Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

April 7, 1993Fort Bend County, Harris County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Apr 7, 1993, 2:55 PM CDT for Fort Bend County, Harris County, Texas. It was in force for 35 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
Apr 7, 1993, 2:55 PM CDT (19:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 7, 1993, 3:30 PM CDT
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

Counties Fort Bend County, TX, Harris County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:56 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 7, 3:10 PM CDTTornado F1Houston, TXA HAMS spotter network reports tornado on Highway 288 2 miles south of Interstate 610 loop. Five or six telephone poles were knocked over.

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 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 234 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 12:00Z on 1993-04-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 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 12:00Z on 1993-04-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 324 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
517 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
324 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
381 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHOU 072001 RRA
TORHOU
TXC157-201-072030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
255 PM CDT WED APR 7 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  330 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...S...
 
IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
 
   ...FORT BEND COUNTY...HARRIS COUNTY
 
AT 300 PM THERE WAS A TORNADO ON THE GROUND IN THE GLEN LAKES ROAD AREA
SOUTH OF MISSOURRI CITY. THIS TORNADO WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30
MPH AND WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY BY 315 PM.
 
PERSONS IN THIS AREA TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIEChE 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.

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, Apr 7, 11:20 AM CDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
TXZ032-045>049-071715-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
1120 AM CDT WED APR 7 1993

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

AT 1115 AM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM 15 MILES WEST
OF CROCKETTE TO JUST WEST OF COLLEGE STATION AND 20 MILES WEST OF
COLUMBUS. THE STRONGEST THUNDERTSTORMS WERE NEAR MADISONVILLE AND
SHELBY.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MILES
AN HOUR WHILE THE INDIVDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING INTO THE COUNTIES OF
HOUSTON...  WALKER... GRIMES... WASHINGTON... AUSTIN... COLORADON COUNTIES
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

PEOPLE CAN EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WITH THESE
THUNDESTORMS.  STAY TUNED TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST
WEATHER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 12:30 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
TXZ048-TXC511-TXC513-071925-

SPECIAL AND MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
1225 PM CDT WED APR 7 1993

...FOG DEVELOPING ALONG COASTAL GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES...

DEVELOPING FOG ALONG THE COASTAL SECTIONS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS
COUNTIES AND THE SURROUNDING COASTAL WATERS HAD REDUCING VISIBILITIES
TO BETWEEN 1 AND 2 MILES.  THESE CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON.

MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION...USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO BE SEEN
AND INCREASING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES.

MARINERS AND SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS WITHOUT NAVIGATIONAL AIDS SHOULD
REMAIN NEAR OR RETURN TO PORT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS.
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 12:36 PM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
TXZ032-045>047-049-071935-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
1235 PM CDT WED APR 7 1993

...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS SLOWLY MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS...

AT 1230 PM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM JUST EAST OF
OF CROCKETT THROUGH COLUMBUS TO JUST WEST OF VICTORIA. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERTSTORMS WERE NEAR LOVELADY AND ANDERSON.

THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 20 MILES AN
HOUR WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST
AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.

PEOPLE CAN EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 1
INCH PER HOUR AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WITH THESE THUNDESTORMS.  STAY TUNED
TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES.
Local storm report, Apr 7, 1:23 PM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GALVESTON TX
1255 PM CDT WED APR  7 1993

ATTN: SELS A GLS

LATE REPORT FOR THE APRIL 3RD STORM DATA

TIME          COUNTY       EVENT

730 x PM CST   GALVESTON    1/2 TO 3/4 INCH SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY
                           EMPLOYEE OF US MARSHAL'S OFFICE.  IT FELL
                           IN BAYCLIFF AND SAN LEONE FROM 730 PM CST
                           TIL APPROX 8 PM CST.
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 2:20 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
TXZ032-045>047-049-072000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
220 PM CDT WED APR 7 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
   UNTIL 8 PM...

THE NATIOANL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 8 PM.  THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA...TRINITY...WHARTON...BRAZORIA...LIBERTY...
WALLER...HARRIS...MATAGORDA...POLK...FORT BEND...MONTGOMERY AND SAN JACINTO.

AT 210 PM RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY
RAIN EXTENDED FROM LUFKIN TO VICTORIA.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
NEAR EAST BERNARD.  THE ENTIRE LINE WAS SLOWLY MOVING TO THE EAST AT 10 MPH
WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

A COMBINATION OF AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT
WILL PROVIDE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS CAN
EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...
HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Apr 7, 2:23 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
TXZ032-045>047-049-072000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX
220 PM CDT WED APR 7 1993

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
   UNTIL 8 PM...

THE NATIOANL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS EFFECTIVE UNTIL 8 PM.  THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA...TRINITY...WHARTON...BRAZORIA...LIBERTY...
WALLER...HARRIS...MATAGORDA...POLK...FORT BEND...MONTGOMERY AND SAN JACINTO.

AT 210 PM RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH HEAVY
RAIN EXTENDED FROM LUFKIN TO VICTORIA.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
NEAR EAST BERNARD.  THE ENTIRE LINE WAS SLOWLY MOVING TO THE EAST AT 10 MPH
WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

A COMBINATION OF AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT
WILL PROVIDE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS CAN
EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...
HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 7, 2:00 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend30 min
Apr 7, 2:00 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXWharton20 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1993Every tornado warning in 1993Tornadoes in 1993

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.