Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1987

Flash Flood Warning 92, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

July 17, 1987Kerr County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this flash flood warning at Jul 17, 1987, 4:55 AM CDT for Kerr County, Texas. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 17, 1987, 4:55 AM CDT (09:55 UTC)
Expired
Jul 17, 1987, 9:00 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Kerr 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, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 163 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 1987-07-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2501 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 1987-07-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 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
2501 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1032 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
128 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
8.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 170955
FFWSAT
TXC265-171400-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
455 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 9 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...KERR...AND SPECIFICALLY THE GUADALUPE RIVER...
 
AT 455 AM CDT...A MAJOR LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD CONTINUES ON THE
GUADALUPE RIVER IN KERR COUNTY.  RAINFALL TOTALS BETWEEN 5 AND 10
INCHES OCCURRED DURING THE NIGHT ON THE HEADWATERS AND WATERSHED OF
THE GUADALUPE RIVER IN WESTERN KERR COUNTY.  THIS RUNOFF INTO THE
RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES HAS CAUSED THE RIVER TO RISE TO RECORD
LEVELS IN SOME LOCATIONS.  THE GUADALUPE RIVER AT HUNT IS 16 FEET
ABOVE FLOOD STAGE...28.2 FEET...FLOOD STAGE IS 16 FEET.  THIS IS OVER
5 FEET ABOVE THE 1978 HILL COUNTRY FLOOD CREST.  THE RIVER AT HUNT IS
FORECAST TO RISE EVEN HIGHER THIS MORNING AS RAINFALL CONTINUES IN
THE WATERSHED AND WATER RUNS OFF INTO THE RIVER BASIN.
 
THESE FLOOD WATERS WILL EVENTUALLY FLOW DOWNSTREAM PAST KERRVILLE TO
COMFORT AND SPRING BRANCH LATER IN THE DAY...THEN INTO CANYON LAKE.
THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED LATER TODAY AS WILL
THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE GUADALUPE RIVER.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN
REPORTED.
 
REMEMBER...DEATHS DURING FLASH FLOODING ARE FREQUENTLY RELATED TO
MOTORISTS DRIVING INTO FLOODED LOW WATER CROSSINGS OR FROM CHILDREN
PLAYING NEAR FLOODED STREAMS OR DRAINAGE AREAS.
 
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OFTEN ACCOMPANY FLASH FLOOD
PRODUCING THUNDERSTORMS.
 
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO...TV OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO STATION
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS REGARDING THIS SEVERE WEATHER EVENT.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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, Jul 17, 12:27 AM CDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1225 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987

    ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN GILLESPIE COUNTY...

AUSTIN RADAR WAS INDICATING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF
GILLISPIE COUNTY...OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED TO THE WEST
OF LLANO AND SAN SABA COUNTIES. MOVEMENT WAS TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST AT
NEAR 20 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING A HEAVY RAINFALL RATE OF UP TO THREE
INCHES PER HOUR. THE RATE AT WHICH RAIN IS FALLING MAY PRODUCE TEMPORARY
FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND URBAN STREETS IN SOME LOCATIONS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS POSSIBILITIES.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 2:21 AM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
215 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER GILLESPIE AND SAN SABA COUNTIES...

AUSTIN RADAR WAS INDICATING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL OVER
GILLISPIE AND SAN SABA COUNTIES MOVING TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST INTO
MILLS...LAMPASAS AND LLANO COUNTIES WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING A HEAVY RAINFALL RATE OF UP TO THREE
INCHES PER HOUR. THE RATE AT WHICH RAIN IS FALLING MAY PRODUCE TEMPORARY
FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND URBAN STREETS IN SOME LOCATIONS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS POSSIBILITIES.

PERSONS ALONG THE PEDERNALES RIVER SHOULD STAY ALERT TO A POSSIBLE
SHARP RISE ALONG THE RIVER DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL OVER GILLISPIE
COUNTY OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS.
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 3:43 AM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
340 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WEST THROUGH NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS ARE INDICATED IN A BAND 15 MILES
WIDE FROM BLANCO TO LAKE BUCHANAN TO ADAMSVILLE...MOVEMENT WAS TOWARDS
THE EAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING A HEAVY RAINFALL RATE OF UP TO THREE
INCHES PER HOUR. THE RATE AT WHICH RAIN IS FALLING MAY PRODUCE TEMPORARY
FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND URBAN STREETS IN SOME LOCATIONS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS POSSIBILITIES.

PERSONS ALONG THE PEDERNALES RIVER SHOULD STAY ALERT TO A POSSIBLE
SHARP RISE ALONG THE RIVER DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL.
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 3:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
340 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WEST THROUGH NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS ARE INDICATED IN A BAND 15 MILES
WIDE FROM BLANCO TO LAKE BUCHANAN TO ADAMSVILLE...MOVEMENT WAS TOWARDS
THE EAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING A HEAVY RAINFALL RATE OF UP TO THREE
INCHES PER HOUR. THE RATE AT WHICH RAIN IS FALLING MAY PRODUCE TEMPORARY
FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND URBAN STREETS IN SOME LOCATIONS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS POSSIBILITIES.

PERSONS ALONG THE PEDERNALES RIVER SHOULD STAY ALERT TO A POSSIBLE
SHARP RISE ALONG THE RIVER DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL.

A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED WEST OF A LINE
FROM WEST OT WACO TO LAKE TRAVIS TO NORTHWEST OF SAN ANTONIO WITH
MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Special weather statement, Jul 17, 3:49 AM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
340 AM CDT FRI JUL 17 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WEST THROUGH NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS ARE INDICATED IN A BAND 15 MILES
WIDE FROM BLANCO TO LAKE BUCHANAN TO ADAMSVILLE...MOVEMENT WAS TOWARDS
THE EAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE INDICATING A HEAVY RAINFALL RATE OF UP TO THREE
INCHES PER HOUR. THE RATE AT WHICH RAIN IS FALLING MAY PRODUCE TEMPORARY
FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND URBAN STREETS IN SOME LOCATIONS.
MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THIS POSSIBILITIES.

PERSONS ALONG THE PEDERNALES RIVER SHOULD STAY ALERT TO A POSSIBLE
SHARP RISE ALONG THE RIVER DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL.

A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED WEST OF A LINE
FROM WEST OF WACO TO LAKE TRAVIS TO NORTHWEST OF SAN ANTONIO WITH
MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
Local storm report, Jul 17, 4:51 AM CDT, 4 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
450 AM CDT FRI JUN 17 1987

TIME         EVENT
110 AM       2.7 INCHES OR RAIN, APPROX 50 MPH WIND GUST AT I-10
             STATE HWY 41...KERR COUNTY
203 AM       GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL, APPROX 30 TO 40 MPH WIND GUST,
             2 INCHES OF RAIN IN 40 MINUTES...NORTHERN KINNEY COUNTY
240 AM       SOUTH FORK OF GUADALUPE RIVER:
             4 TO 6 INCHES OR RAIN, 15 FT RISE AT CAMP MYSTIC, 8 FT
             RISE AT CAMP ARROWHEAD.
             NORTH FORK OF GUADALUPE RIVER:
             4 FT RISE AT MOORE RANCH.
             WATER 3 FT OVER INGRAM DAM...OLD TIMERS SAY CONDITIONS
             SAME AS 1978...ALL REPORTS VIA KERRVILLhE DSP...KERR COUNTY

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 17, 1:01 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXKerr, Real4 hr
Jul 17, 1:58 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney62 min
Jul 17, 4:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXReal, Uvalde54 min
Jul 17, 6:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXBlanco, Gillespie3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 1987Every flash flood warning in 1987

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.