Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1992

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

March 18, 1992Chambers County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 1992, 7:33 PM CST for Chambers County, Texas. It was in force for 57 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
Mar 18, 1992, 7:33 PM CST (01:33 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 1992, 8:30 PM CST
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Chambers County, TX

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 18, 7:36 PM CSTTornado F1Chambers, 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

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 149 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 1992-03-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1036 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 1992-03-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 129 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156Sfc1 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
1036 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-17 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
635 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
129 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KGLS 190133
TORGLS
TXC071-190230-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
733 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  830 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
 
   ...NORTHERN CHAMBERS COUNTY AND THE NORTH HALF OF GALVESTON
   BAY...
 
RADAR INDICATES A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER THE NORTH
END OF GALVESTON BAY...MIDWAY BETWEEN BAYTOWN AND ANAHUAC AND
WAS MOVING EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCEJD
BUILDING.  AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH
OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
 
MARINERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE PORT IMMEDIATELY.
 
NNNN

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, Mar 18, 2:47 PM CST, 4 hours 46 minutes before
TXZ046-049-045-182145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
248 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992

...LIBERTY...SAN JACINTO...POLK...GALVESTON...AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES
HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM THE TORNADO WATCH....

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS DECREASED FOR LIBERTY...SAN JACINTO..
POLK...GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF
LOW PRESSURE HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA.

THE TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND
IN LOUISIANA.
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 5:38 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
TXC015-201-473-190045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
538 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992

AT 530 PM CST RADAR INDICATED THAT A STRONG THUNDERSTORM HAS DEVELOPED
OVER SOUTHERN AUSTIN COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS PRODUCING
VERY HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT
ABOUT 35 MPH.

THE THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO SOUTHERN WALLER COUNTY AND
NORTHWESTERN HARRIS COUNTY.  RESIDENTS IN THESE COUNTIES SHOULD REAMIN
ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF THREATENING WEATHER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR TO LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES AS
NEEDED.
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 6:05 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
TXZ048-190400-

SPECIAL WEATHER AND MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TEXAS
600 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND ADJACENT COASTAL
WATERS UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 10 PM
CST FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS WHICH INCLUDES GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS
COUNTIES AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

AT 600 PM...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...
EXTENDED FROM NEAR HEMPSTEAD TO TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR...MOVING EAST
AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.

REMEMBER THAT A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES. ALL PERSONS IN
THE WATCH AREA... WHICH INCLUDES MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS... SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER INFORMATION
STATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE# WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 6:16 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
TXZ049-047-046-045-190215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
611 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992

...TORNADO WATCH ISSUED FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNIL 1000 PM CST.  THE WATCH INCLUDES
THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON.  THE WATCH ALSO
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: LIBERTY...FORT BEND AND BRAZORIA.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  TORNADOES...LARGE
HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE.

AT 615 PM CST RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN HARRIS
COUNTY.  STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND MARBLE SIZED HAIL HAVE BEEN
REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE
EAST AT ABOUT 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOWR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA
OR TO LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 6:40 PM CST, 53 minutes before
TXZ049-047-046-045-190215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO COUNTIES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
635 PM CST WED MAR 18 1992

   ...TORNADO WATCH ISSUED FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH
FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNIL 1000 PM CST.  THE WATCH INCLUDES
THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON.  THE WATCH ALSO
INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: LIBERTY...FORT BEND...SAN JACINTO...
POLK...WALLER...MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY AND BRAZORIA.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  TORNADOES...LARGE
HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE.

AT 615 PM CST RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN HARRIS
COUNTY.  STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND MARBLE SIZED HAIL HAVE BEEN
REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.  MOVEMENT WAS TO THE
EAST AT ABOUT 35 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA
OR TO LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 18, 6:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHarris64 min
Mar 18, 6:56 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXLiberty64 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1992Every tornado warning in 1992Tornadoes in 1992

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.