Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 46, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 4, 1987Webb County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 1987, 11:49 AM CDT for Webb County, Texas. It was in force for 56 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 4, 1987, 11:49 AM CDT (16:49 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 1987, 12:45 PM CDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Webb 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 12:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 232 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 12:00Z on 1987-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 1987-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -8 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
2 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-303 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1459 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 041649
SVRSAT
TXC479-041745-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1149 AM CDT MON MAY 4 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...WEBB
 
AT 1148 PM CDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF LAREDO MOVING TOWARD THE CITY
AT NEAR 15 MILES AN HOUR.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...HAIL
3/4 INCH OR MORE IN DIAMETER...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY
RAIN.
 
WHEN A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A H,OME OR
BUILDING AWAY FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS.  REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES.

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, May 4, 8:50 AM CDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
850 AM CDT MON MAY 2 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS UNTIL 11 AM...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ZAVALA COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

STORMS THAT PRODUCED HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS MORNING CONTINUED AT 845 AM EAST OF A LINE FROM
AUSTIN TO FLORESVILLE...PEARSALL AND CRYSTAL CITY.  THE STORMS CONTINUED
TO MOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 5 TO 10 MILES AN HOUR.

THE PUBLIC REPORTED MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN JUST EAST OF
FRIO TOWN IN NORTHERN FRIO COUNTY ABOUT 830 AM THIS MORNING.  ALTHOUGH
NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED OR INDICATED BY RADAR OVER SOUYH
CENTRAL TEXAS IN THE PAST HOUR...THE STORM SYSTEM IS STILL VERY STRONG.
THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ADDITIONAL HAIL OR DAMAGING WINDS IN THE MORE
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS.  BRIEF PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ARE ALSO EXPECTED
WITH THE STORMS...AS WELL AS VERY FREQUENT AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THE RAIN IS ENDING AND CLOUDS ARE BEGINNING TO DISSIPATE OVER THE HILL
COUNTRY AT THIS TIME...INDICATING THE END TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE
WEATHER IS CLOSE FOR THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE WATCH AREA.
Special weather statement, May 4, 9:02 AM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
900 AM CDT MON MAY 4 1987

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR HAYS AND
CALDWELL COUNTIES.

AT 855 AM CDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF WIDESPREAD
LIGHT RAIN WITH EMBEBBED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTION OF
SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH TEXAS GENERALLY EAST OF A LINE FROM CORSICANA
TO AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO TO CRYSTAL CITY IN ZAVALA COUNTY.
THE STRONGEST )THUNDERSTORM INDICATED NEAR BRENHAN IN WASHINGTON
COUNTY.  THIS STORM BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL
AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING EAST 20 MPH.
Special weather statement, May 4, 9:30 AM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
930 AM CDT MON MAY 4 1987

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED ALONG AND NORTHWEST
OF A LINE FROM SEGUIN TO SAN ANTONIO TO HONDO...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 11 AM...

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...CONTINUED OVER
THE SOUTHEAST SECTION OF CENTRAL TEXAS AT 925 AM THIS MORNING.  ALTHOUGH
NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST HOUR...THE POTENTIAL FOR
HAIL...DAMAGING WIND AND HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES.  THE WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM FROM GONZALES TO PEARSALL TO CARRIZO
SPRINGS.  IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT AND VERY DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN THESE STORMS.

THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN AREA IS NO LONGER IN THE WATCH
AREA.
Local storm report, May 4, 11:23 AM CDT, 26 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1100 AM CDT MON MAY 04 1987

2238 CDT SUNDAY NIGHT MAY 3... LOCAL TV METEOROLOGIST RELAYED REPORT
                               OF 1 TO 11/4 INCH HAIL AT PFLUGERVILLE.

2240 CDT SUNDAY NIGHT MAY 3... TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
                               REPORTED WIND DAMAGE AT PFLUGERVILLE.
                               SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED IT LOOKED
                               LIKE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

2240 CDT SUNDAY NIGHT MAY 3... MARBLE TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AT HUTTO.

1200 MIDNIGHT...DPS UNIT NEAR LULING CONFIRMED TWO...TWIN...TORNADOES
                ON THE GROUND JUST WEST OF LULING. NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND.
END.
Special weather statement, May 4, 11:44 AM CDT, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1145 AM CDT MON MAY 4 1987

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS UNTIL 400 PM THIS AFTERNOON...
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR MCMULLEN COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM THIS
AFTERNOON ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A LINE FROM GONZALES TO CARIZZO
SPRINGS.  THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WATCH.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN AN AREA FROM NEAR NEW BRAUNFELS TO
EAGLE PASS SOUTHEASTWARD TO NEAR LAREDO...KARNES CITY AND BACK TO NEW
BRAUNFELS AT 1140 PM THIS MORNING.  RAIN WAS FALLING JUST TO THE SOUTH
AND EAST OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO...BUT NOT IN THE CITY ITSELF.

ALTHOUGH NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST HOUR ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.  HOWECER...WEATHER CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR
ADDITIONAL SEVERE STORMS TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON IN THE WATCH AREA.
STORMS THIS MORNING PRODUCED SPOTTY AREAS OF SMALL HAIL ALONG WITH BRIEF
GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS.  THE THREAT OVER THE WATCH AREA
THIS AFTERNOON IS FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.  HEAVY RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE ALSO EXPECTED WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, May 4, 11:46 AM CDT, 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1145 AM CDT MON MAY 4 1987

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF SOUTH
CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 400 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON. THE ONLY
COUNTY IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS AREA WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE WATCH IS
FAYETTE. FAYETTE COUNTY IS ON THE COLORADO RIVER SOME 50 TO 80 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF AUSTIN.

OUR LOCAL RADAR INDICATES ONLY LIGHT SHOWERS IN FAYETTE COUNTY AND
NO SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION IN OTHER AREAS AROUND AUSTIN.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 10:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXTravis63 min
May 3, 10:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXWilliamson68 min
May 3, 11:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXCaldwell65 min
May 3, 11:44 PM CDTTornado WarningEWXCaldwell61 min
May 4, 12:09 AM CDTTornado WarningEWXGonzales66 min
May 4, 12:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXLavaca64 min
May 4, 1:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards66 min
May 4, 2:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera, Edwards, Kerr, Real, Uvalde58 min
May 4, 2:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKinney58 min
May 4, 3:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera, Medina, Uvalde58 min
May 4, 3:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKendall, Kerr58 min
May 4, 4:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera, Medina66 min
May 4, 5:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBexar61 min
May 4, 6:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGuadalupe, Wilson69 min
May 4, 6:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXMaverick66 min
May 4, 7:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXZavala68 min
May 4, 10:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit73 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1987Every severe thunderstorm 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.