Nathan Wilson | Reporter
The National Weather Service (NWS) hosted a webinar with the 911 Commission Tuesday afternoon to warn of a severe storm approaching Natchitoches from the west. Winds are expected to begin strengthening Tuesday evening with gusts reaching 40-45 mph during the night.
Weather conditions are expected to intensify Wednesday morning as the squall line reaches Natchitoches. The storm is anticipated to peak by 1 p.m. as the front passes over.
In a worst-case scenario, the NWS warned about the possible formation of a thunderstorm supercell as the storm passes through central Louisiana. Thunderstorm supercells are associated with high winds (70-80 mph) and hail and create conditions favorable for tornados. In this scenario, Natchitoches Parish is along the western edge of the parishes threatened by severe weather as the storm travels eastward.