Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1986

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 88, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

October 12, 1986Uvalde County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 12, 1986, 3:57 AM CDT for Uvalde County, Texas. It was in force for 63 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 12, 1986, 3:57 AM CDT (08:57 UTC)
Expired
Oct 12, 1986, 5:00 AM CDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Uvalde County, TX

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 00:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 104 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Del Rio, TX at 00:00Z on 1986-10-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1200 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Del Rio, TX at 00:00Z on 1986-10-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1200 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
663 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAAOO KSAT 120857
SVRSAT
TXC463-121000-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
357 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  500 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
          ..UVALDE
 
RADAR INDICATES A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHERN UVALDE COUNTY
MOVING TO THE EAST AT AROUND 30 MPH.
 
FmREQUENT LIGHTNING..STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL
LIKELY OCCUR IN THIS STORM.  IN ADDITION..LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL AND FLOODING OFTEN ACCOMPANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 12, 12:24 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
1225 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

AT 1215 PM CDT AN AREA OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED IN
NORTHWEST VAL VERDE COUNTY EXTENDING FROM COMSTOCK TO JUNO TO THE
PANDALE AREA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE
SOUTHEAST.

HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND SINCE THE
GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED...RUNOFF WILL OCCUR RAPIDLY. PERSON
LIVING IN OR NEAR FLOOD-PRONE AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY IF HEAVY RAIN OR FLOOING IS OBSERVED...OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CARE AND CAUTION...REUCE DRIVING
SPEEDS...AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH FLOODED LOW
WATER CROSSINGS.

THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEAST WITH THE
COLD FRONT.  STRONG GUSTY WINDS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THIS FRONT.
 A LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR LAKE AMISTAD FOR TONIGHT.
BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN CLOSE TO SAFE OHARBOR.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL WEA
THER SERVICE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 1:20 AM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
125 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

AT 120 AM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES WIDE WAS LOCATED FROM
COMSTOCK TO LOMA ALTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE
SOUTHEAST AND WILL MOVE ACROSS LAKE AMISTAD AND THOUGH DEL RIO DURING

THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND SINCE THE
GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED...RUNOFF WILL OCCUR RAPIDLY. PERSON
LIVING IN OR NEAR FLOOD-PRONE AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A
PLACE OF SAFETY IF HEAVY RAIN OR FLOOING IS OBSERVED...OR A WARNING
IS ISSUED. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CARE AND CAUTION...REUCE DRIVING
SPEEDS...AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH FLOODED LOW
WATER CROSSINGS.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL WEA
THER SERVICE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 2:22 AM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
KSAT 120528

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
220 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECT FOR ZAVALA COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY EARLY
THIS MORNING.  THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM
BATESVILLE IN ZAVALA COUNTY NORTHEAST TO THE AUSTIN AREA.  THE HEAVIEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED WEST OF YANCEY AND SOUTH OF BANDERA.  THE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS.

ANOTHER AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM DEL
RIO TO SOUTH OF EAGLE PASS.  THIS ACTIVITY WAS ALSO MOVING EAST AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.
<

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS CONTINUING TO MOVE SOUTH INTO SOUTH TEXAS.
WINDS HAVE SHIFTED TO THE NORTH AND GUSTED TO 32 MILES AN HOUR AT
AUSTIN DURING THE PAST HOUR AT AUSTIN.

THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJOINING AREAS
WILL CONTINUE TO DURING THE NIGHT. PERSONS LIVING IN THE TEXAS HILL
COUNTRY AND ADJOINING AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE MONITOR THIS DEVELOPING
WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 2:24 AM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
KSAT 120528

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
220 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ZAVALA COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY EARLY
THIS MORNING.  THE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS FROM
BATESVILLE IN ZAVALA COUNTY NORTHEAST TO THE AUSTIN AREA.  THE HEAVIEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED WEST OF YANCEY AND SOUTH OF BANDERA.  THE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ARE
POSSIBLE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS.

ANOTHER AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM DEL
RIO TO SOUTH OF EAGLE PASS.  THIS ACTIVITY WAS ALSO MOVING EAST AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.
<
A STRONG COLD FRONT IS CONTINUING TO MOVE SOUTH INTO SOUTH TEXAS.
WINDS HAVE SHIFTED TO THE NORTH AND GUSTED TO 32 MILES AN HOUR AT
AUSTIN DURING THE PAST HOUR AT AUSTIN.

THE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJOINING AREAS
WILL CONTINUE TO DURING THE NIGHT. PERSONS LIVING IN THE TEXAS HILL
COUNTRY AND ADJOINING AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE MONITOR THIS DEVELOPING
WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 2:57 AM CDT, 1 hour before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
300 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

AT 250 AM CDT A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS 10 MILES WIDE WAS LOCATED FROM
COMSTOCK TO ROCK SPRINGS WITH ANOTHER LINE EXTENDING FROM ROCK
SPRINGS TO JUNO. LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS NOTED ON THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

HEAVY RAINFALL HAS BEEN INDICATED BY RADAR BETWEEN COMSTOCK AND
JUNO...SINCE THE GROUND IS ALREADY SATURATED...RUNOFF WILL OCCUR
RAPIDLY.

PERSON LIVING IN OR NEAR FLOOD-PRONE AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF HEAVY RAIN OR FLOOING IS OBSERVED...OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CARE AND CAUTION...REUCE
DRIVING SPEEDS...AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH FLOODED
LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED BY YOUR NATIONAL WEA
THER SERVICE AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Oct 12, 3:31 AM CDT, 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
330 AM CDT SUN OCT 12 1986

...STRONG COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO...

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO BRINGING GUSTY NORTH
WINDS...MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...AND FALLING TEMPERATURES.  JUST BEFORE
3 AM CDT THE WINDS AT THE SAN ANTONIO WEATHER OFFICE SHIFTED TO THE NORTH
AND GUSTED TO 32 MILES AN HOUR.  THE TEMPERATURE FELL FROM 77 DEGREES AT
3 AM TO 62 DEGREES.  THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL CAUSE SOME FLOODING
OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND UNDERPASSES IN SAN ANTONIO AND SURROUNDING
AREAS.

THE WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT HONDO INDICATED THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS
IN COMAL AND GUADALUPE COUNTIES.  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO
SCATTERED OVER MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.  THE AREA EXTENDED FROM
DEL RIO AND EAGLE PASS NORTHEAST TO AUSTIN.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL TV...RADIO...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTBS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 11, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney73 min
Oct 12, 3:11 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXTravis3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1986Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.