A cold front slowly moved into Southeast Texas and then into far west sections of Louisiana during the 20th. The cold front stalled upon entering Louisiana and then slowly moved back west through the evening before finally moving east in the morning of the 21st. The slow moving boundary produced severe weather and widespread flooding.

Coastal Flood in WEST CAMERON, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 20-MAR-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Strong persistent south winds pushed water into low coastal areas. The water reached the highest points during the late afternoon at high tide and again when the line of storms passed. Highway 82 between Cameron and Holly Beach had water and debris pushed onto the roadway. The road was cleared quickly and did not close.

Coastal Flood in ST. MARY, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 21-MAR-12 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Persistent strong south winds pushed water to around 2 feet above normal across coastal Louisiana. This flooded low lying areas near bayous, canals, and bays. The water reached the highest points during the late afternoon at high tide and again when the line of storms passed. Water was reported over the road at Burns Point.

Flash Flood in VERNON, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 18:36:00 to 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNIGHT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.52M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorms trained over the same area through the afternoon and evening across portions of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Betwen 10 and 14 inches of rain flooded cars and closed and/or washed out some roadways around Hornbeck and Leesville. Cars were reported to be trapped and/or floating on Highway 171 from Hornbeck to Rosepine during the event. OEP reported 22 homes were flooded.

Flash Flood in BEAUREGARD, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 16:14:00 to 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HELME
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.84M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorms trained over the same area through the afternoon and evening across portions of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.  Between 10 and 16 inches of rain fell across thwe western half of Beauregard Parish. Heavy rain flooded 106 homes and closed some roadways around Deridder, Merryville, and Fields. Water was reported to be around 5 feet deep over portions of Highway 27 near Highway 110.

Coastal Flood in EAST CAMERON, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 20-MAR-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Strong persistent south winds pushed water into low coastal areas. The water reached the highest points during the late afternoon at high tide and again when the line of storms passed. Main Street in Downtown Cameron had water covering the roadway, however the road remained open. The tide gauge reported water at 2 to 2.5 feet above normal.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 03:17:00 to 21-MAR-12 03:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAKE ARTHUR
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

At least 30-40 homes and businesses were damaged when a tornado tore through Lake Arthur. Most of the damage was roof damage, although several homes had windows and walls damaged from flying debris. The water tower had a large radio antenna fall from it. Numerous trees and power lines were down.

Tornado in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 03:40:00 to 21-MAR-12 03:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUEYDAN
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 2.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado began south of Gueydan near the LA 91 and LA 3143 intersection, where a large barn was destroyed and several homes had minor roof damage. Several gravestones were overturned at a local cemetary. When the tornado reached Gueydan, it flipped one single-wide mobile home that was tied down, destroying it, and heavily damaged two other mobile homes. At least 20 other homes in town received minor roof damage, and the town hall had roof damage as well. Numerous trees were snapped or blown down along the path. One minor injury happened in one mobile home when a man tried to escape his house after the storm and he stepped on broken glass, cutting his feet.

Flash Flood in CALCASIEU, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 15:13:00 to 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VINTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.75M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorms trained over the same area through the afternoon and evening across portions of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana.  Over 10 inches of rain fell from Vinton to Starks, flooding roadways. Water also covered roadways in DeQuincy making them nearly impassable or closed. Water entered multiple homes in the Starks and DeQuincy areas.

Tornado in ST. MARY, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 07:10:00 to 21-MAR-12 07:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: PATTERSON
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A large industrial warehouse had its garage door blown in, and several smaller neighboring storage buildings had minor damage with sheet metal peeled off the corners of the buildings. Across the street, sheet metal was pulled off an industrial canopy and debris was blown across Highway 90 into downtown Patterson.

Tornado in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 04:53:00 to 21-MAR-12 04:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: BANCKER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down west of Henry, where is blew the roof off a barn, and damaged several other outbuildings. Several trees were snapped.

Hail in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 03:33:00 to 21-MAR-12 03:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: JENNINGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A public report of hail to one inch in diameter was relayed from KPLC-TV near interstate 10 in Jennings.

Tornado in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 04:59:00 to 21-MAR-12 05:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: GROSSE ISLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tornado touched down on the east side of Abbeville, where is destroyed a well built 2 car garage and one portable building. Several trees and telephone poles were snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 05:05:00 to 21-MAR-12 05:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABBEVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A public report was received of an estimated wind gust of 60 mph near Abbeville with a thunderstorm that also produced a tornado near by.

Thunderstorm Wind in AVOYELLES, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 06:00:00 to 21-MAR-12 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HESSMER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

KALB-TV relayed a public report of trees down and tin wrapped around trees  at 2236 Smith Street in Hessmer.

Coastal Flood in VERMILION, LOUISIANA
From 20-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 21-MAR-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong persistent south winds pushed water into low coastal areas. The water reached the highest points during the late afternoon at high tide and again when the line of storms passed. Areas near bayous in portions of Vermilion Parish flooded including some yards, roadways, baseball fields, and parking lots. Water also approached some homes.

Heavy Rain in ST. LANDRY, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 04:08:00 to 21-MAR-12 05:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: EUNICE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

St Landry OHSEP reported 3.16 inches of rainfall in one hour at a gauge in Eunice.

Flood in BEAUREGARD, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 to 28-MAR-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: IKES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain that fell across portions of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas during the 20th and 21st slowly drained from the region over several days. The pumps for the town of Merryville were flooded during the event leaving the city with out potable water. Around 20-30 homes around Bundick Lake reported getting flooded.

Flood in VERNON, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 to 28-MAR-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEESVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain that fell across portions of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas during the 20th and 21st slowly drained from the region over several days.

Flood in CALCASIEU, LOUISIANA
From 21-MAR-12 02:00:00 to 28-MAR-12 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VINTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rain that fell across portions of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas during the 20th and 21st slowly drained from the region over several days.