Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1994
Tornado Warning 6, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at May 13, 1994, 2:33 PM CDT for Colorado County, Texas. It was in force for 27 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
- May 13, 1994, 2:33 PM CDT (19:33 UTC)
- Expired
- May 13, 1994, 3:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 27 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
County Colorado County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 141 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:32 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, 2:43 PM CDT | Tornado F0 | Colorado, TX | Tornado reported near the town of Frelsburg. |
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, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 325 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
- 972 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -39 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 791 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 42 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 76 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.
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, 9:41 AM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 13, 9:41 AM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON, TX
941 AM CDT FRI MAY 13 1994
AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY WAS INTERACTING IN AN UNCAPPED AND UNSTABLE
ENVIRONMENT OVR SE TX THIS MORNING PRODUCING SEVERAL WATERSPOUT AND
FUNNEL CLOUDS IN AND AROUND GLS BAY. LI`S RANGED FROM -8 TO -10 AND WILL
CONTINUE THE THREAT OF SCATTERED TSTORMS WITH ISOLATED PULSE SVR POSSIBLE
AGAIN THIS AFTN.
COLD AIR ALOFT WITH GUD HEIGHT FALLS CUD BE SEEN ACROSS SW TX ON 12Z
ANALYSIS. LOW SHUD CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS SE TX THRU SAT INCSG THE CHC
FOR HVY RAINFALL AND SVR STORMS. SFC DEWPOINTS CONTINUE IN THE LOWER
TO MID 70S AS GULF MOISTURE CONTINUES TO DEEPEN.
ON THIS UPDATE WILL INCREASE THE POPS BACK TO SOLID CHC CATEGORY
ACROSS ALL ZONES THRU SAT DUE TO POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT AND
OUTFLOW BNDRY AND SEABREEZE INTERACTIONS.
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In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 13, 11:19 AM CDT, 3 hours 14 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, 3 hours 13 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, 1 hour 41 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, 1 hour 39 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.
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, 2:40 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, 4:51 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Houston, Trinity | 69 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.