May 22, 2008
Flash Flooding & Severe Weather

Just one week after widespread severe weather and flood event struck the region, another signficant severe weather event impacted Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. 

An upper level disturbance moving across the area sparked several strong to severe thunderstorms during the morning and afternoon hours across Southeast Texas and Central Louisiana.  Several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued, with numerous reports of large hail and wind damage received from these storms.  This activity moved quickly northeastward, and spread into South-Central Louisiana.  However, thunderstorms began continually redeveloping, or training,  over Lafayette and St. Martin parishes during the afternoon hours, prompting the issuance of Flash Flood Warnings.  Within just a couple of hours, up to 9 inches of rain had fallen across eastern Lafayette Parish and the northwestern half of St. Martin Parish, causing widespread flooding.  Although the heavy rainfall subsided during the evening, the extensive flooding prompted the Flash Flood Warning to be extended for several more hours.

By evening, the low level jet began increasing across the area, with showers and thunderstorms redeveloping over much of central and southern Louisiana.  Thunderstorms began training over portions of southeastern Evangeline Parish and St. Landry Parish, with another Flash Flood Warning issued for that region, and several reports of water over highways underwater received.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING (#1)
  for Lafayette & Breaux Bridge areas
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
501 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN ST. LANDRY PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES KROTZ SPRINGS...
  SOUTHEASTERN LAFAYETTE PARISH IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES LAFAYETTE...BROUSSARD...YOUNGSVILLE...
  NORTHWESTERN ST. MARTIN PARISH IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES BREAUX BRIDGE...HENDERSON...CECILIA...

* UNTIL 800 PM CDT

* AT 456 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  FLASH FLOODING FROM A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHING FROM
  LAFAYETTE TO HENDERSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 14 MPH.

RADAR ESTIMATES 3 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THE WARNED AREA IN THE PAST HOUR.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP
TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING (#2)
  for Lafayette & Breaux Bridge areas
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
753 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN ST. LANDRY PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES KROTZ SPRINGS...
  EASTERN LAFAYETTE PARISH IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES LAFAYETTE...BROUSSARD...YOUNGSVILLE...
  NORTHWESTERN ST. MARTIN PARISH IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES BREAUX BRIDGE...CECILIA...HENDERSON...

* UNTIL 1100 PM CDT

* AT 752 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS CONTINUED TO REPORT
  FLASH FLOODING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA.  IN ADDITION...SHOWERS
  AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM OVER THE REGION...AND ARE
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 38 MPH.

RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 4 TO 9 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE
WARNED AREA OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...WITH WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF
FLOODED HOMES AND STREETS.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO ONE
INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING
  for Chataignier & Opelousas areas
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
858 PM CDT THU MAY 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN EVANGELINE PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES CHATAIGNIER...
  CENTRAL ST. LANDRY PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
   THIS INCLUDES OPELOUSAS...EUNICE...PORT BARRE...WASHINGTON...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT

* AT 857 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  FLASH FLOODING FROM THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE FROM EUNICE TO
  KROTZ SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 21 MPH.

RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE
WARNED AREA IN THE PAST HOUR.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO
3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

REPORTS VALID FROM 7 AM CDT 5/22/08 TO 7 AM CDT 5/23/08

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
748 PM CDT FRI MAY 23 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1054 AM     TSTM WND GST     18 SSE SABINE PASS      29.50N 93.78W
05/22/2008  E50.00 MPH       GMZ450             LA   PUBLIC

            OFFSHORE RIG SABINE PASS 10 REPORTED WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO
            50 MPH.

1209 PM     HAIL             4 W JOHNSON BAYOU       29.78N 93.73W
05/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       CAMERON            LA   PUBLIC

1209 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 W JOHNSON BAYOU       29.78N 93.73W
05/22/2008                   CAMERON            LA   PUBLIC

            SEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN

1252 PM     HAIL             JASPER                  30.92N 94.00W
05/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       JASPER             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY SIZED HAIL REPORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE. OCCURRED IN
            THE CITY OF JASPER, IN THE HOLMWOOD AREA.

0100 PM     HAIL             GROVES                  29.95N 93.92W
05/22/2008  M0.88 INCH       JEFFERSON          TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN GROVES BY SHERIFFS OFFICE.


0106 PM     HAIL             ORANGE                  30.10N 93.76W
05/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       ORANGE             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            PENNY SIZED HAIL REPORTED BY SHERIFFS OFFICE IN THE
            ORANGE AREA.

0151 PM     HAIL             4 NNW ROSEPINE          30.98N 93.30W
05/22/2008  E0.75 INCH       VERNON             LA   PUBLIC

0208 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNW CALL              30.66N 93.90W
05/22/2008                   JASPER             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DAMAGE AROUND KIRBYVILLE WITH POWER OUTAGES.

0600 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HENDERSON               30.31N 91.80W
05/22/2008                   ST. MARTIN         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            OFFICER DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 REPORTED WIDESPREAD

            FLOODING OF FIELDS, PARKING LOTS, AND ROADS IN HENDERSON.

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            HOMES FLOODED ON PINHOOK ROAD. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

0615 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            HOMES FLOODING IN OAKBORNE SUBDIVISION BY THE LAFAYETTE
            AIRPORT. HOUSE FLOODED AT SOUTH ORANGE AND 10TH STREET.
            NUMEROUS OTHER STREETS FLOODED. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

0620 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CECILIA                 30.34N 91.85W
05/22/2008                   ST. MARTIN         LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            CECILIA HIGH SCHOOL FLOODED. RELAYED BY KATC IN
            LAFAYETTE.

0630 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF CARS STALLED IN HIGH WATER ACROSS THE
            EASTERN HALF OF LAFAYETTE.

0647 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 E LAFAYETTE           30.22N 91.99W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   OTHER FEDERAL

            THE RIVER GAUGE ON THE VERMILION RIVER AT SURREY STREET
            ROSE FROM 8.5 FEET TO NEAR 12.4 FEET OR 2 FEET ABOVE
            FLOOD STAGE IN 3 HOURS.

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAFAYETTE               30.22N 92.03W
05/22/2008                   LAFAYETTE          LA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED FLOODING ON EVANGELINE THRUWAY
            SOUTHBOUND AT MUDD STREET AND NORTHBOUND FROM 11TH STREET
            TO MUDD STREET.

0930 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 N CHATAIGNIER         30.60N 92.32W
05/22/2008                   EVANGELINE         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING REPORTED ON HIGHWAY 29 BETWEEN CHATAIGNIER AND
            VILLE PLATTE.

0955 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LAWTELL                 30.52N 92.18W
05/22/2008                   ST. LANDRY         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING REPORTED ON HIGHWAY 190 NEAR LAWTELL.

0955 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 W ARNAUDVILLE         30.42N 91.95W
05/22/2008                   ST. LANDRY         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING REPORTED ON LA 93 JUST WEST OF ARNAUDVILLE.

0955 PM     FLASH FLOOD      OPELOUSAS               30.52N 92.08W
05/22/2008                   ST. LANDRY         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING REPORTED ON HIGHWAY 182 NORTH OF OPELOUSAS AS
            WELL AS ON HIGHWAY 190.

1105 PM     FLOOD            BREAUX BRIDGE           30.28N 91.90W
05/22/2008                   ST. MARTIN         LA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HOMES FLOODED IN BREAUX BRIDGE. HIGHWAY 347 CLOSED NEAR
            BREAUX BRIDGE DUE TO FLOODING. NUMEROUS OTHER HIGHWAYS
            CLOSED THROUGHOUT THE PARISH DUE TO FLOODING.

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