A strong upper level storm system moved its way out of the southern Great Basin and into the Southern Plains during the afternoon hours of December 23rd.  Strong southerly flow was found ahead of this storm system with dewpoint temperatures in the lower to middle 60s noted northward to the Interstate 20 corridor of northeast Texas and northern Louisiana.  Impressive deep layer shear was noted in the warm sector across the region which was conducive for discrete storm cells during the afternoon and evening across northeast Texas.  These storms spawned tornadoes and produced large hail across portions of northeast Texas.  The storm system moved eastward during the predawn hours of December 24th with again, numerous storms producing tornadoes across southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana.  In addition to all the storm damage...these storms were prolific rain makers with numerous reports of flash flooding across the region as well.

Flash Flood in BIENVILLE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 07:06:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous roads were underwater and closed across the parish.

Flash Flood in CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 07:06:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOCO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous parish roads were underwater and closed across the parish.

Tornado in SABINE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 04:21:00 to 24-DEC-09 04:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several pine trees were snapped along hwy. 175 north of the intersection of Hwy. 171 and 175.  The weak tornado tracked north along Hwy. 175 and uprooted several large trees on the east side of Hwy. 175 before lifting.  Maximum winds are estimated at 70-75 mph.

Flash Flood in CADDO, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 04:29:00 to 24-DEC-09 05:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA ROSEN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Linwood Avenue between Bert Kouns and Flournoy Lucas Road was flooded.

Tornado in UNION, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 08:20:00 to 24-DEC-09 08:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHILOH
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous trees were downed, with trees damaging 3 homes on the northwest shore of Lake Darbonne. Several tin sheds were blown into the woods/lake, and a wooden shop was moved off of its foundation. Shingles were removed off of one home. The heaviest concentration of damage was found on Walnut Tree Road north of Highway 2. Per the local media/eye-witness reports, strong post-frontal gradient winds downed a couple of damaged trees along the tornado���s path, destroying a metal shed.

Tornado in RED RIVER, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 05:36:00 to 24-DEC-09 05:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARTIN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few trees large trees were downed along with large snapped limbs with the initial touchdown near SR 784 and Esperanza Road.  The storm then moved in a north northeast direction snapping tree tops on PR 207 before lifting just southeast of Martin, Louisiana. Maximum winds were estimated at 70-75 mph.

Flash Flood in RED RIVER, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 07:42:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALL SUMMIT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous reports of roads underwater and closed across the parish.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 07:26:00 to 24-DEC-09 07:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOMER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Trees were downed on Cooktown Road in extreme southeast Claiborne Parish.

Flash Flood in UNION, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANDOLPH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flash flooding was reported across western Union Parish which closed roads between Junction City and Bernice, Louisiana. Water was also reported in a few homes.

Thunderstorm Wind in DE SOTO, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 04:50:00 to 24-DEC-09 04:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PELICAN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm winds downed a tree in Pelican, Louisiana.

Flash Flood in LINCOLN, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 08:30:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHAUTAUQUA SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was covering several roads throughout the city of Ruston, Louisiana including Sunshine Road, LA 146, Ewbanks Road, Sisemore and Hedge Path.

Thunderstorm Wind in LINCOLN, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 08:30:00 to 24-DEC-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHAUTAUQUA SPGS
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were downed and entangled in powerlines along Chandler Road.

Flash Flood in UNION, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 08:00:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARMERVILLE ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flooding was reported on Hwy. 3 and 143 from near Rocky Branch and Crossroads near Haile, Louisiana.

Flash Flood in BIENVILLE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 09:30:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARCADIA ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Water was running over Saline Ridge Road and swept a truck off the road.  A high water rescue was needed for an elderly man who was trapped in a truck.  The man was taken to a local hospital for hypothermia.

Flash Flood in DE SOTO, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 24-DEC-09 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

State Wildlife and Fisheries agents had to remove a woman from here flooded car when she attempted to cross flooded Hwy. 513 (Oxford Road) early Christmas morning.

Tornado in SABINE, LOUISIANA
From 24-DEC-09 03:24:00 to 24-DEC-09 03:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: BELMONT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several large pecan trees were uprooted east of Hwy. 175 south of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana where an EF0 tornado first touched down.  The tornado traveled northeast approximately 1.2 miles snapping large limbs and damaging numerous trees before lifting at the intersection of Terrell Road and Miles Road.  Maximum winds are estimated at 65-75 mph.