Calcasieu storm history

Thunderstorms moved very slowly across Lake Charles and the surrounding area while back building during the late morning to mid afternoon of the 17th. One rain gage recorded near 22 inches of rain in South Lake Charles during the event, but a large swath received 10 inches or mor…

Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening of the 14th as freezing developed then quickly changed over to sleet. Half an inch to near 2 inches of sleet and some snow had fallen across Calcasieu Parish by the end of the event. Most bridges were closed during the event and…

There was a mandatory evacuation for the parish. Numerous trees, power lines, transmission lines, and poles were blown down across the parish. All of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Homes and businesses were damage from trees falling on them, or from the…

Snow flurries began in Calcasieu Parish during the late afternoon of the 23rd, but soon changed over to light freezing rain after sunset. Traffic accidents began during the early morning hours of the 24th with one being fatal as all bridges in the Parish became iced and eventuall…

Strong wind gusts blew across Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River where two men from Westlake where on a boat. The 16 foot jon boat was capsized by the strong wind gusts and both were drowned. One man was still wearing a life jacket when found the next morning on the west bank o…

Strong wind gusts blew across Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River where two men from Westlake where on a boat. The 16 foot jon boat was capsized by the strong wind gusts and both were drowned. One man was still wearing a life jacket when found the next morning on the west bank o…

Calcasieu Parish coroner's office reported a 71 year old Mossville man died of exposure to freezing temperatures on Friday, January 8. His body was not discovered until Monday, January 11, along the side of a parish road. KPLC-TV reported that Vinton and Carlyss had low water res…

Two boaters fishing on Black Bayou at the Intracoastal Waterway were struck by lightning. One man was killed and the other suffered minor injuries.

Hurricane Gustav caused tropical storm force winds in Calcasieu Parish, resulting in scattered trees and power lines downed, mainly between DeQuincy, Moss Bluff, and Iowa. Two men died from carbon monoxide poisoning when they improperly placed a running generator inside their hom…

Lightning struck a tank at Calcasieu Refining Company igniting naphtha. The fire prompted evacuations for an area of 1.5 miles from the site including Graywood. A shelter in place was ordered for residents within 5 miles. The fire burned into the early morning of the next day.

Heavy rain and high winds affected Calcasieu Parish as Delta moved across the region. Debris from Hurricane Laura slowed runoff from the 10 to 18 inches of rainfall causing flooding. White Oak Park experienced the 5th highest river reading on record. Many structures also had temp…

Heavy rain in a stalled feeder band from the remnants of Hurricane Barry produced flooding north of Interstate 10 and affected Starks, Sulphur, Moss Bluff, Dequincy, and Gillis. The worst flooding occurred in the Gillis to Ragley area where Highway 171 was closed for several hour…

A slow moving severe storm developed along the Cameron and Calcasieu Parish line and moved north into Carlyss. Hail size reports ranged in size from pea to 3 inches. Numerous vehicles were damaged or totaled. Most homes in the area had roof damage with one home reported to have a…

A slow moving hail storm moved north out of Carlyss and into Sulphur. While the largest hail occurred in south of Sulphur reports of stones to 2.5 inches still were received. Numerous vehicles were damaged and many roofs had to be repaired.

Harvey produced 15 to 30 inches of rain across Calcasieu Parish. One rain band set up on the east side of Lake Charles during the 27th and produced a quick foot of rainfall flooding numerous homes. Total flooded homes was estimated at 1,572. The rain produced the 3rd highest cres…

Flood water from the heavy rain event on the 9th and 10th pushed into western sections of Calcasieu Parish flooding areas generally along and west of Highway 109. This flooded sections of Starks and Vinton. The river stage at Deweyville crested at one foot higher than the previou…

Thunderstorms trained across Moss Bluff, Sulphur, Westlake, Topsy, and surrounding areas for multiple hours. Cars began to stall and one water rescue of an elderly lady was reported by midnight. Rainfall totals of 15.63 inches in Gillis and 14.77 three miles north of Moss Bluff w…

After a wet start to the year more rain fell on the 9th. Slow moving thunderstorms moved into far Southeast Texas and South Louisiana. Flooding began in Texas, but soon moved into Calcasieu Parish where KLCH recorded 3.67 inches on the day, however just northwest of the airport 6…

Heavy rain from training thunderstorms fell on saturated ground. While most of the heaviest rain fell to the east of Calcasieu Parish flooding was still reported around the Iowa area. Portions of Highway 165 were flooded along with numerous roads around the Iowa area. Dozens of h…

Thunderstorms trained over the same area through the afternoon and evening across portions of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Over 10 inches of rain fell from Vinton to Starks, flooding roadways. Water also covered roadways in DeQuincy making them nearly impassable or cl…

An NWS storm survey found a small but severe microburst struck Westlake High School and adjacent areas in the central part of Westlake. This 200-yard wide by 300-yard long microburst occurred within a larger scale downburst that affected much of the city of Westlake. At the high …

Hurricane Ike caused tropical storm wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph, resulting in wind damage across Calcasieu Parish, mainly across western sections.

Hurricane Ike resulted in an 11 foot storm surge along the Calcasieu River, slightly higher than Hurricane Rita in 2005. At least 1000 homes were flooded, including in the city of Lake Charles, Westlake, and Sulphur. Southern sections of the parish, including Black Bayou, also fl…

Between 12 and 15 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours across Moss Bluff, resulting in widespread flooding in this bedroom community north of Lake Charles. Almost 400 homes were damaged, 100 of which were destroyed. US Highway 171 was closed between Moss Bluff and Gillis, an…

A large tree limb broke and blocked part of 9th Street. Numerous small branches were also broke in the area around downtown Lake Charles.

A wooden fence was damaged and a metal building had siding torn away.

A barn was blown down on Robinson Road.

Large tree branches were blown down from thunderstorm winds.

Heavy rain in Sulphur caused Bayou d'Inde to rise out of its banks. Street flooding affected a portion of the city as well after 5.67 fell in just over an hour. Three inches of water also flooded the gymnasium at Sulphur High School.

A 51 knot wind gust was reported at KLCH.

Multiple trees were snapped approximately 5 feet above the ground at the Jellystone RV Park.

A tree was snapped about 8 feet above the ground.

A wind gust of 55 knots was recorded at KLCH.

Numerous streets in Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, and Westlake flooded and closed with multiple vehicles flooded. A few homes flooded in Westlake after 6.34 inches of rain in 1.5 hours.

Minor flooding occurred in south Lake Charles.

The Lake Charles Regional Airport (KLCH) recorded 53 knots.

The Lake Charles Regional Airport (KLCH) recorded 53 knots.