Impact Of Latest Louisiana Storms: Damage In Many Parishes

(KMDL-FM) For those of you who like to complain about weather forecasters "getting it wrong" all the time. I hope you will give the meteorologists at the National Weather Service and your local media outlets some credit. They were right on the money with last night's storm threat across Louisiana.

As predicted, strong storms entered the state from the west during the day on Wednesday. They marched across the state during late afternoon and early evening hours. As those squall lines advanced, numerous weather watches and warnings were issued.

What Storm Damage Was Reported Across Louisiana on Wednesday?

Fortunately, most of us paid attention to the forecast and the warnings and moved to a place of safety and shelter when the storms moved through our hometowns. For the most part, the damage was minimal, a few limbs down, some remaining fall leaves blown from tree limbs, and perhaps some of the stronger wind gusts rearranged outdoor decorations in yards and gardens.

And while that was true for many, it wasn't true for everyone in Louisiana. The folks in Tangipahoa Parish are waking up to cleanup efforts in a couple of places thanks to last night's wild weather.

That video was posted around 10 pm last night by the Tangipahoa Sheriff's Department. The video shows just how violent the storms were in that part of the state. You can also see the damage created as the storm system rolled through.

Was Louisiana Storm Damage a Result of a Tornado?

National Weather Service Radar signatures monitoring the storm's passage through Louisiana indicated "hook echoes" in some of the storms as they passed through Tangipahoa Parish. The hook echo is often viewed as confirmation of tornadic rotation in a thunderstorm as viewed by a Doppler Radar.

WDSU-TV out of New Orleans is reporting that many roads in Tangipahoa Parish had tree limbs or other hazards scattered across them. As of late Wednesday and early Thursday, clean-up efforts were already underway.

WDSU also offered this video tour of the damage from last night's storms.

Storm damage was reported in other parishes, generally east of Baton Rouge and north of Lake Pontchartrain. Several of the thunderstorms that moved through that part of the state at the time did carry severe warnings or tornado warnings.

The good news is that much calmer conditions have already moved in behind the storm system. Sunny skies, slightly cooler temperatures, and decreased humidity should be the weather words for today and the next several days.

What Weather Advisories Are Posted for Louisiana Today?

There is a wind advisory in effect for much of the I-10 corridor from Baton Rouge westward through Lake Charles and into southeastern Texas. Gusty winds of 20-25 mph with gusts exceeding 35 mph will be common today.

Those strong winds could make east/west travel along I-10 a bit dicey for high-profile vehicles such as long-haul trucks, campers, utility trailers, and RVs. Those high winds will lay down later this afternoon.

Temperatures across the region will be cooler, especially with the breeze, but the real chill won't arrive until Sunday when another strong cold front is expected to push through the area, giving some parts of the state one last threat for frost.

10 Costliest Tornadoes in US History

When it comes to natural disasters in the United States, tornadoes are pretty spectacular. They're absolutely terrifying, deadlier than hurricanes and wildfires, and completely unpredictable. They're also some of the most awe-inspiring things to see in person. While they don't cost nearly as much as hurricanes and wildfires, they do get expensive in greatly localized areas. Here are the most expensive in US history.

Gallery Credit: Kelso