Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1995
Flash Flood Warning 40, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this flash flood warning at Dec 17, 1995, 7:44 AM CST for Grimes County, Texas. It was in force for 3 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 17, 1995, 7:44 AM CST (13:44 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 17, 1995, 10:45 AM CST
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
County Grimes County, TX
The nearest sounding before it
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 271 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
- 675 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -31 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 573 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 239 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 246 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 4.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHOU 171346 RRA FFWHOU TXC185-171645- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 744 AM CST SUN DEC 17 1995 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 AM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ...NORTHERN GRIMES COUNTY DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATED RAINFALL RATES OF 3.5 INCHES IN THE LAST THREE HOURS OVER THE NORTHERN PORTION OF GRIMES COUNTY. THE HEAVIEST CORE OF RAIN WAS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 30...BETWEEN SINGLETON AND IOLA ALONG HIGHWAY 39. ANOTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS DEVELOPING WEST OF THIS REGION AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BY 10 AM. ALTHOUGH NO ROADS ARE CLOSED AT THIS TIME...THE ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL WILL COMPLICATE THE FLOODING SITUATION AND MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES SHOULD ROAD CLOSURES OCCUR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FLOOD SITUATION. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR UNDERPASSES. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Dec 17, 2:26 AM CST, 5 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 17, 2:26 AM CST, 5 hours 18 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 220 AM CST SAT DEC 16 1995 CONVECTION FINALLY BREAKING OUT! A GOOD DEAL OF TRAINING ALREADY OCCURING IN THE INVERTED PRESSURE TROF AND FOCUSING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THE THETA-E RIDGE AND WF AROUND CLL. THETA-E RIDGE SHOULD BECOME MORE EXPLOSIVE AS LLJ STRENGTHENS AND MORE MOISTURE STREAMS IN. OLD TIME FORECASTER FROM THE OFFICE RECOUNTED THAT THESE TYPE OF CUTOFF LOWS COMING OUT OF THE W WILL FOCUS PRECIP IN CLOSER TO THE LOW AS THEY BEGIN TO WEAKEN AND ARE VERY FREQUENTLY SLOWER IN MOVEMENT THAN MODELS PREDICT. AND LASTLY...BEWARE OF THE NOCTURNAL ENVIORNMENT...PRECIP IS MUCH HEAVIER THAN IS USUALLY EXPECTED. GIVEN THE TREND OF THE LAST 4 DAYS HAVE TO AGREE WITH LOCAL WISDOM. FFA IS A MUST...HIGH POPS AND MENTION SVR. UPPER DIFFLUENCE GOING BALLISTIC BY 12Z TODAY AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. SEE NCEP PRODUCTS FOR QPF REASONING WHICH APPEARS VALID BUT GIVEN THE TRENDS EVIDENT ISOLATED 6+" APPEARING MORE LIKELY. ON SATEL...NEXT IMPULSE SHOULD REACH THE WESTERN AREA AROUND 12Z WHICH AGREES WELL WITH ETA PROG. COORDINATION WITH SPC INDICATING SVR WATCH BEING CONSIDERED ATTM. GOT TO GO...VILS OF 54 SUPPORTING TREMENDOUS MARBLE-SIZED HAIL FALLOUTS. REFLECTIVITY CORES OF 55 DBZ AT OR ABOVE 27KFT APPEAR TO BE THE SVR THRESHOLD ATTM. 45
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Dec 17, 3:55 AM CST, 3 hours 49 minutes before
TXZ211-237-210-227-198-213-163-200-236-199-179-178-164-177-212- 197-226-196-195-214-238-235-176-171500- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 355 AM CST SUN DEC 17 1995 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH 9 AM... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH TOD . COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN COMBINATION WITH STRONG UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS WILL PRODUCE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY TODAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF UP TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA. THE CITIES OF HOUSTON...GALVESTON...COLLEGE STATION...BRENHAM...EL CAMPO...CONROE AND LIVINGSTON ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA. ALL INTERESTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY.
Special weather statement, Dec 17, 3:57 AM CST, 3 hours 47 minutes before
TXZ211-237-210-227-198-213-163-200-236-199-179-178-164-177-212- 197-226-196-195-214-238-235-176-171500- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 355 AM CST SUN DEC 17 1995 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH 9 AM... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH TOD . COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN COMBINATION WITH STRONG UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS WILL PRODUCE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY TODAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF UP TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA. THE CITIES OF HOUSTON...GALVESTON...COLLEGE STATION...BRENHAM...EL CAMPO...CONROE AND LIVINGSTON ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA. ALL INTERESTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY.
Special weather statement, Dec 17, 5:47 AM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
TXZ211-237-210-227-198-213-163-200-236-199-179-178-164-177-212- 197-226-196-195-214-238-235-176-171800- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON TX 550 AM CST SUN DEC 17 1995 ...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH 12 PM... ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON... COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN COMBINATION WITH STRONG UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS WILL PRODUCE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECOME SEVERE PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH AND LARGE HAIL. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY TODAY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF UP TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA. THE CITIES OF HOUSTON...GALVESTON...COLLEGE STATION...BRENHAM...EL CAMPO...CONROE AND LIVINGSTON ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA. AL,L INTERESTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THIS WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17, 2:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Burleson | 60 min |
| Dec 17, 2:40 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Matagorda | 65 min |
| Dec 17, 3:06 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Grimes, Waller | 54 min |
| Dec 17, 3:19 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 56 min |
| Dec 17, 3:19 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Grimes | 39 min |
| Dec 17, 3:22 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Walker | 68 min |
| Dec 17, 4:23 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | San Jacinto | 52 min |
| Dec 17, 4:23 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 31 min |
| Dec 17, 5:16 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk | 59 min |
| Dec 17, 5:26 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | San Jacinto | 34 min |
| Dec 17, 5:33 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Matagorda | 57 min |
| Dec 17, 6:13 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Burleson | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 6:54 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Polk, San Jacinto | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 7:31 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Matagorda | 59 min |
| Dec 17, 7:39 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Matagorda | 51 min |
| Dec 17, 7:59 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 4 hr |
| Dec 17, 8:14 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Matagorda | 61 min |
| Dec 17, 8:43 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Harris, Liberty | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 8:43 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Harris, Liberty | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 9:00 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Galveston | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 9:00 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Galveston | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 9:27 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Galveston | 63 min |
| Dec 17, 9:47 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Chambers | 118 min |
| Dec 17, 9:47 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Chambers | 118 min |
| Dec 17, 10:02 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Matagorda | 118 min |
| Dec 17, 10:32 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Matagorda | 58 min |
| Dec 17, 11:15 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Fort Bend | 4 hr |
| Dec 17, 11:15 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Matagorda | 4 hr |
| Dec 17, 11:23 AM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Galveston | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 11:31 AM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria | 48 min |
| Dec 17, 2:27 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Galveston | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 3:20 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Chambers | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 3:20 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria | 2 hr |
| Dec 17, 5:01 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazoria | 59 min |
| Dec 17, 5:30 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Galveston | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 5:30 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Chambers | 3 hr |
| Dec 17, 5:44 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk | 61 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 1995Every flash flood warning in 1995
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.