Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 40, NWS Lubbock, TX

May 1, 1997Hall County, Texas

NWS Lubbock, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 1, 1997, 10:42 PM CDT for Hall County, Texas. It was in force for 63 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 1, 1997, 10:42 PM CDT (03:42 UTC)
Expired
May 1, 1997, 11:45 PM CDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Lubbock, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Hall County, TX

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:43 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 1, 10:15 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 00:00Z, 3.7 hours before the alert went out and 121 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, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 1997-05-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 34 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 1997-05-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
34 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3674 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
80 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KLBB 020342 RRA
SVRLBB
TXC191-020445-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1042 PM CDT THU MAY 1 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LUBBOCK TX HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1145 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

   ...HALL COUNTY
 
AT 1039 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY LUBBOCK
DOPPLER RADAR 25 MILES WEST OF MEMPHIS OR 5 MILES WEST SOUTHWEST OF
BRICE MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE VICINITY OF...
     BRICE             BY  1040 PM CDT
     LAKEVIEW          BY  1100 PM CDT
     MEMPHIS           BY  1115 PM CDT

A TORNADO WATCDH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.
REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE
TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. REMAIN CALM BUT BE
ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.



EP/GW

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, May 1, 6:16 PM CDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before
TXZ024>026-030>032-036>038-020215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
616 PM CDT THU MAY 1 1997

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HALL-CHILDRESS-MOTLEY-
COTTLE-DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM CDT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR BRISCOE-FLOYD AND CROSBY COUNTIES HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

A DRYLINE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY FROM A FLOYDADA TO RALLS TO SLATON
LINE AT 6 PM HAS BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY.  THUNDERSTORMS WHICH HAVE
DEVELOPED AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE HAVE BEEN LOCATED WELL EAST OF
BRISCOE-HALL AND CROSBY COUNTIES AND HAVE MOVED INTO OKLAHOMA.
AS A RESULT...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR BRISCOE-FLOYD AND CROSBY COUNTIES
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

DAYTIME HEATING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS MAY STILL GENERATE A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE LOW ROLLING PLAINS EARLY THIS EVENING.  ANY
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH DEVELOP IN THIS WARM...MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS
COULD BECOME SEVERE.  A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HALL-
CHILDRESS-MOTLEY-COTTLE-DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM CDT.

THE DRYLINE WILL LIKELY DRIFT SLOWLY WESTWARD EARLY TONIGHT AHEAD OFA
COLD FRONT SET TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SOMETIME AFTER MIDNIGHT.

RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER BE SPOTTED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

EOS
Special weather statement, May 1, 6:17 PM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before
TXZ024>026-030>032-036>038-020215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
616 PM CDT THU MAY 1 1997

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HALL-CHILDRESS-MOTLEY-
COTTLE-DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM CDT...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR BRISCOE-FLOYD AND CROSBY COUNTIES HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

A DRYLINE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY FROM A FLOYDADA TO RALLS TO SLATON
LINE AT 6 PM HAS BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY.  THUNDERSTORMS WHICH HAVE
DEVELOPED AHEAD OF THE DRYLINE HAVE BEEN LOCATED WELL EAST OF
BRISCOE-HALL AND CROSBY COUNTIES AND HAVE MOVED INTO OKLAHOMA.
AS A RESULT...THE TORNADO WATCH FOR BRISCOE-FLOYD AND CROSBY COUNTIES
HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

DAYTIME HEATING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS MAY STILL GENERATE A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE LOW ROLLING PLAINS EARLY THIS EVENING.  ANY
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH DEVELOP IN THIS WARM...MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS
COULD BECOME SEVERE.  A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR HALL-
CHILDRESS-MOTLEY-COTTLE-DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES UNTIL 10 PM CDT.

THE DRYLINE WILL LIKELY DRIFT SLOWLY WESTWARD EARLY TONIGHT AHEAD OFA
COLD FRONT SET TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SOMETIME AFTER MIDNIGHT.

RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER BE SPOTTED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

EOS
Special weather statement, May 1, 10:14 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
TXZ024>026-030>032-037-038-020600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1014 PM CDT THU MAY 1 1997

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-
FLOYD-MOTLEY AND COTTLE COUNTIES UNTIL 4 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR DICKENS AND KING COUNTY HAS EXPIRED AS OF
10 PM CDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES...CHILDRESS...
FLOYDADA...MATADOR...SILVERTON...AND TURKEY UNTIL 4 AM CDT.

A DRYLINE NEAR A PLAINVIEW-LITTLEFIELD-BROWNFIELD LINE AT 10 PM IS
NEARLY STATIONARY...BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE EAST AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT...NOW MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERN SOUTH PLAINS AND
SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE.

THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO SURFACE BOUNDARIES WILL HELP TO GENERATE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS EVENING AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH
AREA AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.  ISOLATED TORNADOES
ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH AFTER THE COLD FRONT
PASSES THROUGH THE REGION.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO OCCUR...INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY FOR TORNADOES.  IT
DOES NOT MEAN SEVERE WEATHER IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT.

RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
WEATHER AND BE READY TO SEEK A PLACE OF SAFETY WHEN THREATENING
WEATHER IS SPOTTED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES HAS
EXPIRED AS OF 10 PM CDT.  ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
STILL POSSIBLE OVER THESE COUNTIES TONIGHT...THE THREAT OF SEVERE
WEATHER HAS DIMINISHED AND IS NO LONGER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

EOS
Special weather statement, May 1, 10:15 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
TXZ024>026-030>032-037-038-020600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1014 PM CDT THU MAY 1 1997

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-
FLOYD-MOTLEY AND COTTLE COUNTIES UNTIL 4 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR DICKENS AND KING COUNTY HAS EXPIRED AS OF
10 PM CDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES...CHILDRESS...
FLOYDADA...MATADOR...SILVERTON...AND TURKEY UNTIL 4 AM CDT.

A DRYLINE NEAR A PLAINVIEW-LITTLEFIELD-BROWNFIELD LINE AT 10 PM IS
NEARLY STATIONARY...BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE EAST AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT...NOW MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERN SOUTH PLAINS AND
SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE.

THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO SURFACE BOUNDARIES WILL HELP TO GENERATE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS EVENING AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH
AREA AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.  ISOLATED TORNADOES
ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH AFTER THE COLD FRONT
PASSES THROUGH THE REGION.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TO OCCUR...INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY FOR TORNADOES.  IT
DOES NOT MEAN SEVERE WEATHER IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT.

RESIDENTS IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
WEATHER AND BE READY TO SEEK A PLACE OF SAFETY WHEN THREATENING
WEATHER IS SPOTTED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

THE TORNADO WATCH HAS EXPIRED FOR DICKENS AND KING COUNTIES HAS
EXPIRED AS OF 10 PM CDT.  ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE
STILL POSSIBLE OVER THESE COUNTIES TONIGHT...THE THREAT OF SEVERE
WEATHER HAS DIMINISHED AND IS NO LONGER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

EOS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lubbock, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 1, 10:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBBriscoe48 min
May 1, 10:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBBriscoe, Floyd66 min
May 1, 11:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCrosby48 min
May 1, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBHall21 min
May 1, 11:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBChildress64 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.