Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1997
Tornado Warning 8, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Jan 27, 1997, 7:14 PM CST for Chambers County, Harris County, Texas. It was in force for 61 min. 2 reports 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
- Jan 27, 1997, 7:14 PM CST (01:14 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 27, 1997, 8:15 PM CST
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Chambers County, TX, Harris County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 7:15 PM CST | Tornado F0 | Baytown, TX | |
| Jan 27, 7:25 PM CST | Thunderstorm Wind | Anahuac, 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 4:00 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 180 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
- 1472 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -17 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 733 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 114 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 131 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 5.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
750 WFUS1 KHOU 280116 RRA TORHOU TXC071-201-280215- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 714 PM CST MON JAN 27 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 815 PM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ...CHAMBERS COUNTY...EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS AT 715 PM...RADAR INDICATED A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF BAYTOWN MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. MONT BELVIEU IS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM. 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 Jan 27, 9:40 AM CST, 9 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 9:40 AM CST, 9 hours 34 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 940 AM CST MON JAN 27 1997 THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL STILL APPEARS TO BE SHAPING UP FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND ON INTO TONIGHT. SEE SPCS UPDATED DAY 1 OUTLOOK FOR REASONING. CONSENSUS APPEARS TO BE FAVORING A FASTER FRONTAL MOVEMENT...AND THE CURRENT FORECAST COVERS THIS SCENARIO WELL. WILL UPDATE THE SPSHOU WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR. 42
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 1:47 PM CST, 5 hours 27 minutes before
TXZ164-177>179-199-200-213-214-227-237-238-511-513-280100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 148 PM CST MON JAN 27 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH 7 PM THIS EVENING... THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR BRAZORIA...GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...HARRIS...FORT BEND... LIBERTY...MONTGOMERY...SAN JACINTO...WALKER...POLK AND TRINITY COUNTIES UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING. SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA ARE GALVESTON...ANGELTON...HOUSTON...RICHMOND...CONROE... LIBERTY...HUNTSVILLE AND LIVINGSTON. THE COMBINATION OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AIRMASS TO PRODUCE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE PRIMARY THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MARINERS SHOULD ALSO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE BAYS AND IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEW MEDIAS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 1:48 PM CST, 5 hours 26 minutes before
TXZ164-177>179-199-200-213-214-227-237-238-511-513-280100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 148 PM CST MON JAN 27 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH 7 PM THIS EVENING... THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR BRAZORIA...GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...HARRIS...FORT BEND... LIBERTY...MONTGOMERY...SAN JACINTO...WALKER...POLK AND TRINITY COUNTIES UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING. SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH AREA ARE GALVESTON...ANGELTON...HOUSTON...RICHMOND...CONROE... LIBERTY...HUNTSVILLE AND LIVINGSTON. THE COMBINATION OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AIRMASS TO PRODUCE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE PRIMARY THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MARINERS SHOULD ALSO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE BAYS AND IMMEDIATE COASTAL WATERS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL NEW MEDIAS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 3:06 PM CST, 4 hours 8 minutes before
TXZ163-164-179-280210- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 306 PM CST MON JAN 27 1997 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST FOR A LARGE PORITON OF EAST TEXAS... THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR A LARGE PORTION OF EAST TEXAS INCLUDING TRINITY...POLK AND HOUSTON COUNTIES. SOME OF THE CITIES IN THE WATCH AREA ARE CROCKETT ...TRINITY...GROVETON...AND LIVINGSTON. THE COMBINATION OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL INTERACT WITH A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE SOUTHEAST TEXAS AIRMASS TO PRODUCE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE PRIMARY THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 7 PM CST. REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO/TV STATION FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Jan 27, 3:55 PM CST, 3 hours 19 minutes before
TXZ211-237-210-227-198-213-163-200-511-236-199-179-178-164-177- 212-197-226-196-195-214-238-235-176-280400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 355 PM CST MON JAN 27 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THIS WATCH REPLACES THE PREVIOUS THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM. THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 95 MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF VICTORIA TO 25 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF LUFKIN. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED...BURLESON...BRAZOS...MADISON... HOUSTON...TRINITY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...WALKER...GRIMES... WASHINGTON...AUSTIN...WALLER...MONTGOMERY...HARRIS...LIBERTY... CAHMBERS...GALVESTON...BRAZORIA...FORT BEND...COLORADO...WHARTON... JACKSON...MATAGORDA...AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED HAIL AND TORNADOES. RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE ADVANCED WARNING.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 6:20 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty | 3 hr |
| Jan 27, 6:24 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Liberty | 51 min |
| Jan 27, 6:40 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Chambers, Harris | 65 min |
| Jan 27, 6:52 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Brazoria | 68 min |
| Jan 27, 7:06 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Galveston | 69 min |
| Jan 27, 7:36 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Chambers | 69 min |
| Jan 27, 8:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Galveston | 65 min |
| Jan 27, 8:24 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Galveston | 3 hr |
| Jan 27, 8:30 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk | 60 min |
| Jan 27, 9:03 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty | 3 hr |
| Jan 27, 9:21 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Galveston | 69 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.