National Weather Service in Lake Charles Warns of Potential for Damaging Straight-Line Wind Gusts, Heavy Rainfall, Severe Storms, and Coastal Flooding

On Monday, January 23, 2023, the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana announced that residents should expect damaging straight-line gradient wind gusts, heavy rainfall, the potential for severe storms, and coastal flooding in the area from Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night.

A strong surface low will form over Southeast Texas and move across the region late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, roughly from Beaumont, Texas to Alexandria, Louisiana. This surface low will cause a number of problems, including:

Strong and potentially damaging southerly winds with gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour. A High Wind Warning has been issued for the area southeast of a line running from Beaumont to Alexandria, with a wind advisory for the area northwest of this line. Wind gusts may knock down large tree limbs and power lines, resulting in power outages and hazardous driving conditions, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

The strong south winds will also cause water to accumulate along the coast, causing tides to rise 2 to 3 feet above astronomically predicted levels. With the high tide late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening, this will cause flooding of low spots along the coast.

The low will bring widespread showers and a few thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts will range from 1 to 3 inches across the area, with some higher amounts causing flooding, particularly in urban areas with poor drainage. Excessive rainfall, which may cause flooding, has a Slight Risk Potential (level 2 out of 4).

In addition, some of the thunderstorms may become severe, with damaging wind gusts and a few spin-up tornadoes. The greater likelihood of seeing severe storms and tornadoes will be over lower Acadiana, where severe storms have an Enhanced Risk Potential (level 3 out of 5). Elsewhere, there is a Marginal (level 1 out of 5) to Slight (level 2 out of 5) risk of severe storms in the late afternoon and early evening on Tuesday.

Make sure you are weather aware on Tuesday and have multiple ways to receive official National Weather Service warnings.