Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1998

Flash Flood Warning 29, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

January 21, 1998Harris County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this flash flood warning at Jan 21, 1998, 9:51 PM CST for Harris County, Texas. It was in force for 3 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
Jan 21, 1998, 9:51 PM CST (03:51 UTC)
Expired
Jan 22, 1998, 12:50 AM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Harris County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:50 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 00:00Z, 3.9 hours before the alert went out and 213 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 1998-01-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1567 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 00:00Z on 1998-01-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 120 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
1567 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
168 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
6.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KHOU 220350
FFWHOU
TXC201-220650-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
951 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1250 AM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS

   ...SOUTHEASTERN HARRIS COUNTY

VERY HEAVY RAIN HAS FALLEN DURING THE PAST 2-3 HOURS ACROSS
SOUTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS ESTIMATED OF 2-3
INCHES. AN ADDITIONAL 1-2 INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
WHICH COULD INCREASE THE FLOODING PROBLEM IN SOUTHEAST HARRIS
COUNTY.

PASADENA WAS REPORTING NUMEROUS ROADS THROUGHOUT THE CITY UNDERWATER
AND DRIVING WAS DIFFICULT. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN AS
ADDITIONAL RAINS MOVE ACROSS THE REGION.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.
MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO
FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE 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.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

&

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 Jan 21, 7:55 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 21, 7:55 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
755 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

QUITE A HECTIC LATE AFTN-EVE W/OUTBREAK OF SUPERCELLS. 00Z LCH
SOUNDING QUITE POTENT W/ABOUT 2000J/KG. SR HELICITY 144. CONVECTION
SHOULD CONT ALL OF FA TONITE. RECOMMEND IST PD MINOR CHANGES AS
FOLLOWS...

CLL AREA...WND BCMG NORTHEAST.
IAH AREA...WIND BECMG NORTHEAST LATE.
GLS AREA...LOW UPPER 50S INLAND...NR 60 COAST.

37

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 21, 8:12 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
TXZ178-179-199-200-213-214-226-227-235>238-220805-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
812 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM EDNA TO WHARTON
TO CONROE TO LIVINGSTON LINE. THIS THUNDERSTORM WATCH REPLACES THE
TORNADO WATCH THAT EXPIRED AT 800 PM.

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARE INCLUDED IN THE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...JACKSON...WHARTON...BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...FORT
BEND...GALVESTON...HARRIS...LIBERTY....MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...
POLK...SAN JACINTO AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST INTO SOTUHEAST TEXAS
TONIGHT. THIS FRONT WILL BE MOVING INTO A VERY WARM MOIST UNSTABLE
AIRMASS. THIS COMBINATION WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE CONTAINING
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Special weather statement, Jan 21, 8:12 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
TXZ178-179-199-200-213-214-226-227-235>238-220805-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
812 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS GENERALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM EDNA TO WHARTON
TO CONROE TO LIVINGSTON LINE. THIS THUNDERSTORM WATCH REPLACES THE
TORNADO WATCH THAT EXPIRED AT 800 PM.

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARE INCLUDED IN THE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...JACKSON...WHARTON...BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...FORT
BEND...GALVESTON...HARRIS...LIBERTY....MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...
POLK...SAN JACINTO AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST INTO SOTUHEAST TEXAS
TONIGHT. THIS FRONT WILL BE MOVING INTO A VERY WARM MOIST UNSTABLE
AIRMASS. THIS COMBINATION WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE CONTAINING
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Local storm report, Jan 21, 9:50 PM CST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TEXAS
950 PM CST WED JAN 21 1998

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0142 PM    EAGLE LAKE                TX   1.25 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   COLORADO

0305 PM    DEANVILLE                 TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BURLESON

0340 PM    CALDWELL                  TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BURLESON

0340 PM    LA SALLE                  TX   TORNADO
01/21/98   JACKSON                        UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
                                          REPORTED TORNADO TOUCHDOWN
                                          NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
                                          NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE
                                          REPORTED.

0408 PM    LYONS                     TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BURLESON

0425 PM    WELLBORN                  TX   .88 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BRAZOS                         HAIL BETWEEN MILLICAN AND
                                          WELLBORN

0520 PM    SHIRO                     TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   GRIMES

0525 PM    MIDWAY                    TX   TORNADO
01/21/98   MADISON                        TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AT OSR &
                                          I45 ABOUT 10 MILES NW
                                          MIDWAY.  RESTUARANT ROOF
                                          TORN OFF.

0532 PM    NEEDVILLE                 TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   FORT BEND                      90 PERCENT OF THE GROUND
                                          COVERED WITH HAIL

0540 PM    RICHARDS                  TX   TORNADO
01/21/98   GRIMES                         TORNADO TOUCHDOWN REPORTED
                                          BY NAVASOTA PD ON FM 149
                                          EAST OF RICHARDS

0545 PM    NEEDVILLE                 TX   .88 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   FORT BEND

0600 PM    ROANS PRAIRIE             TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   GRIMES

0627 PM    HUNTSVILLE                TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   WALKER                         SEVERAL INCHES OF HAIL
                                          COVERING GROUND ON HWY 75
                                          (4-5) MILES SOUTH OF
                                          HUNTSVILLE.

0650 PM    COLDSPRING                TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   SAN JACINTO

0653 PM    HOUSTON                   TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS                         KEY MAP 532

0705 PM    HOUSTON                   TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS                         HAIL NEAR HOBBY AIRPORT

0725 PM    HOUSTON                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS                         HAIL NEAR HOBBY AIRPORT

0740 PM    MORGANS POINT             TX   .88 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS

0740 PM    LA PORTE                  TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS

0744 PM    SHOREACRES                TX   .88 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS

0810 PM    COVE                      TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CHAMBERS

0835 PM    ROSHARON                  TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   BRAZORIA

0850 PM    HOUSTON                   TX   .5 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   HARRIS                         HAIL IN THE GALLERIA AREA

0858 PM    HANKAMER                  TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CHAMBERS

0858 PM    ANAHUAC                   TX   1 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CHAMBERS

0910 PM    WINNIE                    TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CHAMBERS                       HAIL 7 MILES WEST OF
                                          WINNIE ON I-10

0944 PM    WINNIE                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
01/21/98   CHAMBERS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 21, 6:07 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXMatagorda, Wharton68 min
Jan 21, 6:18 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXGrimes, Walker2 hr
Jan 21, 6:21 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXGrimes, Montgomery49 min
Jan 21, 6:29 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXSan Jacinto, Walker61 min
Jan 21, 6:33 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXFort Bend3 hr
Jan 21, 6:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Harris64 min
Jan 21, 6:58 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXPolk62 min
Jan 21, 7:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXChambers62 min
Jan 21, 8:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHouston61 min
Jan 21, 8:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria65 min
Jan 21, 8:35 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXChambers, Liberty65 min
Jan 21, 8:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXGalveston, Harris62 min
Jan 21, 9:34 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers3 hr
Jan 21, 9:40 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXChambers35 min
Jan 21, 10:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHarris33 min
Jan 21, 10:36 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers64 min
Jan 21, 10:36 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXChambers64 min
Jan 21, 10:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXChambers67 min
Jan 22, 12:33 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers, Harris4 hr
Jan 22, 4:27 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers3 hr
Jan 22, 9:05 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson55 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 1998Every flash flood warning in 1998

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.