Lake Charles, Louisiana — Strong thunderstorms may develop across parts of southwest and central Louisiana Saturday afternoon as a weak cold front approaches the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, the first storms could begin forming around noon across southern Louisiana, with the main line of thunderstorms expected to move through the area around 6 p.m. and continue into the evening hours.
Much of southwest Louisiana, including Lake Charles, Alexandria, and surrounding communities, is under a Level 2 “Slight Risk” for severe weather, meaning scattered severe storms are possible.
The primary threats with stronger storms include damaging wind gusts exceeding 58 mph and hail around 1 inch in diameter, while the tornado risk remains low but not zero.
Forecasters also warn that locally heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially in areas where storms repeatedly move over the same locations.
Rainfall probabilities are expected to increase significantly through Saturday afternoon and overnight into Sunday, with many communities seeing 60% to 90% chances of rain during peak storm periods.
The stalled front may continue supporting showers and thunderstorms into Sunday, increasing the risk of localized flooding in low-lying or poor drainage areas.
Residents planning outdoor activities this weekend are encouraged to remain weather aware and ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
Drivers should also avoid water-covered roads if flooding occurs, following the safety guidance: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”
