Significant Weather Events

Dangerous Heat Builds and Expands; Critical Fire Weather for the Southwest; Severe Thunderstorms for Plains and Midwest

Dangerous to record breaking heat will build across the center of the nation and slowly build eastward this week. Wildfire conditions remain critical for the Southwest and portions of the Great Basin through Monday. For the northern Plains and upper Midwest, severe thunderstorms with the potential for large to very large hail and severe winds are the primary hazards. Read More >

May 1953 Flood

A series of rain events produced widespread heavy rainfall across the region with the highest amounts of 14 to 25 inches noted across Central Louisiana. This occurred on top of what was already a wet year. The result was the worst flooding on record at several of the gauging stations in Southwest and Central Louisiana.

Historical crests on area rivers
courtesy NWS AHPS

Flood State (ft)

Body of water

Location

Crest (ft)

Date

Minor

Major

All-time

Calcasieu R.

Glenmora

21.55

5/19/53

record

Calcasieu R.

Oakdale

22.62

5/19/53

record

Calcasieu R.

Oberlin

26.53

5/19/53

record

Calcasieu R.

Kinder

32.00

5/19/53

record

Calcasieu R.

Old Town Bay

16.10

5/21/53

record

Whisky Chitto C.

Mittie

32.80

5/18/53

record

B. Nezpique

Basile

34.39

5/20/53

record

B. Des Cannes

Eunice

22.36

5/20/53

record

B. Cocodrie

Clearwater

26.72

5/18/53

record

Mermentau R.

Mermentau

13.36

5/23/53

2nd

Sabine R.

Bon Weir

38.70

5/19/53

4th

Sabine R.

Deweyville

29.98

5/22/53

3rd

Neches R.

Town Bluff

82.85

5/21/53

3rd

Neches R.

Evadale

22.53

5/24/53

4th