A cold front stalled across the region while multiple short waves moved overhead. This produce multiple days of unsettled weather.
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 cold front stalled across the region while multiple short waves moved overhead. This produce multiple days of unsettled weather.
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 6, 11:17 AM CST, 5 hours 13 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 1217 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... - Slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather today due to a cold front. - Heavy rain and flash flooding is possible today and Thursday as a front moves across the region. - Rain chances remain in place during the weekend with upper disturbances traversing the region. && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Tuesday) Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A shortwave is moving across eastern Texas this afternoon with strong southwest flow extending across the region. At the surface, a frontal boundary is approaching northern Louisiana, with increasing moisture and some daytime heating leading to rather buoyant conditions ahead of it. Thus, a Marginal (level 1 out of 5) to Slight (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather continues for the rest of this afternoon and evening. Some showers are ongoing across the western portion of the forecast area and this region should continue to be the focus for most of the convection expected during the rest of the day. The main threats with this setup continue to be larger hail and strong wind gusts, especially for the northern part of the forecast area. Additionally, heavy rainfall remains a possibility with some of these storms as abundant tropical moisture will lead to a moderate to slight risk for excessive rainfall across portions of the region. The front will slowly push southward and then stall Thursday before slowly lifting back northward on Friday. WAA will return moisture back north while multiple upper disturbances traverse the area through Sunday. Rain chances will remain elevated into the weekend before another front pushes offshore and sharper short wave sweeps through. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A mixture of MVFR/IFR conditions continues this afternoon ahead of a cold front that is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms across the region later this afternoon and evening. Best chances continue for KAEX, with more scattered activity expected elsewhere. Lower cigs/vsbys continue overnight and into Thursday. && .MARINE... Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A moderate onshore flow is expected today ahead of a cold front. This front will move through today and then stall over the waters on Thursday before lifting back north into the weekend. Another cold front will push back offshore late Sunday with a moderate north flow anticipated Monday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1213 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 A cold front will move into the region today, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms through the rest of the afternoon and evening. This front will stall tonight into Thursday and then be the focus for additional rain into the weekend. && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && Sent by TBW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
154 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ028-029-061945-
Avoyelles LA-Rapides LA-
154 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL RAPIDES AND NORTHERN
AVOYELLES PARISHES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 154 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Alexandria, moving northeast at 35 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 damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Alexandria, Pineville, Alexandria International Airport, Effie, Ball,
Deville, Libuse, Tioga, Timber Trails, Brouillette, Esler Regional
Airport, Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge, Elmer, Kingsville,
Poland, Kolin, Centerpoint, Ruby, Holloway, and Paradise.
This includes Interstate 49 between mile markers 69 and 93.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 9216 3141 9215 3136 9208 3133 9208
3134 9203 3132 9200 3130 9200 3128 9202
3127 9199 3122 9199 3125 9196 3122 9194
3123 9192 3128 9195 3130 9191 3121 9174
3106 9268 3118 9272 3142 9252 3148 9221
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 240DEG 32KT 3122 9242
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
Issued by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
157 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ027-030-TXZ260-061945-
Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Northern Newton TX-
157 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BEAUREGARD...
SOUTHWESTERN VERNON PARISHES IN WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL
NEWTON COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 157 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Newton, moving northeast at 30 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 damage to vegetation and outdoor
objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
De Ridder, Newton, Rosepine, Merryville, Bon Weir, Burkeville, Burr
Ferry, Junction, Stringtown, Evans, and Bleakwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3063 9387 3085 9386 3121 9342 3083 9313
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 234DEG 27KT 3081 9372
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
239 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ027-028-062030-
Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
239 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL RAPIDES AND VERNON
PARISHES THROUGH 330 PM CDT...
At 239 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rosepine, moving northeast at 25 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...
Leesville, Rosepine, Fort Polk, Slagle, New Llano, Lacamp, Fullerton,
Hutton, Kurthwood, Leander, Cravens, Simpson, and Pickering.
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.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central,
southwestern and west central Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3136 9299 3107 9273 3088 9324 3088 9328
3111 9347 3137 9313 3137 9303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 241DEG 20KT 3099 9325
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SlaughterSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
249 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ028-029-062015-
Avoyelles LA-Rapides LA-
249 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN RAPIDES AND
NORTHWESTERN AVOYELLES PARISHES THROUGH 315 PM CDT...
At 249 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Holloway, or 9 miles east of Pineville, moving northeast at 25 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...
Pineville, Ball, Kingsville, Deville, Libuse, Tioga, Esler Regional
Airport, Kolin, Centerpoint, Holloway, and Paradise.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central
Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3147 9219 3147 9216 3146 9217 3145 9216
3141 9215 3138 9212 3136 9208 3135 9207
3134 9209 3133 9208 3134 9204 3133 9201
3120 9232 3138 9248 3144 9239 3148 9219
TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 241DEG 20KT 3135 9226
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SlaughterThe Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:30 UTC.
10 flash flood, 5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadway Ave in Alexandria was flooded from heavy rain.
Numerous roads were flooded on the west side of Alexandria. Some were impassable.
An NWS Storm Survey concluded that a widespread swath of wind damage extending from Bunkie to Plaucheville was the result of straight line thunderstorm winds occurring between 8:00 and 8:30 AM. There was widespread damage to trees and powerlines, including some snapped utility poles. Approximately 20 structures sustained damage, including partial roof removal of a home in Plaucheville. Based on the damage, wind speeds are estimated to have been between 60 to 90 mph.
Multiple roads in Basile were flooded.
Multiple streets in Eunice flooding with water above the curbs.
Multiple streets in Opelousas were flooded.
Nickel sized hail was reported in Point Blue.
Numerous streets in New Iberia and Lydia flooded with multiple roads impassable.
Alcide Bonin Road was closed due to flooding.
Multiple roads around Lafayette were flooded.
Cars were stalled along University Avenue.
Multiple roads were flooded in Rayne with some cars stalled. One home reported water entered the structure.
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, May 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1341394, 1341395, 1341413, 1341407, 1341408, 1341409, 1341410, 1341397, 1341398, 1341400, 1341411, 1341401, 1341403, 1341404, 1341406, 1341405.