Marine Thunderstorm Wind — Lake Borgne, Gulf of Mexico

2024-06-04 · near Shell Beach Station (shbl1), Lake Borgne, Gulf of Mexico

Event narrative

The NOS station SHBL1 at Shell Beach measured a wind gust of 55 mph or 48 knots.

Wider weather episode

The start of what would eventually be a very potent Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) began around midnight on June 4th in central Oklahoma. A cluster of thunderstorms became outflow dominant with the convection chasing the outflow boundary southeastward. The MCS had weakened quite a bit as it moved into northwest Louisiana. However, strong daytime heating and pooling moisture ahead of this was waiting for it in southeast Louisiana. Those warm temps and high dewpoints increased surface and mid level instability that would support very strong updrafts. Although shear was relatively low, it was sufficient to support severe weather. About the time the MCS reached the Mississippi River, it began to rapidly intensify into a well organized system. As it moved through the area, it produced severe winds across the tidal lakes and Mississippi Sound.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.8700, -89.6700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1193094. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.