Thunderstorms developed across southeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon of April 24th, then congealed into a partially organized cluster of storms as they moved southeast across the ArkLaTex region during the evening. The storms continued to strengthen and evolved into a more organized mesoscale convective system within northwest flow aloft as they approached the local area.
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 LIX wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed across southeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon of April 24th, then congealed into a partially organized cluster of storms as they moved southeast across the ArkLaTex region during the evening. The storms continued to strengthen and evolved into a more organized mesoscale convective system within northwest flow aloft as they approached the local area. This MCS moved across southeast Louisiana late that night into the early morning hours of April 25th, producing scattered damaging wind gusts. Several reports of thunderstorm wind damage occurred across the area, mainly from downed trees and large limbs.
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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 24, 11:05 PM CST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 1205 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1031 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026 - Well above average high temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s will occur next week. Heat index values will climb into the upper 90s. - The threat for thunderstorms, some possible strong to severe will continue through the weekend. && .SHORT TERM... (Now through Tuesday) Issued at 1031 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026 The first of several rounds of sh/ts is upon us this morning. Another line is moving in from the Shreveport area this morning as well. Any of these storms could produce strong winds and hail with an isolated tornado possible as well. Today will be an off an on event for sh/ts, basically there will likely be sh/ts forming or decaying at all hours of the day today. We should see the next complex of storms develop over the Oklahoma to Texarkana region and race SE tonight into Sun morning reaching our area around mid morning Sun. By Monday, the weakness(ThetaE) boundary will have moved farther north while the front out west begins to slowly move this way. This makes Monday dry in comparison to the weekend. As the front gets closer, it will be responsible for the next set of sh/ts that develop starting Tue. We can unravel Tue as we get closer to it. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday Night through Friday night) Issued at 1031 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026 Overall, going into the midweek next week the upper level flow remains progressive and the low level flow remains southerly onshore as high pressure remains over the eastern Gulf with upper level ridging taking shape over the western Gulf. Because of the higher heights and thicknesses the well above average temperatures (even close to records for a few) will continue into the long term period. That said, going into Wednesday and especially Wednesday night and Thursday there looks to be a modest pattern flip. A more northwest flow develops, which will bring the surface front southward toward our region leading to increased POPs going into late next week. Behind the front there looks to be some decrease in temperatures to more average ranges, especially as a broader upper trough becomes established over much of the central and eastern states. (Frye) && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1031 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026 VFR conditions outside sh/ts this morning. Any storms that move over any terminal will likely produce IFR or lower conditions with cigs and vis. Some of these, although isolated, could have strong winds and hail. Disturbed weather all day today will have sh/ts around at any given time. Outside this activity conditions will remain VFR. && .MARINE... Issued at 1031 PM CDT Fri Apr 24 2026 A very early Summer like weather set up will keep a persistent south- southeast flow of 10 to 15 knots in place through the middle of next week. Seas will remain well below any hazardous limits at 1 to 3 feet through the period. The greatest concern and unknown is any shower or thunderstorm impacts. A series of disturbances will try to produce an area of storms over the Red River area and these may move towards the coastal waters before they dissipate. If they develop, these specific type of systems normally do not play well with the models and they usually surge southeast faster and stronger than expected. If they do, expect locally higher winds and seas around these storms. Afterwards, winds may become light and variable for 3- 6 hours before the synoptic south-southeast winds take back over. && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. GM...None. MS...None. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...TE LONG TERM....TE AVIATION...RDF MARINE...TE
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
337 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
LAZ034>037-MSZ068-069-250930-
St. Helena LA-East Feliciana LA-Pointe Coupee LA-West Feliciana LA-
Wilkinson MS-Amite MS-
337 AM CDT Sat Apr 25 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WEST FELICIANA,
NORTHERN ST. HELENA, POINTE COUPEE AND EAST FELICIANA PARISHES,
WILKINSON AND AMITE COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT
...
At 337 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles southwest of Garden
City to near Lettsworth to near Bunkie to near Turkey Creek. Movement
was southeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Zachary, New Roads, Jackson, St. Francisville, Clinton, Liberty,
Greensburg, Centreville, Woodville, Slaughter, Gloster, Fordoche,
Morganza, Wilson, Norwood, Smithdale, Wakefield, Spillman, Batchelor,
and Darlington.
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 3087 9180 3097 9181 3101 9176 3104 9166
3097 9166 3104 9156 3110 9159 3132 9116
3135 9098 3135 9055 3084 9057 3071 9107
3070 9126 3064 9132 3059 9151 3061 9176
3071 9173 3086 9182
TIME...MOT...LOC 0837Z 297DEG 47KT 3126 9119 3100 9168 3091 9219 3089
9251
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CABThe Hammond radar (KHDC), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:28 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media relayed a picture of a tree downed onto powerlines by thunderstorm winds.
Broadcast media relayed a photo of fence sections downed by thunderstorm winds at a home in Ethel.
A comment on a facebook post by local broadcast media showed a tree downed by thunderstorm winds in Central.
Photo of uprooted tree from thunderstorm winds.
Numerous 4-6 inch branches downed by thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, April 2026
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: 1334833, 1334834, 1334835, 1334836, 1334837.