Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 27, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

April 4, 1997Val Verde County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 4, 1997, 11:30 AM CST for Val Verde County, Texas. It was in force for 60 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 4, 1997, 11:30 AM CST (17:30 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 1997, 12:30 PM CST
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Val Verde County, TX

The radar

The Laughlin AFB radar (KDFX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:31 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 12:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 66 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 1997-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1922 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 1997-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 213 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
1922 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
580 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
55 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
213 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
198 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
2.5
Supercell composite
10.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KSAT 041732 RRA
SVRSAT
TXC465-041830-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1130 AM CST FRI APR 4 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
 
   ...VAL VERDE COUNTY
 
AT 1130 AM...RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE
HAIL JUST WEST OF HIGHWAY 1024 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF COMSTOCK.
 
MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
 
THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING RAPIDLY AND WILL LIKELY MOVE BETWEEN
PANDALE AND JUNO AS IT TRAVERSES THE COUNTY.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN REACH SPEEDS OVVER 60 MPH.  THESE WINDS
BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGE MOBILE HOMES...
SOMETIMES BUILDINGS.  VERY LARGE HAIL CAN INJURE ANYONE CAUGHT
OUTSIDE.

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, Apr 4, 7:00 AM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes before
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-051200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
700 AM CST FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY
INTO THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS.

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR LAVACA COUNTY UNTIL 845 AM...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR TRAVIS..BLANCO AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES TIL
   930 AM...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR KENDALL COUNTY TIL 945 AM...

AN INTENSE UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVING INTO WEST TEXAS TODAY WILL
TRIGGER NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION.
AVERAGE RAIN TOTALS IN THE REGION COULD AMOUNT TO BETWEEN 2 AND 3
INCHES BY THE TIME THE EVENT ENDS THIS EVENING.

IN ADDITIONAL..THE UPPER LEVELS WILL RAPIDLY DESTABILIZE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG
A DRY LINE WHICH WILL PUSH ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY EXCEED SEVERE LIMITS WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS.

AREAS WET FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS ARE AT PRIME RISK OF FLOODING IF
HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPS.

THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NORMALLY WILL BE UPDATED BY MEANS OF
THE ZONE FORECASTS...SHORT TERM FORECASTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS AND
ADVISORIES.  THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK ITSELF WILL BE UPDATED
ONLY IF UNFORECAST HAZARDOUS WEATHER DEVELOPS OR IF FORECAST
HAZARDOUS WEATHER NO LONGER IS EXPECTED.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 7:01 AM CST, 4 hours 29 minutes before
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-051200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
700 AM CST FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY
INTO THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS.

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR LAVACA COUNTY UNTIL 845 AM...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS FOR TRAVIS..BLANCO AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES TIL
   930 AM...
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR KENDALL COUNTY TIL 945 AM...

AN INTENSE UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVING INTO WEST TEXAS TODAY WILL
TRIGGER NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION.
AVERAGE RAIN TOTALS IN THE REGION COULD AMOUNT TO BETWEEN 2 AND 3
INCHES BY THE TIME THE EVENT ENDS THIS EVENING.

IN ADDITIONAL..THE UPPER LEVELS WILL RAPIDLY DESTABILIZE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG
A DRY LINE WHICH WILL PUSH ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY EXCEED SEVERE LIMITS WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS.

AREAS WET FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS ARE AT PRIME RISK OF FLOODING IF
HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPS.

THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NORMALLY WILL BE UPDATED BY MEANS OF
THE ZONE FORECASTS...SHORT TERM FORECASTS...WATCHES...WARNINGS AND
ADVISORIES.  THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK ITSELF WILL BE UPDATED
ONLY IF UNFORECAST HAZARDOUS WEATHER DEVELOPS OR IF FORECAST
HAZARDOUS WEATHER NO LONGER IS EXPECTED.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:49 AM CST, 41 minutes before
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-051200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
11 AM CST FRI APR 4 1997

...STORMY EARLY APRIL DAY OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS...

AN INTENSE SPRING WEATHER SYSTME TO THE WEST OF THE AREA WILL MOVE
EAST CAUSING MORE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY
AND THIS EVENING.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES
IN SOME AREAS IS POSSIBLE BY THE TIME THE EVENT ENDS THIS EVENING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO DEVELOP OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY AND THIS EVENING...CAUSING STRONG WINDS
AND POSSIBLE DAMAGING HAIL.

AS THE WEATHER SYSTEMS SWEEPS EAST OF THE AREA...A MOSTLY SUNNY
DAY IS EXPECTED SATURDAY...FOLLOWED BY A SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY
ON SUNDAY.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 11:00 AM CST, 30 minutes before
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-051200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
11 AM CST FRI APR 4 1997

...STORMY EARLY APRIL DAY OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS...

AN INTENSE SPRING WEATHER SYSTME TO THE WEST OF THE AREA WILL MOVE
EAST CAUSING MORE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY
AND THIS EVENING.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES
IN SOME AREAS IS POSSIBLE BY THE TIME THE EVENT ENDS THIS EVENING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO DEVELOP OVER THE HILL COUNTRY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY AND THIS EVENING...CAUSING STRONG WINDS
AND POSSIBLE DAMAGING HAIL.

AS THE WEATHER SYSTEMS SWEEPS EAST OF THE AREA...A MOSTLY SUNNY
DAY IS EXPECTED SATURDAY...FOLLOWED BY A SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY
ON SUNDAY.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 3, 8:33 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXDimmit42 min
Apr 3, 8:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXDimmit42 min
Apr 3, 9:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXMedina, Zavala57 min
Apr 3, 10:36 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXGillespie69 min
Apr 3, 10:47 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXKerr58 min
Apr 3, 11:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBexar65 min
Apr 3, 11:32 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXComal58 min
Apr 3, 11:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXHays65 min
Apr 4, 12:25 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXWilliamson65 min
Apr 4, 12:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXWilliamson65 min
Apr 4, 12:43 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXHays62 min
Apr 4, 1:17 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXDeWitt, Lavaca3 hr
Apr 4, 1:34 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXTravis, Williamson116 min
Apr 4, 5:36 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXLavaca3 hr
Apr 4, 6:23 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXTravis, Williamson3 hr
Apr 4, 6:31 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXBlanco3 hr
Apr 4, 6:43 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXKendall3 hr
Apr 4, 9:24 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXTravis, Williamson3 hr
Apr 4, 10:12 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXDeWitt2 hr
Apr 4, 2:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXUvalde56 min
Apr 4, 2:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXReal65 min
Apr 4, 3:00 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXReal2 hr
Apr 4, 3:25 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXBandera65 min
Apr 4, 3:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBandera65 min
Apr 4, 3:32 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXUvalde58 min
Apr 4, 3:32 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXUvalde58 min
Apr 4, 3:53 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXKerr2 hr
Apr 4, 4:24 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningEWXBandera2 hr
Apr 4, 4:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXMedina56 min
Apr 4, 5:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXBexar, Kendall79 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.