After several weeks of dry weather, rains finally gave some needed relief Monday evening in Avoyelles Parish.

There has not been a significant rain since the 10 plus inches which fell in one day last August.

The following is the weather alert which was issued as the rains moved into Avoyelles Monday afternoon:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA

803 PM CDT MON OCT 11 2010

LAZ028-029-032-033-120200-

RAPIDES LA-AVOYELLES LA-EVANGELINE LA-ST. LANDRY LA-

803 PM CDT MON OCT 11 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN RAPIDES...SOUTHERN

AVOYELLES...NORTHERN EVANGELINE AND NORTHERN ST. LANDRY PARISHES

UNTIL 900 PM CDT...

AT 800 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A

STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF TURKEY CREEK...MOVING EAST

AT 30 MPH.

* THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...

BAYOU CHICOT BY 810 PM...

CHENEYVILLE BY 820 PM...

BUNKIE BY 835 PM...

EVERGREEN...MORROW AND HESSMER BY 845 PM...

COTTONPORT BY 850 PM...

GOUDEAU...MANSURA AND BIG CANE BY 855 PM...

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...PEA TO

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 45 MPH...WHICH COULD DOWN

TREE LIMBS AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A

SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.