Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of March 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS.

Experimental National Water Center Products: The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, and Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations, as described in the StoryMap here.

Weather Forecast Office Lake Charles, LA

West Gulf River Forecast Center

Air Quality Alert

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (CDT) Datum: Not Available Metadata

NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. NOTE: Forecasts for the Pine Island Bayou near Sour Lake are issued routinely year-round.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 32 Moderate Flood Stage: 29 Flood Stage: 25 Action Stage: 22 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 39.68 ft on 08/30/2017 (2) 37.50 ft on 10/20/1994 (3) 35.70 ft on 09/21/2019 (4) 34.29 ft on 04/22/1979 (5) 33.70 ft on 05/22/1989 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 25.44 ft on 11/09/2020 (2) 35.70 ft on 09/21/2019 (3) 26.04 ft on 02/15/2018 (4) 39.68 ft on 08/30/2017 (5) 30.84 ft on 06/06/2016 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records (1) 11.20 ft on 10/28/1982 (2) 11.30 ft on 09/20/1984 (3) 11.45 ft on 11/13/1988 Show More Low Water Records

Zoom Level:16 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

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38.5	Water reaches the instrument shelf.
37.49	The river is at its flood of record reached on October 20th 1994. Widespread major flooding occurs. Numerous homes in Bevil Oaks have 3 to 4 feet of water in them.
35.5	Water reaches the gage shelter floor.
34	Water reaches homes along Old Sour Lake Road near the river.
32	Major lowland flooding occurs. Several homes on Riverbend Drive in Bevil Oaks have water in them. Water reaches floor of bridge along Old Sour Lake Road.
31	Homes in the Bevil oaks and Pinewood areas begin to flood.
30.5	Riverbend Drive in Bevil Oaks is impassable.
29	Moderate lowland flooding will occur. Water covers roads in Bevil Oaks.
25	Water inundates roads in lowland areas near the river. Low spots on Old Sour Lake Road are under water.
22	River is at bankfull stage.

About This Location

Latitude: 30.105833° N, Longitude: 94.334444° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 25 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 0 ft 25 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available Not Available   Current/Historical Observations: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Sour Lake

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center West Gulf River Forecast Center USGS Water Science USACE Hydrologic Information Jefferson County Drainage District 6 Daily Hydrologic Summary Agriculture Weather Report Daily Precipitation Reports COCORAHS Reports Interactive Map of Rainfall Reports Inundation Mapping Locations

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management Sabine River Authority of Texas Sabine River Authority of Louisiana Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Alert System Red River Water Way Commision Bayou Vermilion District NOAA National Ocean Service CO-OPS

Collaborative Agencies The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here. NWS Information National Weather Service Lake Charles Weather Forecast Office 500 Airport Boulevard Lake Charles, LA 70607 (337) 477-5285 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities