A line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front and moved eastward across southwest Louisiana during the late morning and afternoon hours.  Ahead of the line, numerous supercells developed across the northern Gulf of Mexico and moved northward across the area. Two of the supercells spawned a total of 6 tornadoes, while several reports of damaging winds were received with the line of storms. All of these storms combined to produce widespread heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the entire area.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:00:00 to 22-OCT-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE ARTHUR
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS Employee witnessed several trees blown down in the northern portion of Lake Arthur along Highway 14, with power knocked out to the entire town.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAPIDES, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 13:00:00 to 22-OCT-09 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALEXANDRIA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Rapides Parish Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down all across Rapides Parish.

Tornado in CAMERON, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 09:32:00 to 22-OCT-09 09:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND CHENIER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Cameron Parish Sheriff Office reported a tornado southwest of Grand Chenier. Radar indicated the tornado was likely a waterspout that moved onshore. No damage was reported.

Tornado in ALLEN, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:05:00 to 22-OCT-09 12:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: OBERLIN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The same supercell that spawned the tornado that struck Elton produced another brief tornado that damaged a barn on Robert Sonnier Lane, approximately 6 miles north of Elton. Area residents reported the damage to KPLC-TV.

Tornado in ALLEN, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:15:00 to 22-OCT-09 12:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The same supercell that spawned the previous tornado produced another weak tornado that formed south of Ward Road and just west of Deshotel Road. This tornado moved to the north-northeast, causing minor tree damage along Ward Road.  The tornado then moved through inaccessible forested areas east of Norris Road, before reaching the far eastern portions of Oakdale. Several large tree limbs and a few trees were blown down along Highway 372 and South Street in Oakdale before the tornado dissipated just south of Highway 10.

Thunderstorm Wind in ACADIA, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:30:00 to 22-OCT-09 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: EGAN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS employee reported several road signs blown down along Interstate 10 at mile marker 71 just south of Egan.

Flash Flood in CALCASIEU, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 09:15:00 to 22-OCT-09 12:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE CHARLES LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm spotters and the Lake Charles American Press newspaper reported widespread street flooding across the central and northern portions of Lake Charles.  Several major roadways were flooded, including Ryan Street and Enterprise Blvd., as were numerous side streets including Granger Street and Franklin Street. Photos showed water was up to the doors of homes on Franklin Street.

Flash Flood in ST. MARY, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 15:00:00 to 22-OCT-09 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUCKLAND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Morgan City Daily Review reported widespread street flooding across the cities of Patterson, Berwick, and Morgan City. Several streets were closed in Berwick due to the flooding. Photos of flooding on Sixth Street at Belanger Street in Morgan City showed water well above roadside curbs and into the yards of residences. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rain gauge at Berwick Locks measured a total of 4.25 inches of rain.

Flash Flood in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:15:00 to 22-OCT-09 15:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABBEVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Abbeville Meridional newspaper reported widespread street flooding across the city of Abbeville. Numerous streets were underwater across the city, including Prairie Street, and some roads were closed due to the flooding, including Lafayette Street. Water completely surrounded several homes along Lafayette Street.

Flash Flood in LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:45:00 to 22-OCT-09 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lafayette Daily Advertiser newspaper reported widespread street flooding across the city of Lafayette. Some major roadways such as Verot School Road were underwater, with water up to the undercarriages of some cars. Several coulees across the city also overflowed their banks.

Flash Flood in RAPIDES, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 14:30:00 to 22-OCT-09 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALEXANDRIA SOUTHWEST
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

KALB-TV and the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper reported significant flooding across Alexandria and Pineville. Several underpasses across Alexandria were flooded, with high water in many ditches and culverts across Pineville. A 12 year old boy playing on his bicycle in a drainage ditch near the intersection of McDermott and Fairbrook Streets in Pineville was swept away by the fast current, and died two days later in an Alexandria hospital.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 11:22:00 to 22-OCT-09 11:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROANOKE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The same supercell that spawned the tornado near Lake Arthur produced a large, long track multiple vortex tornado that touched down south of Highway 90 just east of Farm Supply Road to the southeast of Roanoke. The tornado moved to the north-northeast and crossed Highway 90 around 2 miles east of Roanoke, it produced a half-mile wide damage path along the highway. In this area, a farmhouse received minor damage to the roof, a barn was moderately damaged, and a metal silo was destroyed. In addition, a few trees and several large tree limbs were blown down, and several wooden transmission power poles were snapped in half.
Continuing northward, the tornado then passed across Interstate 10, blowing an 18-wheeler and several cars into the median of the highway, and knocking down a few trees. The driver of the 18-wheeler was injured and required hospitalization, and the eastbound lanes of the interstate were closed for several hours. An NWS employee located 1 mile east of the tornado took photographs and video as it crossed the interstate. Further to the north, several trees were blown down along Aaron Road and Dave Williams Road, and the metal roof of a home on Koll Road was blown off. After crossing Grand Marais Road just west of Elton Drive, the tornado damaged the carport of a home and severely damaged a barn.
The tornado then began moving north-northwestward, blowing down a few trees along Bryan Road and Ardoin Road, before crossing Highway 102 about 2 miles west of Hathaway where it blew down more trees. Curving more northward, the tornado then began moving along Highway 395, where it blew down trees along both sides of the highway and caused minor damage to the roof of one home on Bucklin Road.  Continuing northward through the community of China, the tornado finally dissipated to the north of China Cemetary Road, just west of Highway 395.

Flash Flood in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 12:00:00 to 22-OCT-09 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROANOKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS employee conducting storm surveys observed numerous flooded roadways across rural areas of southern Jefferson Davis Parish between Interstate 10 and Highway 14. Some roadways that were underwater and impassable included Farm Supply Road, Lyons Road, Roche Road, and Guidry Road.

Tornado in ALLEN, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 11:55:00 to 22-OCT-09 11:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: KINDER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The large tornado that moved through the town of Elton in Jefferson Davis Parish crossed into Allen Parish. Continuing northward, the tornado caused scattered damage to trees before dissipating north of Clarence Road.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 11:47:00 to 22-OCT-09 11:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELTON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Another large tornado touched down about 3 miles south of Elton to the east of Highway 395 as the previous tornado began to dissipate to the west. This tornado damaged a shed along Dan Buller Road, before moving northward and striking Elton. A 3 block wide swath of damage resulted in the western portion of the town, generally between Washington Street and Henderson Street. Numerous large trees and power lines were blown down, with a few trees falling on houses. Several homes received minor roof damage, with a few poorly constructed homes and mobile homes losing their entire tin roofs. Some streets were completely covered with debris from homes and trees. The sporadic nature of the damage was indicative of a multiple vortex structure to the tornado. In total, fifteen homes were damaged in Elton, with four homes completely destroyed. Local officials stated the damage was considerably worse than seen from Hurricane Rita. After leaving Elton, the tornado continued northward into Allen Parish.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 22-OCT-09 11:00:00 to 22-OCT-09 11:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE ARTHUR LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF0 Tornado began south of Pom Roy Road and moved north-northeastward, damaging several trees. As the tornado crossed Highway 14 about 4 miles west of Lake Arthur, it damaged several more trees at homes on the south side of the highway and blew around some outdoor furniture. The tornado then continued north-northeastward across rural areas, knocking down a power pole on Highway 380 and blowing down a swath of sugarcane along Rouch Road. A resident of Thornwell photographed the tornado as it traveled through this area. More power poles and power lines were blown down as the tornado crossed Lyons Road just south of Guidry Road. The tornado then curved northward and north-northwestward, crossing back over Lyons Road just north of Mouton Road, where it knocked down several more power poles before dissipating.