Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998
Tornado Warning 27, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Mar 7, 1998, 8:02 AM CST for Polk County, Texas. It was in force for 33 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
- Mar 7, 1998, 8:02 AM CST (14:02 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 7, 1998, 8:35 AM CST
- In force
- 33 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 14:02 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, 2.0 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
- 666 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -108 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 549 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 201 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 285 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 3.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHOU 071402 RRA TORHOU TXC373-071435- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 802 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 835 AM CST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION... IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS ...NORTHERN POLK COUNTY AT 801 AM CST... WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO 23 MILES NORTH OF LIVINGSTON OR 8 MILES NORTH OF MOSCOW MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION. ACT QUICKLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY BELOW GROUND IF AVAILABLE. OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLObOR POSSIBLE. AVOID WINDOWS. ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR 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 Mar 7, 3:18 AM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 7, 3:18 AM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 318 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998 STRONG CLUSTER OF STORMS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE WATERS SE OF HIGH ISLAND AND INTO LA WITH MDT MESOS INDICATIVE OF THE ENVIORN. WARM FRONT APPEARS TO RUN FROM NEAR LCH TO GLS TO JUST OFFSHORE OF PSX AND THEN COMES ONSHORE BETWEEN CRP/BRO. RIDGING BEHIND THE FRONT HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY SINCE 03Z. WIDESPREAD FOG WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WARM FRONTAL PASSAGE...SEA FOG WILL BE A PROBLEM ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST THIS MORNING. WARM FRONT SHOULD BEGIN THE MARCH INLAND BEFORE 12Z MAKING SETX MORE VULNERABLE TO THE MUCH ADVERTISED SVR THREAT. MDT RISK GLS-IAH AND NORTHEASTWARD-SLIGHT ELSEWHERE PER SPC. S/W OVER THE MEX MOUNTAINS LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WILL BE MOVING INTO THE REGION BETWEEN 15-21Z SPARKING WIDESPREAD TSRA. PW 1-1.4...LI <-2...CAPES IN THE 1200-1800 RANGE...STRONG SFC-700 SHEAR AND FAVORABLE ENVIORN FOR SUPERCELLS. ISOLATED TORNADOES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TODAY MIXED WITH HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. THREAT SHOULD CHANGE OVER TONIGHT TO MORE OF HAIL AS MID LEVEL COOLING SETS IN. CONVECTION ALONG THIS PREFRONTAL TROUGH MAY LEAVE BEHIND AN INTERSECTING BOUNDARY FOR CONVECTION TO WORK ON WITH THE COLD FRONT THAT WILL COME THROUGH TONIGHT. GIVEN HOW STRONG THE SYSTEM IS...RESIDUAL MOISTURE AND THE PACE OF THE FRONT WILL NEED TO INCLUDE MENTION OF SOME SEVERE FOR TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...LIMITING FACTOR ON CONVECTION TONIGHT WILL BE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CAP. WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL BE PREVELANT SUNDAY SO WILL KEEP CLOUDS IN THE FCST BUT NO SIG POPS FOR SUNDAY. BREEZY CONDITIONS 15 TO 20 MPH AND GUSTY INLAND ON SUNDAY...WINDY ON THE COAST 20 TO 25 MPH AND GUSTY. GUSTS TO GALE LOOK QUITE REASONABLE ON NOSE OF 45-50 KNOT 850 JET IMPINGING ON COASTAL WATERS SUNDAY. TEMPS WILL BE TAKING A SERIOUS PLUNGE. WILL FAVOR THE FAN FOR TEMPS. 45 PRELIMS... CLL TC/ C/C/E 066/045/057/037 7300 IAH TC/T>E/C/E 071/051/062/039 7400 GLS TE/T>E/E/E 069/056/062/044 7510
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 7:00 AM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214- 226-227-235>238-072300- SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 700 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998 THERE IS A SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME CITIES IN THE OUTLOOK AREA INCLUDE EDNA...COLUMBUS... CROCKETT...HUNTSVILLE...BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION...GALVESTON...AND THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA. A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS TODAY BRINGING DEEP MOISTURE TO THE REGION. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST THIS MORNING PRODUCING SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING QUICKLY OFF TO THE NORTHEAST. WINDS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE WILL BE CHANGING DIRECTION WITH HEIGHT FAVORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL STORMS. STORMS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM STORMS NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT WILL BE LARGE HAIL. A SECOND ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE AGAIN TONIGHT AS A CANADIAN COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY ACCOMPANY THE STORMS PRODUCING NARROW SWATHS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES. WIDESPREAD RAIN AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS THE REGION. ALL INTERESTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR LATER FORECASTS. PERSONS PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TODAY MAY WANT TO CONSIDER POSTPONING THEM UNTIL SUNDAY. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL END BY AROUND 3 AM SUNDAY MORNING AS A PACIFIC COLD FRONT SWEEPS THE MOISTURE FROM THE REGION AND STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS SET UP ACROSS THE REGION. MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD ANTICIPATE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE BAYS AND COASTAL WATERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH A SQUALL LINE POSSIBLE TONIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. IN ADDITION SEA FOG...SOMETIMES DENSE TO REMAIN ENTRENCHED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND BAYS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING WITH SOME GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE READY FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS MORNING EXTENDING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER NEWS SOURCES FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Mar 7, 7:00 AM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214- 226-227-235>238-072300- SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 700 AM CST SAT MAR 7 1998 THERE IS A SLIGHT TO MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME CITIES IN THE OUTLOOK AREA INCLUDE EDNA...COLUMBUS... CROCKETT...HUNTSVILLE...BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION...GALVESTON...AND THE HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA. A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS TODAY BRINGING DEEP MOISTURE TO THE REGION. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST THIS MORNING PRODUCING SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS WILL BE MOVING QUICKLY OFF TO THE NORTHEAST. WINDS IN THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE WILL BE CHANGING DIRECTION WITH HEIGHT FAVORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL STORMS. STORMS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM STORMS NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT WILL BE LARGE HAIL. A SECOND ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE AGAIN TONIGHT AS A CANADIAN COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY ACCOMPANY THE STORMS PRODUCING NARROW SWATHS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES. WIDESPREAD RAIN AMOUNTS OF 1/2 TO 1 INCH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS THE REGION. ALL INTERESTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR LATER FORECASTS. PERSONS PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TODAY MAY WANT TO CONSIDER POSTPONING THEM UNTIL SUNDAY. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL END BY AROUND 3 AM SUNDAY MORNING AS A PACIFIC COLD FRONT SWEEPS THE MOISTURE FROM THE REGION AND STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS SET UP ACROSS THE REGION. MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD ANTICIPATE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE BAYS AND COASTAL WATERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH A SQUALL LINE POSSIBLE TONIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. IN ADDITION SEA FOG...SOMETIMES DENSE TO REMAIN ENTRENCHED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND BAYS THROUGHOUT THE MORNING WITH SOME GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD BE READY FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS MORNING EXTENDING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER WEATHER NEWS SOURCES FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7, 4:42 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Chambers | 48 min |
| Mar 7, 7:17 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Polk | 33 min |
| Mar 7, 8:19 AM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX | Trinity | 61 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes 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.