Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 13, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at May 13, 1994, 4:51 PM CDT for Houston County, Trinity County, Texas. It was in force for 69 min. 2 reports 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 13, 1994, 4:51 PM CDT (21:51 UTC)
- Expired
- May 13, 1994, 6:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 69 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Houston County, TX, Trinity County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 193 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:54 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 5:20 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Crockett, TX | A brief tornado touchdown was reported. |
| May 13, 5:20 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Grapeland, TX | A brief tornado touchdown was reported. |
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
Longview/Gregg, TX (KGGG), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 143 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1161 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -39 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 742 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHOU 132152 TORHOU TXC225-455-132300- BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 451 PM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN NORTHEAST TEXAS ...HOUSTON COUNTY...TRINITY COUNTY AT 445 PM...A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WAS JUST SOUTH OF LOVELADY IN HOUSTON COUNTY. THIS STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION. ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO ... GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. AVOID WINDOWS. ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT 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.
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 13, 2:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 13, 2:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON, TX 246 PM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 WITH ONGOING WX...DISCUSSION TO BE BRIEF. ALTHOUGH MODELS MOVE UPPER TROF SLIGHTLY EAST THRU 48H...VORT LOBE STILL TRAILING IN N CNTRL TX. IN ADDITION...PROGS KEEP THE SFC FRONT TO OUR WEST. DOESN`T LUK LIKE FA WILL CLEAR TOO MUCH OVER WKND. WILL KEEP AT LEAST SLIGHT CHC POPS IN THRU FCST PD...WITH HIGHEST POPS TONIGHT (OBVIOUSLY). PERSISTENCE F^OR TEMPS. 41/39
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 13, 11:19 AM CDT, 5 hours 32 minutes before
TXZ211-210-198-163-164-177-212-197-041-051-313-132215- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 1119 AM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND WEST OF A LUFKIN TO HUNTSVILLE TO COLUMBUS LINE THIS AFTERNOON. A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE ATMOSHPERE CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF A SLOW MOVING COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL TEXAS. IF THIS RAIN COOLED AREA OVER CENTRAL TEXAS CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON...THE COLLISION OF THE RAIN COOLED AIR AND THE HOT AND HUMID AIR OVER THE AREA WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. AT 11AM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS IN PROGRESS JUST NORTHWEST OF THE AUSTIN AREA. THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOOODING. THE RISK AREA WILL BE MONITORED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. STAY TUNED TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER NEWS SOURCES FOR FURTHER UPDATES. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SKYWARN BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION.
Special weather statement, May 13, 11:20 AM CDT, 5 hours 31 minutes before
TXZ211-210-198-163-164-177-212-197-041-051-313-132215- SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 1119 AM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND WEST OF A LUFKIN TO HUNTSVILLE TO COLUMBUS LINE THIS AFTERNOON. A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE ATMOSHPERE CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF A SLOW MOVING COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL TEXAS. IF THIS RAIN COOLED AREA OVER CENTRAL TEXAS CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON...THE COLLISION OF THE RAIN COOLED AIR AND THE HOT AND HUMID AIR OVER THE AREA WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. AT 11AM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS IN PROGRESS JUST NORTHWEST OF THE AUSTIN AREA. THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOOODING. THE RISK AREA WILL BE MONITORED FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. STAY TUNED TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER NEWS SOURCES FOR FURTHER UPDATES. EMERGENCY MANAGE^MENT AND SKYWARN BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVATION.
Special weather statement, May 13, 12:52 PM CDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
TXZ211-210-227-198-213-163-200-199-179-178-164-177-212-197-226- 041-051-239-313-140100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 1252 PM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT... ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF EAST TEXAS UNTIL 8PM TONIGHT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 9PM TONIGHT... THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES... HOUSTON...TRINITY...AUSTIN...BURLESON...WHARTON...BRAZOS...COLORADO... JACKSON...WASHINGTON...FORT BEND...MADISON...WALKER...GRIMES... MONTGOMERY...WALLER...HARRIS...POLK...LIBERTY AND SAN JACINTO. THIS WATCH DOES INCLUDE THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION AREA. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EAST TEXAS COUNTIES...HARDIN...TYLER...JASPER...AND NEWTON. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8PM TONIGHT. THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COASTAL SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES...ORANGE...JEFFERSON...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON...BRAZORIA...AND MATAGORDA. THIS WATCH INCLYDES THE BEAUMONT-PORT ARTHUR AND GALVESTON METROPOLITIAN AREAS. THE WATCH IS IN EFFCT UNTIL 9PM TONIGHT. THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND AN UPPER LOW OVER EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS WILL PROVIDE A GOOD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES. REMEMBER A WATCH MEANS SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA...INCLUDING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOS. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IS A WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED.
Special weather statement, May 13, 12:54 PM CDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before
TXZ211-210-227-198-213-163-200-199-179-178-164-177-212-197-226- 041-051-239-313-140100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 1252 PM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT... THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES... HOUSTON...TRINITY...AUSTIN...BURLESON...WHARTON...BRAZOS...COLORADO... JACKSON...WASHINGTON...FORT BEND...MADISON...WALKER...GRIMES... MONTGOMERY...WALLER...HARRIS...POLK...LIBERTY AND SAN JACINTO. THIS WATCH DOES INCLUDE THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION AREA. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT. AT 1239 PM CDT A CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM WESTERN COLORADO COUNTY INTO LAVACA COUNTY. A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 10 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST OF HALLETTSVILLE. ALSO...ANOTHER AREA OF WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS DEVELOPING FROM NORTH ZULCH IN MADISON COUNTY TO WOODVILLE IN TYLER COUNTY. BOTH OF THESE AREAS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND AN UPPER LOW OVER EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS WILL PROVIDE A GOOD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES. REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH MEANS TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED OR A TORNADO IS OBSERVED.
Special weather statement, May 13, 3:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
TXZ211-210-227-198-213-163-200-199-179-178-164-177-212-197-226- 041-051-239-313-140100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 1252 PM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994 ...A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM TONIGHT... ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF EAST TEXAS UNTIL 8PM TONIGHT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 9PM TONIGHT... THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES... HOUSTON...TRINITY...AUSTIN...BURLESON...WHARTON...BRAZOS...COLORADO... JACKSON...WASHINGTON...FORT BEND...MADISON...WALKER...GRIMES... MONTGOMERY...WALLER...HARRIS...POLK...LIBERTY AND SAN JACINTO. THIS WATCH DOES INCLUDE THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION AREA. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING EAST TEXAS COUNTIES...HARDIN...TYLER...JASPER...AND NEWTON. THE WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8PM TONIGHT. THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COASTAL SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES...ORANGE...JEFFERSON...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON...BRAZORIA...AND MATAGORDA. THIS WATCH INCLYDES THE BEAUMONT-PORT ARTHUR AND GALVESTON METROPOLITIAN AREAS. THE WATCH IS IN EFFCT UNTIL 9PM TONIGHT. THE AIRMASS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND AN UPPER LOW OVER EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS WILL PROVIDE A GOOD CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES. REMEMBER A WATCH MEANS SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA.B..INCLUDING SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR TORNADOS. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IS A WARNING IS ISSUED OR SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 12:49 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Colorado | 56 min |
| May 13, 1:45 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 60 min |
| May 13, 2:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Austin, Washington | 41 min |
| May 13, 2:18 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 57 min |
| May 13, 2:33 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Colorado | 27 min |
| May 13, 2:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Colorado | 2 hr |
| May 13, 3:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Washington | 34 min |
| May 13, 3:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Burleson | 68 min |
| May 13, 3:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Washington | 67 min |
| May 13, 4:00 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazos, Grimes | 60 min |
| May 13, 4:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Polk | 69 min |
| May 13, 4:31 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Austin, Waller | 59 min |
| May 13, 4:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Harris | 58 min |
| May 13, 5:07 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Harris, Montgomery | 68 min |
| May 13, 5:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Jackson | 44 min |
| May 13, 6:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Liberty | 66 min |
| May 13, 6:16 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris | 59 min |
| May 13, 6:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk | 52 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1994Every tornado warning in 1994Tornadoes in 1994
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.