Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1997
Tornado Warning 36, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at May 31, 1997, 3:59 AM CDT for Jackson County, Texas. It was in force for 61 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 31, 1997, 3:59 AM CDT (08:59 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1997, 5:00 AM CDT
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
County Jackson County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 156 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:01 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 4:15 AM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind 60 | Ganado, TX | Utility poles and trees blown down |
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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 12:00 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 00:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 155 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
- 2212 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -94 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 900 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 72 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 152 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHOU 310854 RRA TORHOU TXC239-311000- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 359 AM CDT SAT MAY 31 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ...JACKSON COUNTY AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS AT 355 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR GANADO MOVING SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 20 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 REINFORCEDz 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 31, 3:45 AM CDT, 14 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 3:45 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 340 AM CDT SAT MAY 31 1997 ACTIVE WEATHER STILL ONGOING...BOW ECHO AND THE ASSOCIATED MCV HAS DRIVEN OFF THE COAST BETWEEN GLS AND SABINE PASS...WINDS OF 47 MPH IN WEST BAY. OUTFLOW BOUNDARY STRETCHES FROM FREEPORT TO NEAR ENDA AND OFF TO THE WEST THIS BOUNDARY SLOWER MOVING AND WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR HEAVY RAINS AND PERHAPS FURTHER SEVERE...MAINLY WIND DAMAGE. WILL BE MONITORING THIS CLOSELY THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING FOR WARNINGS. COLD FRONT STILL NEAR A CLL TO SAT LINE. FRONT SHOULD CONTINUE ITS SLOW TREK SOUTHWARD THIS MORNING WHILE PRONOUCED VORT MAX DROPS S THROUGH SRN AR AND INTO LA. AROUND NOON THE FRONT SHOULD PUSH OFF THE COAST ENDING THE THREAT OF PRECIP OVER THE SRN 1/3 OF THE AREA. CLOUDY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL PREVAIL OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON AND THEN BEGIN A SLOW CLEARING TREND. WILL KEEP POPS IN ON THE COAST THIS MORNING/ENDING BY LATE MORNING AND DECREASING RAPIDLY TO THE NORTH. STRONGER LL NORTH WINDS WILL SURGE SOUTH AND INTO THE REGION TONIGHT AFTER THE ATTENDENT SPD MAX DIGS FURTHER SOUTH ON THE BACK SIDE AND VORT ROUNDS THE SW CORNER OF THE ERN TROF. DEVELOPING CUTOFF LOW ANCHORS OVER MS/AL GIVING US THE WRAP AROUND PLEASANT WEATHER FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. WILL GO COOLER THAN MOS. 45 PRELIMS CLL E-B/A/U/V 83/60/87/59 1EARLY/000 IAH E-B/A/U/V 83/61/87/60 3EARLY/000 GLS C-E/B/U/A 81/69/83/71 5MORNING/000
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 30, 11:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 14 minutes before
TXZ178-179-197>200-210>214-226>227-235>238-311145- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1145 PM CDT FRI MAY 30 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL 5 AM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA:AUSTIN...BRAZORIA... CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...GRIMES...HARRIS... HOUSTON...JACKSON...LIBERTY...MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK... SAN JACINTO...WALLER...WASHINGTON...WAHRTON AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. A COOL FRONT MOVING THROUGH NORTH TEXAS WILL ENCOUNTER A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS AS IT CONTINUES MOVING TO THE SOUTH. THIS UNSTABLE AIRMASS COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCTIVE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS. REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TV STATION FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION.
Local storm report, May 31, 2:53 AM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIMES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON
153 AM CST SAT MAY 31 1997
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1003 PM CORRIGAN TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 POLK TREES/POWERLINES DOWN.
1030 PM TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 TRINITY POWER LINES DOWN IN
WESTERN PART OF COUNTY.
1038 PM TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 GRIMES TREES DOWN ON HWY 30.
1055 PM TOMBALL TX .88 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 HARRIS
1056 PM HOUSTON TX 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/30/97 HARRIS
1103 PM HOUSTON TX .88 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 HARRIS
1000 PM 3 N MIDWAY TX TORNADO
05/30/97 MADISON DPS REPORTED TORNADO.
DAMAGE/INJURIES NOT
CONFIRMED ATTM.
1111 PM WILLIS TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 MONTGOMERY TREES DOWN.
1122 PM TOMBALL TX TORNADO
05/30/97 HARRIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN
TOMBALL. DAMAGE/INJURIES
NOT CONFIRMED ATTM.
1135 PM BELLVILLE TX 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 AUSTIN
1135 PM BELLVILLE TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 AUSTIN POWERLINES DOWN.
1143 PM 2 S TOMBALL TX TORNADO
05/30/97 HARRIS TREES DOWN ON GRANT AND
MILL ROADS.
1148 PM HOUSTON TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 HARRIS TREES DOWN ON FM 1960 AND
249.
1205 AM RICHMOND TX 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/97 FORT BEND
1220 AM 5 W HANKAMER TX WIND DAMAGE
05/31/97 CHAMBERS TREES DOWN ON FM 563.Local storm report, May 31, 2:57 AM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIMES
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON
153 AM CST SAT MAY 31 1997
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1003 PM CORRIGAN TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 POLK TREES/POWERLINES DOWN.
1030 PM TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 TRINITY POWER LINES DOWN IN
WESTERN PART OF COUNTY.
1038 PM TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 GRIMES TREES DOWN ON HWY 30.
1055 PM TOMBALL TX .88 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 HARRIS
1056 PM HOUSTON TX 60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/30/97 HARRIS
1103 PM HOUSTON TX .88 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 HARRIS
1000 PM 3 N MIDWAY TX TORNADO
05/30/97 MADISON DPS REPORTED TORNADO.
DAMAGE/INJURIES NOT
CONFIRMED ATTM.
1111 PM WILLIS TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 MONTGOMERY TREES DOWN.
1122 PM TOMBALL TX TORNADO
05/30/97 HARRIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN
TOMBALL. DAMAGE/INJURIES
NOT CONFIRMED ATTM.
1135 PM BELLVILLE TX 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/30/97 AUSTIN
1135 PM BELLVILLE TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 AUSTIN POWERLINES DOWN.
1143 PM 2 S TOMBALL TX TORNADO
05/30/97 HARRIS TREES DOWN ON GRANT AND
MILL ROADS.
1148 PM HOUSTON TX WIND DAMAGE
05/30/97 HARRIS TREES DOWN ON FM 1960 AND
249.
1205 AM RICHMOND TX 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/97 FORT BEND
1220 AM 5 W HANKAMER TX WIND DAMAGE
05/31/97 CHAMBERS TREES DOWN ON FM 563.The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 10:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Houston, Madison | 62 min |
| May 30, 10:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazos | 61 min |
| May 30, 10:59 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk, Trinity | 61 min |
| May 30, 11:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Madison | 58 min |
| May 30, 11:12 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Grimes, Walker | 63 min |
| May 30, 11:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Harris, Montgomery | 55 min |
| May 30, 11:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Liberty, San Jacinto | 60 min |
| May 30, 11:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Harris | 67 min |
| May 30, 11:47 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Austin | 58 min |
| May 30, 11:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Montgomery | 55 min |
| May 31, 12:07 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Washington | 68 min |
| May 31, 12:23 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Harris, Montgomery | 3 hr |
| May 31, 12:27 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Harris, Liberty, Montgomery | 63 min |
| May 31, 12:30 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | HGX | Austin | 60 min |
| May 31, 12:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Chambers | 66 min |
| May 31, 1:02 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Colorado | 58 min |
| May 31, 1:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Fort Bend, Harris | 62 min |
| May 31, 1:28 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Galveston | 62 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.