Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1997
Tornado Warning 29, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at May 28, 1997, 2:59 PM CDT for Polk County, Texas. It was in force for 31 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
- May 28, 1997, 2:59 PM CDT (19:59 UTC)
- Expired
- May 28, 1997, 3:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
County Polk County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 149 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:03 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
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 173 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
- 418 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -230 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1363 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 66 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 699 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 723 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
892 WFUS1 KHOU 282000 RRA TORHOU TXC373-282030- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 259 PM CDT WED MAY 28 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ...CENTRAL POLK COUNTY AT 252 PM... DPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN LIVINGSTON REPORTED A TORNADO BETWEEN LIVINGSTON AND LEGGETT MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION. ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO... GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. AVOID WINDOWS. ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT. &
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 28, 2:19 PM CDT, 40 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 28, 2:19 PM CDT, 40 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 215 PM CDT WED MAY 28 1997 QUITE BUSY SHIFT W/STRONG CONVECTION FIRING UP OVR MUCH OF FA DUE TO STRONG SURFACE MOISTURE CONV OVR HOU/GLS AREA W/OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. WEAK FNTL BOUNDARY PROGGED BY ETA TO SLOWLY SAG SWD AND BECOME DIFFUSE BY THU NITE. MN RHS SHOWING HI VALUES SHIFTING GRAD EWD TOWARDS NW GULF LATER THU INTO FRI. 850 MB THETA-E RIDGE ALSO SHIFTING GRAD SEWD TO NW GULF. MID/HI LVL FLOW SHOWS TROF MOVING TO E/NE OF FA W/FLOW BECOMING MORE W/NWLY FRI. HOWEVER...SHEAR AXIS (700 MB) S OF MN UPPER LVL TROF SHOWN BY ETA BEING LEFT BEHIND AS SHOWN W/MID LVL LOW (ALBEIT WEAK) JUST OFF CRP BY FRI. LOOKS LIKE BEST CHANCES OF PCPN OCCURING NOW AND DURING EVE HOURS...W/NOS GOING DOWN DURING. PERHAPS MENTION OF MAINLY EVE TSTMS/SHOWERS 1ST PD. COASTAL ZNS SHOULD HAVE HIGHEST POPS TOMORROW AS BOUNDARY SHIFTS TO THAT AREA. PRELIMS CLL EBBB 65/89 68/89 3222 IAH EBBB 67/88 69/89 4322 GLS EEBB 77/85 76/85 4432 42/37
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 28, 10:57 AM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes before
TXZ176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-511-513-282300- SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAINFALL OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1057 AM CDT WED MAY 28 1997 ...SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY... ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDES THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION...HOUSTON...AND GALVESTON AREAS. A STATIONARY FRONT REMAINS TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF THE FRONT IS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE. AS A RESULT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP TODAY...AND SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. SEVERAL WATERSPOUTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THE COAST GUARD OVER GALVESTON BAY THIS MORNING. RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ADDITIONAL WATERSPOUT AND POSSIBLE TORNADO FORMATION DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL THREAT WILL BE EAST OF A LINE FROM HUNTSVILLE TO RICHMOND TO SARGENT. THIS AREA INCLUDES THE CITIES OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL AVERAGE 1 INCH...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER NEWS SOURCES FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 28, 10:58 AM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute before
TXZ176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-511-513-282300- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1057 AM CDT WED MAY 28 1997 ...SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY... ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDES THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION...HOUSTON...AND GALVESTON AREAS. A STATIONARY FRONT REMAINS TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF THE FRONT IS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE. AS A RESULT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP TODAY...AND SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. SEVERAL WATERSPOUTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THE COAST GUARD OVER GALVESTON BAY THIS MORNING. RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ADDITIONAL WATERSPOUT AND POSSIBLE TORNADO FORMATION DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL THREAT WILL BE EAST OF A LINE FROM HUNTSVILLE TO RICHMOND TO SARGENT. THIS AREA INCLUDES THE CITIES OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL AVERAGE 1 INCH...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER NEWS SOURCES FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 28, 11:00 AM CDT, 3 hours 59 minutes before
TXZ176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-511-513-282300- SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAINFALL OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1057 AM CDT WED MAY 28 1997 ...SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY... ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDES THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION...HOUSTON...AND GALVESTON AREAS. A STATIONARY FRONT REMAINS TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF THE FRONT IS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE. AS A RESULT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP TODAY...AND SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. SEVERAL WATERSPOUTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THE COAST GUARD OVER GALVESTON BAY THIS MORNING. RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ADDITIONAL WATERSPOUT AND POSSIBLE TORNADO FORMATION DURING THE DAY. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL THREAT WILL BE EAST OF A LINE FROM HUNTSVILLE TO RICHMOND TO SARGENT. THIS AREA INCLUDES THE CITIES OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL AVERAGE 1 INCH...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER NEWS SOURCES FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 7:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazos, Madison | 59 min |
| May 27, 7:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Grimes | 56 min |
| May 27, 7:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Walker | 63 min |
| May 27, 11:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Grimes | 53 min |
| May 27, 11:40 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Grimes, Walker | 2 hr |
| May 28, 12:23 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Grimes, Montgomery, Walker | 67 min |
| May 28, 12:43 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Houston | 62 min |
| May 28, 10:43 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Harris | 62 min |
| May 28, 11:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Harris | 61 min |
| May 28, 12:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 64 min |
| May 28, 1:48 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Galveston | 57 min |
| May 28, 1:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | San Jacinto | 62 min |
| May 28, 2:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Waller | 57 min |
| May 28, 2:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Austin | 68 min |
| May 28, 3:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Fort Bend | 59 min |
| May 28, 3:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Fort Bend | 69 min |
| May 28, 4:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Jackson, Matagorda, Wharton | 67 min |
| May 28, 5:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Jackson | 63 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1997Every tornado warning in 1997Tornadoes 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.