Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1987

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

November 15, 1987Grimes County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Nov 15, 1987, 5:04 PM CST for Grimes County, Texas. It was in force for 26 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 15, 1987, 5:04 PM CST (23:04 UTC)
Expired
Nov 15, 1987, 5:30 PM CST
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Grimes 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

Victoria Regiona, TX (KVCT), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 208 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 1987-11-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1923 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, Victoria Regiona, TX at 12:00Z on 1987-11-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 231 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1923 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
599 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
231 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
274 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.3
Supercell composite
12.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHOU 152304
TORHOU
TXC185-152330-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
504 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  530 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
          ...NORTHERN GRIMES
 
A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC 5 MILES SOUTH OF IOLA IN GRIMES
COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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, Nov 15, 2:50 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
245 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

AT 234 PM CST...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NEAR
SOMERVILLE...JUST EAST OF SPRING AND JUST WEST OF CONROE.

RESIDENTS OF THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBLITY OF BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE
HAIL FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO AS THESE VERY STRONG STORMS MOVE NORTH
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE...SHOWERS AND WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE
OCCURRING FROM EAGLE LAKE TO HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
EXTENDING NORTH TO NEAR COLLEGE STATION AND LUFKIN.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 3:04 PM CST, 2 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
300 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PART OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL
800 PM CST...

THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...AUSTIN...COLORADO...
GRIMES...POLK...SAN JACINTO...WALKER...WALLER...MONTGOMERY AND HARRIS
WHICH INCLUDES THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA.

AT 245 PM VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE NORTH OF CENTERVILLE AND
NORTHEAST OF BRENHAM.  OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED
ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

TORNADOS WERE REPORTED IN LEON COUNTY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM DURING THE PAST HOUR.  CONDITONS ARE FAVAORABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PERSONS IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPID THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSABLE
WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 3:46 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
346 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CST..

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LIBERTY...WHARTON...
FORT BEND...MATAGORDA...BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON AND THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WARTERS.  THESE COUNTIES REMAIN IN THE WATCH AREA
AUSTIN...COLORADO...GRIMES...POLK...SAN JACINTO...WALKER...
WALLER...MONTGOMERY AND HARRIS WHICH INCLUDES THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN
AREA.

AT 345 PM VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NEAR MADISONVILLE
AND MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.  OTHER SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

NO REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS HAVE BEEN RECEVED
DURING THE PAST HOUR.  HOWEVER...CONDITONS ARE FAVAORABLE FOR RAPID
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PERSONS IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPID THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSABLE
WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 3:58 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
350 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

AT 335 PM CST...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING SOUTHWEST
OF MADISONVILLE...SOUTH OF LAKE LIVINGSTON AND JUST NORTHEAST OF
SUGARLAND.

RESIDENTS OF THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBLITY OF BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE
HAIL FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO AS THESE VERY STRONG STORMS MOVE NORTH
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

ELSEWHERE...SHOWERS AND WIDELY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE
OCCURRING FROM NEAR EL CAMPO TO WARREN...EXTENDING NORTH TO LUFKIN
AND COLLEGE STATION.

IN THE GULF...A LARGE AREA OF SCATTERED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDED FROM THE SABINE PASS SOUTHWEST FOR 125 MILES.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 4:50 PM CST, 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
445 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

AT 430 PM CST...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER EAST
TEXAS FROM COLLEGE STATION AND LUFKIN THROUGH CLEVELAND AND KATY
TO 10 MILES WEST OF BRAZORIA... WITH MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH AT 30
MILES AN HOUR.

THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WAS OCCURRING IN THE LUFKIN AREA AND OVER
ROSENBERG.

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL
800 PM THIS EVENING AND RESIDENTS OF THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT TO
THE POSSIBILITY OF BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLE HAIL.

NUMEROUS VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO EXTENDED FROM lEXTREME
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA INTO THE GULF FROM 10 AND 80 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF GALVESTON TO 110 MILES SOUTH OF FREEPORT WITH MOVEMENT
TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 4:58 PM CST, 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
500 PM CST SUN NOV 15 1987

...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
UNTIL 800 PM CST..

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH
TONIGHT INCLUDING THE HOUSTON...GALVISTON METROPOLITAN AREA...

AT 445 PM VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING NORTH OF LAKD
LIVINGSOTN AND NEAR LUFKIN.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.  OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED
ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

NO REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS HAVE BEEN RECEVED
DURING THE PAST HOUR.  HOWEVER...CONDITONS ARE FAVAORABLE FOR RAPID
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE WEATHER AND TORNADOS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

PERSONS IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RAPID THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO OR T.V. STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSSABLE
WARNINGS.

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1987Every tornado warning in 1987Tornadoes 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.