12:15 AM - Peak wind gusts from official reporting stations around the forecast area, as of Midnight:
* Lake Charles 69 knots/79 mph #
* Beaumont 70 knots/81 mph
* New Iberia 51 knots/59 mph @
* Lafayette 45 knots/52 mph
* Fort Polk 40 knots/46 mph
* DeRidder 36 knots/41 mph
* Jasper 36 knots/41 mph
* Alexandria 33 knots/38 mph
# Official equipment has died, and it is the firm belief of the forecasting staff that the backup equipment is underestimating the wind speed based on the howling we're hearing outside
@ Unit here has also malfunctioned...last full observation came in at 7 PM
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/temp/ritablog.htm