Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1996

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 27, 1996Caldwell County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 27, 1996, 1:35 PM CDT for Caldwell County, Texas. It was in force for 25 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 27, 1996, 1:35 PM CDT (18:35 UTC)
Expired
May 27, 1996, 2:00 PM CDT
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Caldwell County, TX

The radar

The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:36 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
May 27, 1:38 PM CDTHail 1.75Martindale, 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 12:00Z, 6.6 hours before the alert went out and 236 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 1996-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1896 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 1996-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 128 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1896 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-175 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
606 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 271836
SVRSAT
TXC055-271900-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
135 PM CDT MON MAY 27 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY
 
AT 135 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS
NORTHERN CALDWELL COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 TO
30 MILES AN HOUR.
 
 
PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.  FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN CAN ALS$O OCCUR WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...FLOODING SMALL
STREAMS...LOW AREAS...AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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, May 27, 9:46 AM CDT, 3 hours 49 minutes before
TXZ171>173-185>194-203>209-218>225-229-230-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
945 AM CDT MON MAY 27 1996

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGH 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BEXAR COUNTY UNTIL 1030
AM CDT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR BEXAR...COMAL AND HAYS COUNTIES
HAVE EXPIRED...

AT 935 AM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
SOME STRONG FROM SEGUIN...TO BASTROP AND AUSTIN TO GIDDINGS.  OTHER
WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER
EASTERN BANDERA AND NORTHERN MEDINDA COUNTIES.  MOVEMENT WAS
GENERALLY EAST AT NEAR 30 MPH.  NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
INDICATED BY RADAR AT THIS TIME.  HOWEVER A FEW STORMS COULD STILL
PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH SOME POSSIBLE
HAIL AS THEY MOVE EASTWARD INTO GONZALES...BASTROP...CALDWELL...
LEE...AND FAYETTE COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT ONE TO TWO HOURS.

THE AIR OVER SOUTH TEXAS REMAINS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
MORNING.  ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS DUE TO AFTERNOON HEATING.

SnTAYED TUNED TO ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND/OR WARNINGS.
Local storm report, May 27, 10:02 AM CDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO, TX
1000 AM CDT MON MAY 27 1996

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0838 AM    ALAMO HEIGHTS             TX   NICKEL-SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BEXAR                          REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE

0712 AM    VANDERPOOLE               TX   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BANDERA

0615 PM    PEARSALL                  TX
05/08/96   FRIO                           3.30 - 3.60 INCHES OF RAIN
                                          IN 2 HOURS

0630 PM    PEARSALL                  TX
05/08/96   FRIO                           1N PEARSALL 4.25 - 4.75
                                          INCHES OF RAIN IN 2 HOURS.
Local storm report, May 27, 10:04 AM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
STORM REPORT CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO, TX
1003 AM CDT MON MAY 27 1996

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0838 AM    ALAMO HEIGHTS             TX   NICKEL SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BEXAR                          REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE

0712 AM    VANDERPOOLE               TX   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BANDERA
Special weather statement, May 27, 10:10 AM CDT, 3 hours 25 minutes before
TXZ171>173-185>194-203>209-218>225-229-230-271600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION FOR FLOOD WATCH...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1010 AM CDT MON MAY 27 1996

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS THROUGH 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON...

...AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR BEXAR COUNTY
UNTIL 1030 AM CDT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS FOR BEXAR...COMAL AND HAYS COUNTIES
HAVE EXPIRED...

AT 1010 AM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
SOME STRONG FROM SEGUIN...TO BASTROP AND AUSTIN TO GIDDINGS.  OTHER
WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER
EASTERN BANDERA AND NORTHERN MEDINDA COUNTIES.  MOVEMENT WAS
GENERALLY EAST AT NEAR 30 MPH.  NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
INDICATED BY RADAR AT THIS TIME.  HOWEVER A FEW STORMS COULD STILL
PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH SOME POSSIBLE
HAIL AS THEY MOVE EASTWARD INTO GONZALES...BASTROP...CALDWELL...
LEE...AND FAYETTE COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT ONE TO TWO HOURS.

THE AIR OVER SOUTH TEXAS REMAINS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE THIS
MORNING.  ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS DUE TO AFTERNOON HEATING.

STAYED TUNED TO ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND/OR WARNINGS.
Local storm report, May 27, 11:00 AM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANTONIO, TX
1054 AM CDT MON MAY 27 1996

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0838 AM    ALAMO HEIGHTS             TX   NICKEL SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BEXAR                          REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NWS
                                          EMPLOYEE

0712 AM    VANDERPOOLE               TX   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
05/27/96   BANDERA

0800 AMR    5N BLANCO                 TX   DIME SIZE HAIL
           BLANCO

0830 AM    NEW BRAUNFELS             TX   PEA AND DIME SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED BY SHERIFF

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 27, 3:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards41 min
May 27, 4:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards44 min
May 27, 5:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXReal47 min
May 27, 6:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXEdwards2 hr
May 27, 6:42 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningEWXReal2 hr
May 27, 7:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera52 min
May 27, 7:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBlanco44 min
May 27, 8:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBexar67 min
May 27, 8:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXComal, Hays59 min
May 27, 12:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXHays45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1996Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1996

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.