Thunderstorm Wind — Lincoln, Louisiana

2024-05-22 · near Simsboro, Lincoln, Louisiana

Event narrative

Tree downed on Interstate 20 near mile marker 74.

Wider weather episode

Surface analysis identified a cold front advancing into the Ark-La-Tex region early in the afternoon on May 22nd. Weak surface troughing preceded the cold front, noted by a wind shift from southerly to the south of the boundary to northerly to the north of it. This troughing was influential in the intensification of thunderstorms moving into parts of North Louisiana through the evening hours. The air mass ahead of the boundary was characterized by ample low-level moisture and very strong buoyancy. MLCAPE was over 3000 J/kg across the entire region, and vertical shear was quite strong with bulk shear values in the 50 to 60 knot range. Although some minimal convective inhibition remained early on, it eroded quickly with robust thunderstorm development along and ahead of these boundaries. Initially, a more cellular mode favored large hail as the primary risk and given that discrete supercells were possible, some tornado potential existed as well. Over time, interactions between these storms and their cold pools resulted in upscale growth into one or more convective lines as damaging winds and flash flooding became the primary threats by early to mid evening with numerous severe weather reports received from late afternoon through the evening hours.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.5500, -92.8100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1187057. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.