Event narrative (NOAA)
Thunderstorms moved very slowly across Lake Charles and the surrounding area while back building during the late morning to mid afternoon of the 17th. One rain gage recorded near 22 inches of rain in South Lake Charles during the event, but a large swath received 10 inches or more. Most streets were flooded and impassable. Numerous vehicles were flooded and some were swept off the roads into ditches and and bayous. One person drown when their car floated into a ditch. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded in South Lake Charles some of which were still being repaired from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Some schools and churches in the area also flooded.
Other notable flash flood events in Louisiana
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.