Significant Weather Events

Early-Mid January Heavy Rainfall Event

Lake Charles 88D image of total rainfall through noon Saturday

Lake Charles Doppler Radar estimate of total rainfall through Saturday morning the 13th. Notice the scale on the bottom left denoting estimated total inches of rainfall. Image courtesy of Plymouth State University.

A progressive weather pattern across the Gulf South brought a series of cold fronts, and their accompanying brief shots of heavy rain, to the region during early January...with much of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas already receiving well above-normal rainfall for the first week of the year. By the 9th, an area of low pressure developed over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico which moved northeast, pulling a warm front and its associated rains across the region. A round of heavier rains then initiated early on the 10th as a cold front moved into the area and stalled...hanging around the Atchafalaya Basin into the 11th. More scattered rains fell on the 12th as another cold front approached the area. However its passage on the 13th set the stage for another, and longer, round of persistent rains as warm air aloft rode over the colder air left in the wake of the front. These rains continued through mid-week, before an area of low pressure aloft finally crossed the western Gulf states, ushering in drier air through the atmosphere.

A series of surface analysis maps, courtesy of the Hydrologic Prediction Center, NWS.

Below is a list of 9-day rainfall totals resulting from the heavy rainfall/severe weather event starting on Tuesday, January 8th...running through the lingering over-running rainfall event which finally ended on Thursday the 17th.

LOCATION	TYPE	WED 1/9	THU 1/10	FRI 1/11	SAT 1/12	SUN 1/13	MON 1/14	TUE 1/15	WED 1/16	THU 1/17	TOTAL
EUNICE	co-op	1.09	11.16	0.41	0.63		0.94	1.41	1.21	0.07	16.92
JENNINGS	co-op	0.77	8.64	0.29	0.48		1.28	1.37	1.00	0.03	13.86
CROWLEY 2NE	co-op	1.38	9.35	0.50			1.15	0.18	0.80	0.02	13.38
BUNKIE	co-op	0.38	8.45	0.60	0.08		0.36	0.67	1.50	0.08	12.12
LAFAYETTE CADE FARM	raws		1.43	1.90	0.02		7.75	0.08	0.60	0.04	11.82
ROCKEFELLER NWR	co-op	1.12	8.75				0.74	0.20	0.50	0.02	11.33
FRANKLIN 3NW ^	co-op	5.57	0.70	2.60	0.44		0.29	1.30	0.12	0.03	11.05
MORGAN CITY	co-op	3.49	0.28	3.58	2.94		0.51		0.05	0.09	10.94
ABBEVILLE	co-op	3.20	3.92	1.53	0.07		1.51	0.25	0.22	0.02	10.72
LACASSINE	raws	0.45	7.49	0.27			0.79	0.68	0.63	0.01	10.32
SALT POINT	asos	3.94	0.48	3.30	1.60		0.56	0.05	0.01	0.09	10.03
CENTRAL LAFAYETTE	other		*8.59				+1.34				9.93
ALEXANDRIA ESLER AIRPORT	asos	0.36	7.30	0.47	0.26		0.79	0.09	0.51	0.04	9.82
NEW IBERIA	asos	3.88	1.10	2.59	0.03		2.10	0.06		0.02	9.78
JEANERETTE 5NW	co-op	5.06	0.85	1.38			1.46	0.86			9.61
KAPLAN	co-op	3.27	4.05	0.93			1.27				9.52
OPELOUSAS	co-op		7.79					0.25	0.90	0.13	9.07
ALEXANDRIA POWER PLANT	co-op	0.40	5.80	0.25	0.10		1.10	0.10	0.63		8.38
ELMER 2SW	co-op	0.42	6.01	0.19	0.12	0.01	0.93	0.10	0.37	0.03	8.18
LAFAYETTE	asos	2.67	1.88	1.82	0.03		1.31	0.11	0.28	0.06	8.16
CHENEYVILLE 5W	co-op	0.23	5.47	0.44	0.11		0.51	0.27	0.94	0.02	7.99
BOYCE 3WNW ^	co-op	0.55	3.64	2.58		0.10	0.57	0.20	0.17	0.15	7.96
OBERLIN FIRE TOWER	co-op	0.31	6.22	0.13			0.04	0.12	0.95		7.77
GARDNER	raws	0.44	5.14	0.34	0.27		0.88	0.06	0.44	0.02	7.59
ALEXANDRIA 5SSE ^	co-op	0.35	3.51	2.55	0.02	0.11	0.43	0.02	0.45	0.03	7.47
KINDER	co-op	0.30	5.90	0.10	0.20			0.10	0.80		7.40
FULLERTON	raws	0.53	5.39	0.09	0.07		0.47	0.39	0.26	0.01	7.21
SAM HOUSTON JONES S.P.	co-op	0.60	5.60	0.05	0.11	0.02		0.10	0.50	0.03	7.01
DRY CREEK	co-op		6.68						0.32		7.00
LAFAYETTE	co-op		3.25	1.45			1.45	0.30	0.25	0.25	6.95
MITTIE	co-op	0.22	4.77	0.15	0.10		0.52	0.09	0.58	0.02	6.45
ALEXANDRIA INTL	asos	0.40	4.39	0.01	0.17	0.02	0.75	0.28	0.24	0.03	6.29
FT. POLK-FULLERTON	asos	0.65	5.00	0.10	0.06			0.19	0.19	0.01	6.20
CAMERON PRAIRIE NWR	co-op	0.55	4.90	0.14			0.50				6.09
MOSS BLUFF 2NNW ^	co-op	0.12	2.85	2.38	0.01	0.05		0.07	0.46	0.08	6.02
LAKE CHARLES	asos	0.32	4.69	0.14			0.05	0.12	0.60		5.92
MOSS BLUFF	co-op	0.28	4.53	0.07	0.12		0.14	0.16	0.54		5.84
SALTWATER BARRIER	co-op	0.24	4.30	0.11	0.05	0.02	0.11	0.16	0.50	0.04	5.53
OAKDALE	co-op		5.15						0.38		5.53
LEESVILLE	co-op	0.93	3.05	0.02	0.23		0.51	0.62	0.14		5.50
LAKE CHARLES CHENNAULT	awos	0.28	4.47	0.08	0.02		0.08	0.12	0.44		5.49
LEESVILLE 6SSW	co-op	1.15	3.42				0.80		0.11		5.48
PORT OF LAKE CHARLES	co-op	0.37	4.15	0.08	0.02		0.08	0.12	0.52		5.34
FT. POLK-SELF STRIP	asos	0.88	3.19	0.07	0.12	0.13	0.44	0.27	0.20	0.01	5.31
ORANGE 9N	co-op	0.28	3.45	0.70	0.12	0.01	0.25	0.08	0.21	0.01	5.11
HACKBERRY 8SSW	co-op	0.40	3.65	0.06			0.14	0.15	0.63	0.01	5.04
BEAUMONT PT. ARTHUR AIRPORT	asos	0.38	4.19	0.01	0.06	0.04	0.04	0.07	0.22	0.02	5.03
TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR	co-op	1.52	2.10		0.30		0.49	0.41	0.13	0.02	4.97
BUNA	raws	0.59	3.24		0.05	0.10	0.52	0.35	0.08		4.93
FT. POLK AAF	asos	0.84	2.92	0.07	0.08	0.06	0.44	0.22	0.18		4.81
COLMESNEIL 4E	co-op	2.29	1.36			0.34	0.34	0.32	0.09		4.74
OBERLIN	co-op	0.27	3.79				0.14	0.16	0.35	0.01	4.72
SABINE	raws	0.49	3.16	0.10		0.03	0.06	0.12	0.60	0.01	4.57
SILSBEE 4N	co-op	0.60	2.90		0.05	0.30	0.05	0.40			4.30
LELAND BOWMAN LOCKS	co-op			1.57			2.32	0.13	0.21	0.04	4.27
OLD TOWN BAY	co-op	0.29	2.38	0.32	0.04		0.15	0.20	0.84		4.22
LUMBERTON	co-op	0.72	2.70		0.05	0.10	0.30	0.30			4.17
BEAUMONT	co-op	0.55	2.83		0.02	0.01	0.38	0.17	0.10		4.06
MCFADDIN	raws	0.29	2.95	0.01		0.03	0.05	0.05	0.26		3.64
BEAUMONT RESEARCH CENTER	co-op	0.78	2.34		0.04	0.05	0.27	0.12	0.03		3.63
WOODVILLE	raws	0.91	1.40	0.01	0.14	0.31	0.57	0.08	0.09		3.51
HARMONY	co-op	0.93	1.35		0.23	0.50	0.30	0.11	0.07		3.49
SOUR LAKE	co-op	0.70	1.84		0.01	0.01	0.38	0.30	0.04		3.28
FRED	co-op	0.58	1.88					0.66	0.07		3.19
CHESTER 1SE	co-op	1.75	1.13				0.24				3.12
SULPHUR	awos	0.23	2.74	0.01			0.02		0.04		3.04
WARREN	raws	0.54	1.22		0.01	0.15	0.91	0.09	0.06		2.98
STEINHAGEN LAKE	co-op	0.36	1.32		0.02	0.84	0.18	0.16	0.08		2.96
WILDWOOD	co-op	0.65	1.30		0.05	0.26	0.54	0.07	0.07		2.94
WOODVILLE 7ENE	co-op	0.56	1.38				0.63	0.16	0.05		2.78
PORT ARTHUR	co-op		2.30				0.16	0.06	0.21	0.03	2.76
SPURGER 1NE	co-op	0.30	1.37			0.35	0.50	0.19	0.04		2.75
CARENCRO	co-op			1.19			0.95		0.42		2.56
JASPER	awos	0.44	1.29			0.07	0.37	0.04	0.01		2.22
DERIDDER	co-op	0.51		0.43	0.11	0.03	0.72	0.23	0.11	0.03	2.17
WOODVILLE	co-op	0.55	1.40					0.09	0.05		2.09
IVANHOE	co-op	0.68			0.19	0.34	0.65	0.17			2.03
DERIDDER	awos	0.29	1.43		0.07	0.02		0.04	0.13		1.98
SHADY GROVE	co-op	1.70	0.24								1.94
SAM REYBURN RESERVOIR	co-op				0.01	0.40	0.52	0.25	0.10		1.28
WOODVILLE 2W	co-op				0.10	0.60	0.10	0.20			1.00
ORANGE	awos	0.01	0.23	0.38	0.27	0.02	0.01	0.01	0.01		0.94

- Individual totals are for the 24 hours ending at 0700 or 0800 for the day listed above the column, except for the following...
^ ending 0000 the day listed above the column * 72-hour total ending 2000 + 4-day total ending 2000

- Blank cells indicate periods in which no rain was reported, a trace amount was reported, or no report was received

- All data is considered unofficial...official data should be available via the National Climatic Data Center starting February 1st, 2013

- Location type glossary
      co-op: Cooperative Reporting Station      asos: NWS or DOD Automated Observing Station
      awos: FAA Automated Observing Station      raws: Interagency Remote Automated Weather Observing Stations
      other: Miscellaneous report

The following list is 48-hour rainfall amounts, ending at 1800 on Thursday the 10th for sites within the Calcasieu Parish Alert Network. All roads are located in or near Lake Charles unless noted.

IOWA	6.73
HECKER ROAD	6.26
JOE SPEARS ROAD	6.38
WARD LINE ROAD	6.03
KAYOUCHEE COULEE PUMP STATION	5.71
GOOS ROAD	5.67
MARK LEBLEU ROAD	5.63
BANKENS ROAD	5.63
COFFEY ROAD	5.35
ELLIOT ROAD	5.27
DOUGLAS ROAD	5.04
TOPSY ROAD	5.00
NELSON ROAD	5.00
HIGHWAY 90 (SULPHUR)	4.61
EAST PRIEN LAKE ROAD	4.29
HIGHWAY 27 (CARLYSS)	4.18
PICARD STREET	4.09
DAVE DUGAS ROAD (CARLYSS)	3.90
CURRIE DRIVE	3.74
BOYS VILLAGE ROAD	3.42

The following are other 3-day totals ending on Thursday the 10th.

WEST EUNICE	13.80
EAST MAMOU	12.75
LA 335 NR COW ISLAND	12.00
NEW IBERIA	11.40
SAINT MARTINVILLE COURTHOUSE	10.60
LAKE ARTHUR	9.25
HILLSIDE DRIVE (LAFAYETTE)	8.59
7 EAST OF ALEXANDRIA	8.23
LAFAYETTE KATC	8.03
DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA KALB TV	6.34

The result of all this rain was a localized flash flood and widespread river flood event...for further details on continuing flooding, please refer to our Advanced Hydrology Prediction Service page.

Map of river flood sites with category of flooding

The following is a list of area waterways which went into flood, and their record flood height for comparison.

Body of Water	Location	Flood Stage	Crest	Date of Crest	Category of Flooding	Record Crest	Date of Record
Mermentau River	Mermentau	4	10.5	1/15/13	major	14.5	8/7/1940
Bayou Des Cannes	Eunice	16	21.4	1/12/13	major	22.4	5/20/1953
Bayou Vermilion	Carencro	17	21.5	1/11/13	major	22.5	3/12/2012
Calcasieu River	Old Town Bay	4	7.6	1/14/13	moderate	16.1	5/21/1953
Whisky Chitto Creek	Mittie	15	21.4	1/12/13	moderate	32.8	5/18/1953
Bayou Vermilion	Lafayette (Surrey St)	10	14.0	1/10/13	moderate	24.9	8/9/1940
Calcasieu River	Oberlin	13	18.2	1/15/13	moderate	26.5	5/19/1953
Calcasieu River	Glenmora	12	16.4	1/12/13	moderate	21.6	5/19/1953
Calcasieu River	Kinder	16	20.6	1/13/13	moderate	32.0	5/19/1953
Bayou Nezpique	Basile	22	26.1	1/13/13	moderate	34.4	5/20/1953
Calcasieu River	Saltwater Barrier	4	4.7	1/13/13	minor	13.0	10/1/1913
Calcasieu River	Oakdale	12	13.9	1/13/13	minor	22.6	5/19/1953
Cow Bayou	Mauriceville	17	17.9	1/10/13	minor	22.5	10/29/2006
Bayou Cocodrie	Clearwater	19	20.0	1/13/13	minor	26.7	5/18/1953
Bundick Creek	Bundick Lake	97	98.1	1/11/13	minor	102.2	3/22/2012
Sabine River	Deweyville	24	24.2	1/14/13	minor	29.2	7/6/1989

The Civil Air Patrol was able to do an flyover of the flooded areas on the 17th of January:

Photos From Flood Surveys: