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By Sam Shamburger, Meteorologist
Intern & Mark Wiley, Journeyman Forecaster
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Widespread
severe weather impacted much of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana
during the evening hours of Sunday, May 29th and the early
morning hours of Memorial Day. Numerous large hail and wind damage
reports were received by the National Weather Service office in Lake
Charles.
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Weather
conditions across the region were quite favorable for severe weather
on May 29th. Surface observations from Beaumont and Lake
Charles showed a warm, humid air mass in place, with temperatures in
the lower 80s and dew points in the 70s. In addition, the 7pm upper
air balloon sounding from the Lake Charles office indicated a fairly
unstable atmosphere, along with rather strong winds for late May in
the middle and upper levels. As an upper level disturbance began
approaching the area from central Texas, numerous showers and
thunderstorms developed around the Houston area. These storms
spread eastward into southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana during
the evening, lasting into the early morning hours of Memorial Day. |
Widespread
wind damage occurred with these storms from Lumberton to Beaumont, with
numerous trees and power lines reported blown down throughout the area.
Electric power was reportedly knocked out to 11,000 homes and
businesses. As this severe thunderstorm moved eastward, it blew down
more trees and dropped golf ball size hail around Vidor.
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Another line
of severe thunderstorms developed later in the evening across Southeast
Texas, and moved eastward across southwest Louisiana through the early
morning hours. Nickel to golf ball size hail, downed trees and power
lines, and funnel clouds were all reported with this line of storms
along an over 100 mile path.
National
Weather Service Lake Charles issued twelve Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
for this event and one Tornado Warning, and nearly all were verified
with severe weather reports. Each of these warnings was issued an
average of 21 minutes before large hail or damaging winds was reported,
allowing persons in the affected areas ample time to seek shelter. |
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www.nws.noaa.gov 
