Monday, June 4th 2007, had conditions again
appear favorable for severe weather to develop across the
region, despite the widespread severe weather that had affected
much of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana the previous
day. One mid-level jet streak moved eastward across
southern Louisiana during the morning hours, while another
stronger mid-level jet streak, unusual for June, moved southeastward from
Texas into Louisiana later in the day. A very warm and
unstable airmass was in place all across the region, with
temperatures expected to warm into the upper 80s and lower 90s
with dewpoints in the 60s and 70s. The complex of
thunderstorms that had pushed across the area on Sunday, June
3rd, left an outflow boundary that stretched from around
Woodville, Texas to Lake Charles, Louisiana and eastward to
around New Iberia, Louisiana. This boundary separated
somewhat drier air to the north from more moist air to the
south.
NORTHERN
VERMILION PARISH FLOODING
Showers and thunderstorms began developing
early in the morning across Acadiana south of Lafayette along
the outflow boundary. This boundary moved slowly northward
into northern Vermilion Parish, southern Lafayette Parish, and
northern Iberia Parish by early afternoon, before stalling
between the cities of Kaplan and Maurice. Showers and
thunderstorms, some even reaching severe levels, continued to
regenerate along this boundary near Gueydan and moved eastward
throughout the afternoon, leading to torrential rainfall in a
narrow corridor across northern Vermilion Parish. By
Monday evening, radar had estimated that 10 to 14 inches of rain
had fallen about 2 miles southwest of Maurice. This led to
widespread flooding of homes in the area, some of which had
reportedly never flooded before. Many roadways in the area
were also submerged, including major thoroughfares such as
Highway 167. Media reports indicate around 50 homes
received flood damage.
![6/4/07 Storm Total Rainfall](060407/rainfallstormtotal.JPG)
June 4th, 2007 Storm
Total Rainfall for Louisiana
showing the small area of extreme rainfall in northern Vermilion
Parish
LAKE CHARLES HAILSTORM
Further to the west, an isolated severe thunderstorm developed
near Corrigan, Texas, along the outflow boundary left from the
complex of thunderstorms that affected the region on June 3rd.
This storm moved southeastward along the boundary into Tyler
County during the afternoon. As it approached the
Colmesneil and Woodward areas, large hail and damaging winds
began to be reported. Radar showed this storm to be an
outflow-dominant multicell/occasional supercell thunderstorm, a type of severe thunderstorm which
produces mainly damaging winds and large hail instead of
tornadoes. The storm
continued southeastward at 35 to 40 mph across Jasper and Newton
Counties, and continued to produce large hail and wind damage
reports as it moved into Southwest Louisiana.
As the storm entered southwestern
Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes, radar began showing a large
area of 50 to 70 mph winds heading towards the Lake Charles
metropolitan area. The thunderstorm began intensifying
even further as it reached the Carlyss area, with
radar-indicated winds up to 80 mph and a strong likelihood of
large hail. As the storm moved into Lake Charles, numerous
reports of high winds and hail up to golfball size covering the
ground were received, mainly in southern Lake Charles south of
the I-210 corridor. When the storm reached the NWS Lake
Charles office (located at the Lake Charles Regional Airport),
several winds gusts over 55 mph were recorded, with the peak
gust reaching 75 mph (equivalent to a Category 1 Hurricane).
The storm continued to intensify as it moved southeast of Lake
Charles into southeastern Calcasieu Parish, with radar
indicating winds up to 90 mph and a substantial area of large
hail. However, no reports of damage were received in this
area. The storm began to weaken as it moved into southern
Jefferson Davis, northeastern Cameron, and western Vermilion
parishes - due to the rain-cooled air from the numerous
thunderstorms across Acadiana - and finally dissipated along the
coast after its 150 mile journey.
A quick look at historical records shows
that there have been 31 reports of golfball size (1.75"
diameter) or larger hail somewhere in Calcasieu Parish since
1960, with May the peak month for 1.75" or larger hail and June
a close second. However, there have been no recorded major
damaging hailstorms in the parish. The June 4th event
severely damaged 11 homes (mainly due to falling trees), and
there were widespread reports of broken windows, trees blown onto
homes, and vehicles damaged. Damage amounts in dollars
from this storm are conservatively estimated at around $500,000.
All of this data indicates the June 4th event was one of the most damaging
hailstorms in Lake Charles' history - a truly historic event!
LAKE CHARLES
HAILSTORM - PHOTOS |
![south lake charles hail 01](060407/southlakecharleshail01.jpg) |
![south lake charles hail 02](060407/southlakecharleshail02.jpg) |
![south lake charles hail 03](060407/southlakecharleshail03.jpg) |
Hail completely covers the ground in
south Lake Charles
photo by Stephen Carboni, Forecaster |
High winds create hail drifts in
south Lake Charles
photo by Stephen Carboni, Forecaster |
Just one of the many large hailstones
photo by Stephen Carboni, Forecaster |
![view from nws office 01](060407/viewfromnwsoffice01.jpg) |
![view from nws office 02](060407/viewfromnwsoffice02.jpg) |
![view from nws office 03](060407/viewfromnwsoffice03.jpg) |
Spectacular severe thunderstorm approaches
the Lake Charles
Regional Airport
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Severe thunderstorm approaches NWS Lake Charles
office
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
75 mph winds and quarter-size hail
blast the NWS office
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
![After the storm](060407/afterthestorm.jpg) |
![Tank Farm Road Wind Damage 01](060407/tankfarmroaddamage01.jpg) |
![Tank Farm Road Wind Damage 02](060407/tankfarmroaddamage02.jpg) |
Visually impressive mammatus clouds
were seen as the severe thunderstorm exited Lake Charles
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Numerous large tree limbs were blown
down on Tank Farm Road
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Siding and roof damage was done to
this building on Tank Farm Road
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
![Tank Farm Road Damage 03](060407/tankfarmroaddamage03.jpg) |
![Tank Farm Road Damage 04](060407/tankfarmroaddamage04.jpg) |
![trampoline in power lines](060407/trampolineinpowerlines.jpg) |
Siding and fences were blown down on
Tank Farm Road
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Numerous large tree limbs were blown
down on Tank Farm Road
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Trampoline blown onto and wrapped
around power lines
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
![Southeast Lake Charles Damage 01](060407/selakecharlesdamage01.jpg) |
![Southeast Lake Charles Wind Damage 02](060407/selakecharlesdamage02.jpg) |
![Southeast Lake Charles Wind Damage 02](060407/selakecharlesdamage03.jpg) |
Siding was blown off this home in
southeast Lake Charles
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
A flag pole was blown down in
southeast Lake Charles
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Numerous trees were blown down in
southeast Lake Charles
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
![Southeast Lake Charles Damage 04](060407/selakecharlesdamage04.jpg) |
![Tree blown down on Nelson Road in Lake Charles](060407/nelsonroadtreedown.jpg) |
![Rental Car Trailer Flipped Over at Lake Charles Regional Airport](060407/rentalcartrailerflipped.jpg) |
Numerous large tree limbs were blown
down in southeast Lake Charles
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
Numerous trees were blown
down in south Lake Charles, such as this one on Nelson
Road
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
A rental car trailer was flipped over
at the Lake Charles Regional Airport
photo by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster |
LAKE CHARLES
HAILSTORM - RADAR IMAGERY |
![classic hail spike](060407/classichailspike.jpg) |
Fort Polk Radar reflectivity image at
516pm showed a classic hail spike signature over Lake
Charles. A hail spike is a false radar signature
caused by the radar beam bouncing off large hailstones
aloft. |
![43000 foot reflectivity core at 2216](060407/43000footreflcore2216.jpg) |
Fort Polk Radar reflectivity image at
516pm indicated a 60dbz core of reflectivity up to 43000
feet above southern Lake Charles. This is highly
suggestive of a severe thunderstorm containing large
hail. |
![reflectivity image at 2204](060407/refl2204.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar reflectivity image
at 504pm showing the severe thunderstorm moving into Sulphur &
Carlyss |
![close up velocity image at 2204](060407/CloseUpVel2204.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar velocity image at
504pm showing winds up to 61 knots (70 mph) moving into
Sulphur & Carlyss |
![reflectivity image at 2215](060407/refl2215.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar reflectivity image
at 515pm showing the severe thunderstorm just
west of the radar & NWS office |
![close up velocity image at 2215](060407/CloseUpVel2215.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar velocity image at
515pm showing winds up to 68 knots (78 mph) moving
across south Lake Charles towards the regional airport
and NWS office |
![reflectivity image at 2225](060407/refl2225.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar reflectivity image
at 525pm showing the severe storm moving away from the
NWS office. Note the hook echo just east of the
radar. |
![close up velocity image at 2225](060407/CloseUpVel2225.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar velocity image at
525pm showing even stronger winds up to 78 knots (90
mph) moving across southeastern Calcasieu Parish |
![reflectivity image at 2231](060407/refl2231.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar reflectivity image
at 531pm showing the severe thunderstorm moving away from the NWS
office. Note the hook echo southeast
of the radar. |
![close up velocity image at 2231](060407/CloseUpVel2231.jpg) |
Lake Charles Radar velocity image at
531pm showing winds up to 72 knots (83 mph) moving
across southeastern Calcasieu Parish |
SELECTED HAILSTORMS IN LAKE CHARLES
AREA SINCE 1995 |
LOCATION |
DATE |
HAIL SIZE |
DAMAGE IN $ |
Lake Charles/Carlyss LA |
6/04/2007 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
estimated $500,000 |
Sulphur LA |
5/29/2005 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
none reported |
Sulphur LA |
6/03/2003 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
none reported |
Gillis LA |
6/03/2003 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
none reported |
Lake Charles LA |
7/24/2002 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
none reported |
Westlake LA |
1/02/1999 |
0.75" (PENNY) |
$50,000 |
Sulphur LA |
3/06/1995 |
1.75" (GOLFBALL) |
none reported |
SELECTED PEAK WIND GUSTS IN LAKE
CHARLES AREA SINCE 1950 |
LOCATION |
DATE |
PEAK WIND GUST |
NOTES |
NWS Lake Charles |
6/04/2007 |
75 MPH |
Accompanied by Quarter-size Hail |
Lake Charles Regional Airport |
5/14/2007 |
66 MPH |
Localized downburst around airport area |
NWS Lake Charles |
9/24/2005 |
96 MPH |
Hurricane Rita |
Lake Charles Regional Airport |
11/16/1987 |
69 MPH |
F1 Tornado passed near the airport |
NWS Lake Charles |
8/05/1964 |
78 MPH |
Highest known wind gust during a
thunderstorm |
NWS Lake Charles |
6/27/1957 |
97 MPH |
Hurricane Audrey |
NWS Lake Charles |
4/29/1953 |
75 MPH |
F0 Tornado passed near the office |
ALL LOCAL STORM REPORTS FOR JUNE 4, 2007
PRELIMINARY
LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
356 PM CDT TUE JUN 05 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT...
...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG....
..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 PM HAIL
AVERY ISLAND
29.90N 91.91W
06/04/2007 E0.25 INCH
IBERIA
LA PUBLIC
1230 PM TSTM WND DMG
4 SW ABBEVILLE
29.93N 92.17W
06/04/2007
VERMILION
LA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE FELL
ACROSS THE ROADWAY NEAR HWY 693 AND DETRAZ RD.
0305 PM HAIL
COLMESNEIL
30.91N 94.42W
06/04/2007 E0.75 INCH
TYLER
TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED BY
TYLER COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
0310 PM HAIL
3 N WOODVILLE
30.82N 94.42W
06/04/2007 E1.00 INCH
TYLER
TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED IN
DOUCETTE BY TYLER COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
0335 PM HAIL
MAURICE
30.11N 92.12W
06/04/2007 M0.75 INCH
VERMILION
LA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED BY
OFFICER AT YOUNGSVILLE PD WHO LIVES IN
MAURICE.
0335 PM TSTM WND DMG
1 W SPURGER
30.69N 94.19W
06/04/2007
TYLER
TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
ENTERGY POWER
STATION DAMAGED WITH NUMEROUS TREES AND
POWER LINES
BLOWN DOWN. POWER OUT IN SPURGER.
0336 PM HAIL
SPURGER
30.69N 94.18W
06/04/2007 E0.75 INCH
TYLER
TX PUBLIC
0345 PM TSTM WND DMG
1 W SPURGER
30.69N 94.19W
06/04/2007
TYLER
TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
8 INCH
DIAMETER TREE BLOWN DOWN ON FM 1013
0350 PM TSTM WND DMG
FRED
30.58N 94.18W
06/04/2007
TYLER
TX EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES
BLOWN DOWN
0400 PM TSTM WND DMG
BUNA
30.44N 93.96W
06/04/2007
JASPER
TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
A FEW TREES
AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN AROUND BUNA. ALSO
HAIL FELL BUT
UNKNOWN SIZE.
0405 PM TSTM WND DMG
CALL
30.61N 93.87W
06/04/2007
NEWTON
TX UTILITY COMPANY
POWER LINES
BLOWN DOWN
0420 PM FLASH FLOOD
MAURICE
30.11N 92.12W
06/04/2007
VERMILION
LA BROADCAST MEDIA
NUMEROUS
ROADS UNDERWATER IN THE MAURICE AND INDIAN BAYOU
AREAS
INCLUDING HIGHWAY 167 AND HIGHWAY 699
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG
4 WSW DEQUINCY
30.42N 93.50W
06/04/2007
BEAUREGARD LA
NWS EMPLOYEE
NWS EMPLOYEE
REPORTS TREES DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 12
0500 PM HAIL
SULPHUR
30.23N 93.36W
06/04/2007 E0.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA PUBLIC
TREE BRANCHES
BLOWN ACROSS I-10 WITH PENNY SIZE HAIL AT
DEQUINCY EXIT
IN SULPHUR
0505 PM HAIL
3 NW CARLYSS
30.21N 93.41W
06/04/2007 E1.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTED BY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL
0510 PM HAIL
CARLYSS
30.18N 93.37W
06/04/2007 E0.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA PUBLIC
PENNY SIZE
HAIL AND VERY HIGH WINDS REPORTED
0520 PM HAIL
3 SSW LAKE CHARLES 30.17N 93.22W
06/04/2007 M1.00 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
QUARTER-SIZED
HAIL AND ESTIMATED 45 TO 50 MPH WINDS IN
SOUTH LAKE
CHARLES NEAR INTERSECTION OF LAKE STREET AND
SALE ROAD
0520 PM HAIL
3 SW LAKE CHARLES 30.18N
93.24W
06/04/2007 E1.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTED AT
NELSON ROAD AND MCNEESE ROAD INTERSECTION
0520 PM TSTM WND DMG
6 SW LAKE CHARLES 30.15N
93.27W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
NWS EMPLOYEE
REPORTS GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND SIDING BLOWN
OFF NEIGHBORS
HOUSE
0520 PM HAIL
3 SSW LAKE CHARLES 30.17N 93.22W
06/04/2007 M0.88 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
LAKE STREET
AND MCNEESE ROAD
0520 PM TSTM WND DMG
3 SW LAKE CHARLES 30.18N
93.24W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
TREE BLOWN
DOWN AT NELSON ROAD AND COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
0521 PM HAIL
4 S LAKE CHARLES
30.15N 93.20W
06/04/2007 E1.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
ALL SKYLIGHTS
BROKEN IN HOUSE
0521 PM HAIL
4 S LAKE CHARLES
30.15N 93.20W
06/04/2007 E1.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
PENNY TO
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL COMPLETELY COVERED THE GROUND
AT LAKE
STREET AND CADE BOULEVARD. TREE BLOWN DOWN.
0521 PM TSTM WND DMG
4 S LAKE CHARLES
30.15N 93.20W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
LARGE TREE
LIMBS AND FENCES BLOWN DOWN AT HAM REID ROAD
AND LAKE
STREET
0522 PM TSTM WND GST
6 S LAKE CHARLES
30.12N 93.20W
06/04/2007 M75.00 MPH
CALCASIEU
LA OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT
NWS LAKE CHARLES OFFICE
0522 PM TSTM WND GST
6 S LAKE CHARLES
30.12N 93.22W
06/04/2007 M71.00 MPH
CALCASIEU
LA ASOS
MEASURED AT
LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT
0522 PM TSTM WND GST
5 S LAKE CHARLES
30.14N 93.20W
06/04/2007 M72.00 MPH
CALCASIEU
LA MESONET
MEASURED AT
LAKE CHARLES AG RESEARCH STATION
0522 PM TSTM WND DMG
6 S LAKE CHARLES
30.12N 93.20W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
SEVERAL LARGE
TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES DOWN AS VIEWED
FROM NWS
OFFICE.
0523 PM TSTM WND DMG
6 SSE LAKE CHARLES 30.13N 93.16W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
NWS EMPLOYEE
REPORTS ONE HOME HAD PART OF ROOF RIPPED OFF
ON TANK FARM
ROAD. ALSO OUTBUILDING WRAPPED AROUND TREE.
0525 PM TSTM WND DMG
6 S LAKE CHARLES
30.12N 93.20W
06/04/2007
CALCASIEU
LA BROADCAST MEDIA
WIDESPREAD
DAMAGE AT LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT
REPORTED BY
KPLC-TV. PLANE FLIPPED OVER AND DESTROYED.
TRAILER
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. PART OF AIRPORT OFFICE ROOF
BLOWN OFF.
0525 PM HAIL
4 SSE LAKE CHARLES 30.16N 93.18W
06/04/2007 M1.75 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED ON
TOM HEBERT ROAD BY NWS EMPLOYEE
0525 PM HAIL
6 S LAKE CHARLES
30.12N 93.20W
06/04/2007 M1.00 INCH
CALCASIEU
LA NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED AT
NWS LAKE CHARLES OFFICE
0545 PM TSTM WND DMG
4 SE HAYES
30.07N 92.87W
06/04/2007
JEFFERSON DAVIS LA LAW ENFORCEMENT
2 TREES DOWN
NEAR THE LACASSINE BRIDGE ALONG HIGHWAY 14.
REPORTED TO
JEFFERSON DAVIS SHERIFF OFFICE.
0546 PM TSTM WND GST
2 ENE LACASSINE NATIONA 30.00N 92.89W
06/04/2007 M48.00 MPH
CAMERON
LA MESONET
MEASURED BY
RAWS STATION LACL1
0600 PM HAIL
2 N LAKE ARTHUR
30.11N 92.68W
06/04/2007 E0.75 INCH
JEFFERSON DAVIS LA PUBLIC
PENNY SIZE
HAIL AND ESTIMATED 50 MPH WINDS.
0615 PM HAIL
BRANCH
30.35N 92.27W
06/04/2007 E1.00 INCH
ACADIA
LA PUBLIC
QUARTER SIZE
HAIL AND 50 MPH WINDS
0700 PM FLASH FLOOD
2 S MAURICE
30.08N 92.12W
06/04/2007
VERMILION
LA BROADCAST MEDIA
SEVERAL HOMES
FLOODED WITH NUMEROUS ROADWAYS UNDERWATER
|