Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 29, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

April 4, 1997Houston County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this flash flood warning at Apr 4, 1997, 10:55 PM CST for Houston County, Texas. It was in force for 2 hr. 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, 10:55 PM CST (04:55 UTC)
Expired
Apr 5, 1997, 1:00 AM CST
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Houston County, TX

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 195 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:58 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

Shreveport, LA (KSHV), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 204 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1997-04-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 94 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, Shreveport, LA at 00:00Z on 1997-04-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 206 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
94 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-95 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
621 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
206 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
332 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHOU 050457
FFWHOU
TXC225-050700-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1055 PM CST FRI APR 4 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  100 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHEAST TEXAS
 
   ...HOUSTON COUNTY
 
AT 1050 PM...A SERIES OF THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN MOVING OVER THE SAME
AREAS ALONG A LOVELADY TO NEAR WECHES CORRIDOR. THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN
PRODUCING 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR OVER THE SAME AREAS THAT HAD RECIEVED 2
TO 4 INCH AMOUNTS EARLIER TODAY. THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL LIKELY
CAUSE SMALL STREAMS TO RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS FLOODING LOW LYING AREAS.
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO
RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH
FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.   DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO
GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER
SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
 
IF YOU OBSERVE FLOODING REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT FOR
IMMEDIATE RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

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 Apr 4, 8:19 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 4, 8:19 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
815 PM CST FRI APR 4 1997

FCSTS LOOK GOOD NOW. IF FRONT AND SQUALL LINE CONTINUE MOVING AT
PRESENT RATE THINGS COULD END EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. HOWEVER
SATELLITE INDICATES ANOTHER LINE DEVELOPING FURTHER WEST IN RESPONSE
TO UPR LVL LOW KICKING OUT OF SW TX. WILL HAVE TO WAIT A FEW HOURS
AND SEE HOW THINGS PROGRESS EASTWARD. LOOKS LIKE MAIN THREAT TONIGHT
WITH LEADING SQUALL LINE WILL BE SEVERE WEATHER WHILE THREAT FOR
HEAVY RAIN MIGHT NOT BE AS GREAT BUT WITH SATURDATED GROUND ONLY
LITTLE AMOUNT OF RAIN REQUIRED. ALSO HIGH TIDES WILL KEEP BAYOUS FROM
RUNNING OFF INTO GLS BAY INCRSG THREAT FOR HOU/GLS RGN. KEEP ALL
WATCHES UP.

34

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 4, 6:12 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>199-210>213-226-227-235-511-050700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
712 PM CDT FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL
1 AM FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  THE WATCH AREA IS MAINLY
NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM EDNA TO HOUSTON TO LIVINGSTON. COUNTIES
INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE:
AUSTIN...BRAZOS...BURLESON...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GRIMES...
HARRIS...HOUSTON...JACKSON...MADISON...MONTGOMERY...POLK...
SAN JACINTO...TRINITY...WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON AND WHARTON
COUNTIES INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.  ROBERTSON...MILAM AND
LEON COUNTIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH.

A SQUALL LINE AHEAD OF A COOL FRONT IN CENTRAL TEXAS WILL CONTINUE
MOVING EASTWARD INTO AN UNSTABLE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AIRMASS TONIGHT.
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE ARE CAPABLE OF REACHING SEVERE LIMITS.
THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND TORNADOES.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THIS AREA ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER
DEVELOPMENTS AND SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER SHOULD
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA.  MARINERS CAN EXPECT STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FRONT TO SHIFT TO THE WEST AND
NORTHWEST AS THE LINE PASSES THROUGH THE REGION.

STAY TUNED TO NOA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 7:13 PM CST, 3 hours 42 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>199-210>213-226-227-235-511-050700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
712 PM CDT FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL
1 AM FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  THE WATCH AREA IS MAINLY
NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM EDNA TO HOUSTON TO LIVINGSTON. COUNTIES
INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDE:
AUSTIN...BRAZOS...BURLESON...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GRIMES...
HARRIS...HOUSTON...JACKSON...MADISON...MONTGOMERY...POLK...
SAN JACINTO...TRINITY...WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON AND WHARTON
COUNTIES INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.  ROBERTSON...MILAM AND
LEON COUNTIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH.

A SQUALL LINE AHEAD OF A COOL FRONT IN CENTRAL TEXAS WILL CONTINUE
MOVING EASTWARD INTO AN UNSTABLE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AIRMASS TONIGHT.
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE ARE CAPABLE OF REACHING SEVERE LIMITS.
THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND TORNADOES.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO DEVELOPMENT IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THIS AREA ARE URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER
DEVELOPMENTS AND SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER SHOULD
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA.  MARINERS CAN EXPECT STRONG
SOUTHERLY WINDS IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FRONT TO SHIFT TO THE WEST AND
NORTHWEST AS THE LINE PASSES THROUGH THE REGION.

STAY TUNED TO NOA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL OR CABLE MEDIA OUTLETS FOR
FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:27 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
TXZ-235-236-050400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
927 PM CST FRI APR 4 1997

...JACKSON COUNTY REMAINS IN A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 1 AM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 137 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF SOUTH
TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST. MATAGORDA COUNTY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE WATCH. HOWEVER CONDITIONS MAY WARRANT ADDING SEVERAL COUNTIES
AROUND THE MATAGORDA BAY AREA LATER TONIGHT/EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...INCLUDING MATAGORDA COUNTY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION...OR YOUR
LOCAL CABLE PROVIDER FOR FURTHER UPDATES...STATEMENTS...OR WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:29 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
TXZ-235-236-050400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
927 PM CST FRI APR 4 1997

...JACKSON COUNTY REMAINS IN A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 1 AM...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 137 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PARTS OF SOUTH
TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST. MATAGORDA COUNTY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM
THE WATCH. HOWEVER CONDITIONS MAY WARRANT ADDING SEVERAL COUNTIES
AROUND THE MATAGORDA BAY AREA LATER TONIGHT/EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...INCLUDING MATAGORDA COUNTY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION...OR YOUR
LOCAL CABLE PROVIDER FOR FURTHER UPDATES...STATEMENTS...OR WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:41 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-511-513-051035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1041 PM CDT FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A NEW TORNADO WATCH NOW IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS MAINLY EAST OF A LINE
FROM BAY CITY TO HOUSTON TO GROVETON.  COUNTIES IN THIS WATCH INCLUDE:
BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...HARRIS...LIBERTY...
MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO AND TRINITY COUNTIES
INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED EARLIER TONIGHT FOR WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PEOPLE IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATER CONDITIONS AND BE
PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:41 PM CST, 14 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-511-513-051035-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1041 PM CDT FRI APR 4 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A NEW TORNADO WATCH NOW IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS MAINLY EAST OF A LINE
FROM BAY CITY TO HOUSTON TO GROVETON.  COUNTIES IN THIS WATCH INCLUDE:
BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...HARRIS...LIBERTY...
MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO AND TRINITY COUNTIES
INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

THE TORNADO WATCH ISSUED EARLIER TONIGHT FOR WESTERN AREAS OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES
AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PEOPLE IN
THESE AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATER CONDITIONS AND BE
PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA.

STAY TUBNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 7:50 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXBurleson55 min
Apr 4, 8:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazos64 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 1997Every flash flood 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.