Thunderstorm Wind in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Approximately 3000 customers were without power in Natchitoches Parish from severe thunderstorms which downed trees and power lines in several locations across the parish. A couple of schools were also closed the following day due to the power outages.

Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms developed across parts of Northern Louisiana during the afternoon on August 18th. These thunderstorms formed within an environment with slightly more favorable mid-level lapse rates of around 7 C/km and hot temperatures near 100 degrees. Weak deep layer shear of 10 knots or less limited storm organization, but despite the unorganized nature of the convection, very strong heating and instability supported strong to marginally severe thunderstorms capable of isolated microbursts and wind damage. As a result, a few instances of damaging wind gusts were reported across parts of Northern Louisiana.