Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

April 17, 1990Real County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 17, 1990, 5:59 PM CDT for Real County, Texas. It was in force for 61 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 17, 1990, 5:59 PM CDT (22:59 UTC)
Expired
Apr 17, 1990, 7:00 PM CDT
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Real 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, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 111 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 1990-04-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1142 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 1990-04-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 86 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
1142 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-249 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
739 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
86 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
160 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 172302 RRA
SVRSAT
TXC385-180000-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
559 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  700 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN SOUTH TEXAS
          ...REAL
 
AT 555 PM CDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HONDO TEXAS
INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF LEAKEY MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 10 MILES AN HOUR.
 
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...STRONG WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND SOME HAILCAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS THUNDERSTORM OVER REAL COUNTY FOR THE NEXT
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 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 WARNINbGS 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, Apr 17, 2:50 PM CDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
TXZ034>035-038-039-054-172045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
245 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND
EDWARDS PLATEAU...

AT 230 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA
OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY RAIN...BETWEEN COMSTOCK...JUNCTION
AND SONORA.  THE STORMS HAVE FORMED ALONG A COLD FRONT THAT STRETCHED
FROM JUST NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO NEAR TEMPLE.  BOTH THE FRONT AND THE
AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE GENEARLLY MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

BECAUSE THE COLD FRONT WAS PUSHING INTO VERY UNSTABLE AIR OVER SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS...THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AS AFTERNOON
HEATING FURTHER DESTABILIZES THE ATMOSPHERE.  SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL PRODUCE BRIEF BUT VERY HEAVY RAIN...DEADLY LIGHTING AND POSSIBLY
SOME HIGH WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.
<
PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS TO BE ISSUED THROUGHOUT THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS.
Special weather statement, Apr 17, 3:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
TXZ054-172130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
333 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

AT 325 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS FROM 15
MILES NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO LOMA ALTA TO NEAR ROCKSPRINGS. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOMA
ALTA TO NORTH OF ROCKSPRINGS. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 10 MPH.

SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

BOATERS AND FISHERMEN ON LAKE AMISTAD AND SURROUNDING RIVERS SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SHORE AND AWAY FROM THE WATER IF LIGHTNING IS
SEEN...THUNDER IS HEARD OR WINDS BEGIN INCREASING.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO...TV STATIONS AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Apr 17, 3:53 PM CDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
TXZ034-035-038-039-054-172200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
352 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED AT 345 PM THIS
AFTERNOON BETWEEN JUNCTION AND DEL RIO.  THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS INDICATED
JUST WEST OF ROCKSPRINGS IN EDWARDS COUNTY AND JUST SOUTH OF JUNCTION IN
WESTERN KERR COUNTY.  THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST
VERY SLOWLY.

THE AIRMASS OVER CENTRAL TEXAS IS VERY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON...THAT
WILL ALLOW THE THUNDERSTORMS TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AS THEY
TRACK SOUTHEASTWARD.  A THREAT OF ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER ALSO EXISTS...
AS THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND AIND LARGE
HAIL.

ANY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD BE CALLED TO THE NEAREST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY...FOR LOCAL ACTION AND RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Apr 17, 4:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
TXZ054-172230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
435 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

AT 430 PM CDT SEVERAL REPORTS OF UNCONFIRMED FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE RECEIVED
FROM THE LAKE AMISTAD AREA. HEAVY RAIN WAS OBSERVED AT THE DEL RIO
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS FROM 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO LOMA ALTA TO NEAR ROCKSPRINGS. MOVEMENT WAS TO
THE EAST AT 10 MPH.

SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

BOATERS AND FISHERMEN ON LAKE AMISTAD AND SURROUNDING RIVERS SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO MOVE TO SHORE AND AWAY FROM THE WATER IF LIGHTNING IS
SEEN...THUNDER IS HEARD OR WINDS BEGIN INCREASING.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO...TV STATIONS AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Apr 17, 5:53 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
TXZ054-180000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEL RIO TX
555 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

AT 550 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WITH RAINSHOWERS AND WINDS GUSTING TO 25 MPH
WERE OBSERVED AT THE DEL RIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. RADAR ALSO INDICATED
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DEL RIO TO 75 MILES
NORTHEAST OF DEL RIO. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10
MPH.

SOME STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS IN THE DEL RIO AREAK ARE FLOODED NOW AND
ADDITIONAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION APPROACHING
LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 17, 5:57 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
TXZ034-035-038-039-054-180100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO TX
535 PM CDT TUE APR 17 1990

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OBSERVED BY HONDO
RADAR...AT 530 PM CDT...EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWEST OF EAGLE PASS NORTHEASTWARD
TO NORTH OF JOHNSON CITY.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTH-
EAST...THROUGH THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY...AT AROUND 10 MILES AN HOUR.

AT THE PRESENT RATE OF MOVEMENT...THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE AFFECTING
THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN AREA EARLY THIS EVENING.

AT THE JUNCTION AIRPORT 1.19 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN SO FAR THIS
AFTERNOON. RAINFALL ESTIMATES OVER THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FROM SATELLITE
DATA INDICATED THAT AMOUNTS OF AROUND TWO INCHES HAVE FALLEN OVER EDWARDS
COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON WHILE KIMBLE AND KERR COUNTIES HAVE HAD ESTIMATES
OF ONE TO TWO INCHES.  DURING THE PAST 2 HOURS ESTIMATES OF ONE INCH
WERE INDICATED IN REAL COUNTRY.

MOIST...UNSTABLE AIR OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY
RAINFALL AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT.  A
THREAT OF ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUES TO EXIST WITH THE
POTENTIAL OF DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL.

PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL\ TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND NOTIFY THE
NEARESET LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE SHOULD ANY SEVERE WEATHER BE OBSERVED.

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.