Louisiana Special Weather Statement | Effective 05/08/2026 11:47

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued May 8 at 1:47PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
May 8, 2026 - 11:47am
Expires: 
May 8, 2026 - 12:30pm
Description: 
At 147 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Albany to near Donaldsonville. Movement was east at 40 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Hammond, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Reserve, Laplace, Ponchatoula, Gramercy, Lutcher, Sorrento, French Settlement, Albany, Port Vincent, Springfield, Edgard, Convent, North Vacherie, Garyville, Wallace, Whitehall, and Montz. This includes the following Interstates... Interstate 10 in Louisiana between mile markers 179 and 211. Interstate 12 between mile markers 26 and 53. Interstate 55 in Louisiana between mile markers 1 and 31.
Instruction: 
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. If on or near marine areas, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Area Description: 
St. James; St. John The Baptist; Central Tangipahoa; Lower Tangipahoa; Northern Livingston; Southern Livingston; Western Ascension; Eastern Ascension
Forcast Office: 
NWS New Orleans LA
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov