Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 67, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 16, 1987Bexar County, Comal County, Kendall County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 16, 1987, 11:34 AM CDT for Bexar County, Comal County, Kendall County, Texas. It was in force for 56 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 16, 1987, 11:34 AM CDT (16:34 UTC)
Expired
May 16, 1987, 12:30 PM CDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

Counties Bexar County, TX, Comal County, TX, Kendall County, TX

The radar

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

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 16, 12:00 PM CDTHail 0.75Comal, TX

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Victoria Regiona, TX (KVCT), launched 12:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 184 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, Victoria Regiona, TX at 12:00Z on 1987-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1287 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Victoria Regiona, TX at 12:00Z on 1987-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1287 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-113 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
694 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 161634 RRA
SVRSAT
TXC029-091-259-161730-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1134 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...BEXAR...COMAL...KENDALL
 
AT 1130 AM CDT...AN AREA OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED BY
RADAR IN KENDALL...COMAL AND NORTHERN BEXAR COUNTIES.  THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 15 MPH.
 
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 HOME OR
BUILDING AWAY FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS.  REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES.
 
YOU SHOULD ASK THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO RELAY YOUR
SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
 
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 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 16, 6:45 AM CDT, 4 hours 49 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
645 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER EDWARDS PLATEAU...

AT 640 AM CDT THIS MORNING...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED
AN AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...
FROM JUST EAST OF DEL RIO TO NEAR LEAKEY TO UVALDE AND BACK TO NEAR DEL
RIO.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT NEAR 15 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AS THEY
CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.  LOW LYING AREAS AND POORLY DRAINED AREAS
MAY EXPERIENCE BRIEF FLOODING AS THE STORMS PASS.  IN ADDITION TO THE
HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING IN OR NEAR THE MORE
INTENSE STORMS...VISIBILITY CAN DROP TO NEAR ZERO WITHOUT WARNING IN
THE HEAVY RAIN...AND THE GUSTY WINDS AND SLICK ROADS MAY MAKE DRIVING
EVEN MORE HNAZARDOUS.
Special weather statement, May 16, 7:30 AM CDT, 4 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
730 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...WERE INDICATED
BY RADAR AT 725 PM FROM NEAR BRACKETTVILLE TO LEAKEY TO UVALDE AND BACK
TO BRACKETVILLE.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

REPORTS FROM NEAR THE MORE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS INDICATE VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND VERY FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES.  NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN
REPORTED AT THIS TIME...BUT SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF GUSTY WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE.  BRIEF FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND POORLY DRAINED AREAS
MAY OCCUR AS THE STORMS MOVE EASTWARD...MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT
TO DRIVE INTO AREAS OF HIGH WATER.

LIGHTNING IS OF THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSES OF WEATHER RELATED DEATHS IN
SOUTH TEXAS.  FOR THE BEST PROTECTION FROM LIGHTING...MOVE INDOORS AWAY
FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS.  THE INSIDE OF A CAR OR BUS OR THE CAB OF A
TRUCK GIVES BETTER LIGHTNING PROTECTION THAN BEING OUTSIDE IN THE OPEN.
MOST OF ALL...DO NOT STAND NEAR TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS POLES OR TREES AND
STAY AWAY FROM METAL SUCH AS METAL SHEDS...FENCES...BIKES...TOOLS OR
SPORTS EQUIPMENT.  REMEMBER ALSO THAT LIGHTNING CAN BE DISCHARGED FROM
THE SIDE OF THE STORM OR EVEN THE HIGH CLOUD BLOWING OUT AHEAD OF THE
STORM...IT DOES NOT HAVE TO DEVELOP FROM UNDER THE THUNDERSTORM BASE.
Special weather statement, May 16, 8:34 AM CDT, 3 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
820 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MILLS...LAMPASAS AND
SAN SABA COUNTIES FOR THIS MORNING...

AT 810 AM RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER PARTS OF THESE
COUNTIES. A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS SCATTERED OVER
THE AREA FROM NEAR HEARNE WESTWARD THROUGH THE LAMPASAS AREA TO NORTH
OF BRADY AND NORTHWARD INTO THE WACO AREA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

AN ISOLATED THUNDERSHOWER HAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN CEDAR PARK AND LIBEERTY
HILL. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED WEST OF SAN ANTONIO FROM NEAR
DILLEY TO NEAR SABINAL.

THE ONLY REPORT RECEIVED SO FAR IS FROM ADAMSVILLE IN NORTHERN LAMPASAS
COUNTY WITH 1.20 INCHES OF RAIN AND SOME PEA SIZE HAIL.
Special weather statement, May 16, 10:47 AM CDT, 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
1035 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MILLS...LAMPASAS AND
SAN SABA COUNTIES FOR TODAY.

AT 1025 AM RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE SOUTHERN
AREA OF LAMPASAS COUNTY. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS SCATTERED
OVER THE AREA FROM NEAR ROCKDALE WESTWARD THROUGH THE ROUNDROCK AND
GEORGETOWN AREAS TO NEAR BURNET. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
SOUTHEAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

ANOTHER AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSHOWER HAS BOUNDED BY A LINE FROM MENARD
TO NEW BRAUNFELS TO PEARSALL TO UVALDE AND BACK TO MENARD. STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE WEST OF CANYON LAKE AND SOUTH OF JUNCTION. THESE
rTHUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT NEAR 20 MPH.

SOME LOW WATER CROSSINGS MAY BE FLOODED IN THE WATCH AREA SO USE CAUTION.
NO REPORTS OF FLOODING HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
Special weather statement, May 16, 11:14 AM CDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
1110 AM CDT SAT MAY 16 1987

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF THE HILL COUNTRY
AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON.  MANY OF
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN FREQUENT LIGHTNING...HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN.

BOATERS AND FISHERMEN ON AREA RIVERS AND LAKES...ESPECIALLY MEDINA...
CANYON...BRAUNIG...CALAVERAS AND MCQUEENEY...SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO SHORE AND AWAY FROM THE WATER TO A PLACE OF SHELTER AT A
MOMENTS NOTICE.  DUE TO THE HAZY SKIES...APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS
OR THREATENING AND DEVELOPING CLOUDS MAY NOT BE VISIBLE UNTIL THE
STORMS ARE RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU.

GOLFERS SHOULD ALSO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS THIS AFTERNOON AND BE
READY TO GET OFF THE COURSE AND TO PROTECTION INDOORS.

CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD NOT CAMP NEAR FLOOD-PRONE CREEKS OR RIVERS.
SOME OF THESE STORMS CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN.  EVEN THOUGH HEAVY RAIN MAY
NOT BE OCCURRING RIGHT AT YOUR LOCATION...FLASH FLOODING IS A THREAT
SINCE RUNOFF FROM DISTANT STORMS MOVE INTO PREVIOUSLY DRY CREEKS...
RIVERS AND LOW-WATER CROSSINGS QUITE RAPIDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING.

MOTORISTS WILL ALSO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE REDUCED VISIBILITIES
IN THESE HEAVY RAIN AREAS...SO REDUCE DRIVING SPEEDS ACCORDINGLY...
DRIVE WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON AND...IF POSSIBLE...POSTPONE TRAVEL
INTO THREATENED AREAS UNTIL THE DANGER PASSES.  LOW-WATER CROSSINGS
POSE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS HAZARDS TO UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS...
SO APPROACH THEM WITH CAUTION AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THEM IF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATERS ARE EVIDENT.

STAY TUNED.  ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS
CONDITIONS WARRANT.  AT THE PRESENT TIME...A VERY HIGH RISK OF
SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO AND ADJACENT
COUNTIES THIS AFTERNOON.  RADIO AND TV BROADCASTERS SHOULD BE AWARE
OF THIS AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 16, 8:26 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXFrio, Medina, Uvalde, Zavala64 min
May 16, 8:32 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXWebb43 min
May 16, 10:03 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKerr57 min
May 16, 10:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera57 min
May 16, 10:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKerr61 min
May 16, 11:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGuadalupe56 min
May 16, 12:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGonzales, Guadalupe59 min
May 16, 2:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXKarnes67 min
May 16, 2:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDeWitt65 min
May 16, 3:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGoliad32 min
May 16, 3:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGoliad, Victoria63 min
May 16, 5:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards54 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.