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.