Confirmed Tornado Near Jennings...

The worst of the weather is over for Lake Charles with just general rain for the next couple hours, but a very serious situation is unfolding to our East.

A tornado has been CONFIRMED on the ground near Jennings as of 12:25p.m.

No word on the intensity of the storm, the extent of any damage or injuries, but there is a confirmed report that several cars have been overturned on I-10 at Jennings.

The tornado is currently near the town of Hathaway heading towards Elton by 1:00p.m., and then into Allen Parish shortly thereafter.

Here's the latest Tornado Warning from the NWS Lake Charles:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A  
  
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...  
  SOUTHWESTERN EVANGELINE PARISH IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA...  
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BASILE...  
  NORTHWESTERN ACADIA PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...  
  SOUTHEASTERN ALLEN PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...  
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...OBERLIN...KINDER...  
  NORTHEASTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...  
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...JENNINGS...ELTON...  
  
* UNTIL 130 PM CDT  
  
* AT 1226 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR     
JENNINGS CROSSING I-10...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH.  
  
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...  
  KINDER BY 100 PM CDT...  
  ELTON AND BASILE BY 105 PM CDT...  
  OBERLIN BY 120 PM CDT...  
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
  
SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR  
HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER  
YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  
  
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A  
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE  
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.  
  
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY  
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A  
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE  
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER  
YOUR HEAD.  
  
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING  
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA.  

More information coming in as we speak...I-10 Eastbound near Roanoke---One lane is blocked from an overturned tractor-trailer rig likely from strong winds.

The entire town of Lake Arthur is without power at this time. The same cell moved over Lake Arthur earlier, so it could be that there's significant damage from the tornado in that area. No other damage has been reported from that area as of yet. Many people have not been able to get out and survey damage yet as it is still raining very hard in the area.

-An NWS employee reports that many trees and power lines are down along Hwy. 90 just W of Jennings. A damage survey will be conducted by the NWS shortly.

More information will certainly follow. Stay tuned!

-DM-