Lake Charles, Louisiana - The National Weather Service has confirmed that at least two tornadoes touched down in Calcasieu Parish during the severe storms that swept across southwest Louisiana on Saturday night, damaging homes, trees, vehicles, and fences across the region.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday that an EF-0 tornado and an EF-1 tornado both formed within a roughly 20-minute span as strong thunderstorms moved through the area. Officials cautioned that additional tornadoes or straight-line wind damage may still be identified as storm surveys continue.

EF-0 Tornado Tracked From Carlyss Into South Lake Charles

According to the NWS, the first confirmed tornado was rated EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength based on wind speed and the type of damage observed. An EF-0 tornado is the lowest rating, but it can still cause roof damage, downed trees, and impacts to vehicles and outbuildings.

Forecasters said this EF-0 tornado produced winds up to 85 mph. It began near Southland Field in Carlyss and traveled approximately 6 miles, crossing the Calcasieu River and moving into south Lake Charles.

The tornado was on the ground from about 8:38 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and reached a maximum width of about 50 yards. Along its path, the storm damaged homes, trees, vehicles, and fences, consistent with what residents across southwest Louisiana reported during and after the storms.

EF-1 Tornado Briefly Touches Down Near U.S. 14

A second, stronger tornado was confirmed later in the evening. NWS officials said an EF-1 tornado briefly touched down near U.S. Highway 14, starting around Pinewood Drive.

The tornado was reported to have formed around 8:55 p.m. and lifted around 9 p.m., remaining on the ground only a short time but still strong enough to cause notable damage. EF-1 tornadoes, which produce winds between 86 and 110 mph, are capable of peeling roofs off houses, overturning mobile homes, and snapping large tree limbs.

Along its path near U.S. 14, the EF-1 tornado damaged mobile homes, large trees, and additional houses before dissipating.

Damage Surveys Ongoing Across Southwest Louisiana

Because the storms were widespread and intense, NWS teams said fully completed damage surveys will likely take another two to three days. Survey crews visit impacted areas, document damage, and compare those findings with radar data to determine how many tornadoes occurred, how strong they were, and where they traveled.

That process can lead to updates in the coming days, including more detailed track maps and, in some cases, additional tornado confirmations if new damage is identified or reported.

NWS Asks Public To Report Storm Damage

The National Weather Service is asking anyone in Calcasieu Parish or the surrounding southwest Louisiana region who has storm damage to report it, along with the location of the damage.

Those reports help meteorologists refine tornado paths, confirm or rule out additional tornadoes, and better understand how storms evolved over time. Information from the public, combined with radar data and on-the-ground inspection, is a key part of post-storm analysis and helps improve future forecasts and warnings.

More Information Expected In Coming Days

With surveys still underway and damage spread across portions of Calcasieu Parish—including areas in and around Carlyss and south Lake Charles—officials expect to release more details later this week. Those updates may include refined wind speed estimates, more precise start and end points for each tornado, and a clearer picture of how Saturday’s storms affected southwest Louisiana.

For now, the NWS has confirmed:

• One EF-0 tornado, up to 85 mph, tracking about 6 miles from near Southland Field in Carlyss, across the Calcasieu River, into south Lake Charles, on the ground from approximately 8:38 to 8:45 p.m., up to 50 yards wide.
• One EF-1 tornado near U.S. 14 beginning at Pinewood Drive, on the ground around 8:55 p.m. and lifting around 9 p.m., damaging mobile homes, large trees, and additional homes.

Officials emphasize that this information is preliminary and may be updated as survey work continues.