River Update 12/31/06

Several rivers are in flood stage this evening, some of which are yet to crest. Flood warnings have been issued for the following parishes: Franklin, Saint Helena, Tangipahoa, Acadia, Allen, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Rapides, Vermilion, Beauregard, and Vernon. A flood warning means that a river within the particular parish is already or forecast to be at or above flood stage. Minor to moderate flooding is possible in some areas of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Area in places such as Old Town Bay (northside), Saltwater Barrier (between Lake Charles and Westlake), and Sam Houston Jones State Park (northwest of downtown).

Topographical Map of Lake Charles, Louisiana (Source: DeLorme Topo USA)

Informational Links

• Discussion from Jason's Weather Center
• Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) from NOAA

Storm Totals from Jason's Weather Center

Here are some storm totals from the weather station at Jason's Weather Center:

• Storm Total Rainfall: 2.53 inches
• Peak Wind Gust: 34 MPH (30 knots) at 5:40 AM 12/30
• Lowest Air Pressure: 1011.8 mb (29.88 inches) at 5:55 AM 12/30

Lightning Detection Map at about 5:40 AM 12/30 from JWC

Graph of Barometric Pressure in millibars at JWC

Flooding down the street from JWC

Storm Reports from 12/29 - 12/30 Storm

Here are some preliminary severe storm reports that came into Jason's Weather Center:

• At 1:25 AM 12/30, golfball-sized hail fell in Berwick and Morgan City. Hail totally covered the ground in Berwick.
• At 5:20 AM 12/30, a few trees were blown down across Allen Parish.
• At 6:45 AM 12/30, a tornado caused damage to roofs of homes near Mire and damaged the porch of another home. Several vehicles had windows blown out and a few trees were blown down.
• At 6:50 AM 12/30, a possible tornado damaged a house near Cankton.
• At 7:00 AM 12/30, thunderstorm winds damaged a roof of a house near Ville Platte along Grand Prarie Highway.
• At 7:00 AM 12/30, a 73 MPH wind gust was measured by a home weather station near Kaplan.
• At 7:05 AM 12/30, a fireworks stand blew onto several vehicles in Scott.
• At 7:10 AM 12/30, a few power lines were blown down in Opelousas.
• At 10:35 AM 12/30, extensive flash flooding was reported across Iberville Parish with at least one home flooded. Over three inches of rain across the entire parish with a swath of six to eight inches from Bayou Sorrel to Maringouin.
• At 10:43 AM 12/30, numerous streets were flooded with some homes flooded in Erwinville.
• At 10:53 AM 12/30, 2.27 inches of rain fell at Baton Rouge Airport in one hour. 3.65 inches since midnight.
• At 2:25 AM 12/30, flash flooding throughout Sabine Parish with buildings being evacuated in Many.

Flooding in Lafayette

Some impressive flooding here in Lafayette following a major rainfall event that dumped 2.53 inches of rain in only 12 hours. Saturday morning, rainfall rates averaged near 0.50 inches per hour for three hours (1.50 inches in three hours). Some significant wind gusts were also observed at JWC (all times CST on Saturday 12/30):

• 25 MPH at 3:20 AM
• 28 MPH at 4:30 AM
• 29 MPH at 5:10 AM
• 34 MPH at 5:40 AM (peak gust)
• 31 MPH at 6:00 AM
• 32 MPH at 6:30 AM
• 30 MPH at 6:40 AM

A small distance down the street, a large coulee known as Anselm Coulee flooded its banks nearly flooding one home. A pond near the coulee became part of Anselm. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning stating that the Vermilion River (which Anselm Coulee is a tributary of) was forecast to crest at 13.0 feet when flood stage is 10.0 feet.

Driving around town, a gravel storage yard on East Broussard Road near the Vermilion River was flooded. No other significant reports of flooding have come into the weather center.

See pictures of this flooding at http://www.freewebs.com/jays_weather_center/photos-page.htm.