size hail fell near Haughton. Report via mPING.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, May 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: 1257489, 1257490, 1257491, 1257492, 1257493, 1257494, 1257495, 1257499, 1257497, 1257502, 1257506, 1257509, 1257507, 1257510, 1257511, 1257508, 1257512, 1257515, 1257514, 1257517.