Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 63, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

October 18, 1998Chambers County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Oct 18, 1998, 9:32 AM CDT for Chambers County, Texas. It was in force for 48 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
Oct 18, 1998, 9:32 AM CDT (14:32 UTC)
Expired
Oct 18, 1998, 10:20 AM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Chambers County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:32 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, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 149 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 12:00Z on 1998-10-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 447 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 12:00Z on 1998-10-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 149 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
447 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
647 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
172 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

550 
WFUS1 KHOU 181434 RRA
TORHOU
TXC071-181520-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
932 AM CDT SUN OCT 18 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CHAMBERS COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS

* UNTIL 1020 AM CDT

* AT 930 AM... WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM
  OVER THE UPPER END OF TRINITY MOVING NORTH NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO MOVE BETWEEN ANAHUAC AND MONT BELVIEU
  BY 950 AM.


IF YOU ARE IN THESE AREAS... SEEK SAFETY IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM
AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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 Oct 18, 2:50 AM CDT, 6 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 18, 2:50 AM CDT, 6 hours 42 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
250 AM CDT SUN OCT 18 1998

LOOKS LIKE THE SOGGY FORECAST IS HERE TO STAY.  THE HEAVY/PERSISTENT
RAINS OVER SWRN PORTIONS OF THE FA HAVE PRODUCED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF
FLOODING LAST EVENING (AND INTO THIS MORNING).  ADDITIONALLY...THERE
WERE ALSO SOME REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS/TORNADOES EARLIER TODAY (AND
EVEN TONIGHT).  MEANWHILE...THE LARGE AREA OF MAINLY SHRA CONTINUING
TO SLOWLY MOVE (MORE ELY THAN SE) ACROSS THE AREA.  HOWEVER...ALL OF
THIS SHOULD SHIFT A LITTLE MORE SE TODAY AS THE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY
OVER N TX EDGES A BIT FURTHER SSE.  WITH GOOD UPPER DIVERGENCE PROG-
GED ALONG WITH A DECENT SURGE OF PW (AOA 2") COMBINED WITH PROXIMITY
OF THE FRONT AND AVAILABLE DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE...HEAVY RAINS WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE THIS FCST PD.  WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THE MENTION OF
"SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE" IN SOME OF THE ZONES BASED MAINLY ON WHAT HAS
ALREADY TRANSPIRED ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME HEATING OVER S
PARTS OF THE CWA/PROGGED VERTICAL SHEAR/INFLOW.  LOOKING AHEAD...THE
FRONT WILL LIKELY PULL UP STATIONARY OVER AT LEAST THE N HALF OF THE
AREA AS UPPER SUPPORT FADES, AND UPPER LOW REMAINS ANCHORED OVER THE
CA BAJA.  TIMING OF S/Ws FROM THE LOW WILL BE THE TRICKY PART OF THE
FCST, BUT WILL GO AHEAD AND OPT FOR HIGH POPS/ABUNDANT CLOUDS ACROSS
THE BOARD, GIVEN ALL THE OTHER INGREDIENTS IN PLACE.  WILL ALSO KEEP
FFA UP FOR NOW.  WILL GO SLIGHTLY ABOVE MOS TEMPS AS CLOUDS STAY IN.
41

PRELIMS...
CLL  C/C C/C  78/64 76/61 +776  HVY RAINS
IAH  C/C C/C  81/67 78/64 +776  HVY RAINS/POSSIBLY SVR
GLS  E/C C/C  84/76 80/72 8776  HVY RAINS/POSSIBLY SVR

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 18, 5:22 AM CDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-181515-

HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
522 AM CDT SUN OCT 18 1998

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFEFCT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS TODAY...

THE THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
TODAY.  IN ADDITION...THERE IS ALSO A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR
MAINLY THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA TODAY.

DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE INTERACTING WITH A VERY SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT
AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED
DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.  HEAVY OVERNIGHT
RAINS OVER THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA ARE EXPECTED TO SHIFT
FURTHER SOUTH TODAY AS THE FRONT CURRENTLY OVER NORTH TEXAS SHIFTS
FURTHER SOUTH. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE FROM 4 TO
6 INCHES THROUGH TONIGHT WITH SOME TOTALS OF 10 TO 12 INCHES
POSSIBLE. THESE AMOUNTS COULD BE ADJUSTED UPWARD LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.

SINCE LATE SATURDAY...THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE BEEN NORTH AND EAST OF
A LINE FROM EDNA TO HOUSTON TO CROCKETT.  WORST HIT WERE LOCATIONS
OVER COLORADO... NORTHERN WHARTON AND NORTHERN JACKSON THAT HAD SOME
7 TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH THIS MORNING.  THIS HELPED TO FLOOD
SOME HOMES AND NUMEROUS ROADWAYS OVERNIGHT.

IN ADDITION TO THESE FLOOD PROBLEMS...THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK FOR
SEVERE WEATHER TODAY.  FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL WINDS...STRONG LOW-
LEVEL INFLOW AND SOME HEATING OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL ALLOW FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.  A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE.  TORNADOES WILL BE THE GREATEST THREAT.

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.

IF YOU OBSERVE FLOODING OR SEVERE WEATHER PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RELIABLE NEWS
SOURCES FOR THE LATEST UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Oct 18, 5:22 AM CDT, 4 hours 10 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-181515-

HEAVY RAINFALL AND SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
522 AM CDT SUN OCT 18 1998

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFEFCT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS TODAY...

THE THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
TODAY.  IN ADDITION...THERE IS ALSO A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR
MAINLY THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA TODAY.

DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE INTERACTING WITH A VERY SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT
AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED
DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.  HEAVY OVERNIGHT
RAINS OVER THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA ARE EXPECTED TO SHIFT
FURTHER SOUTH TODAY AS THE FRONT CURRENTLY OVER NORTH TEXAS SHIFTS
FURTHER SOUTH. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE FROM 4 TO
6 INCHES THROUGH TONIGHT WITH SOME TOTALS OF 10 TO 12 INCHES
POSSIBLE. THESE AMOUNTS COULD BE ADJUSTED UPWARD LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.

SINCE LATE SATURDAY...THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE BEEN NORTH AND EAST OF
A LINE FROM EDNA TO HOUSTON TO CROCKETT.  WORST HIT WERE LOCATIONS
OVER COLORADO... NORTHERN WHARTON AND NORTHERN JACKSON THAT HAD SOME
7 TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH THIS MORNING.  THIS HELPED TO FLOOD
SOME HOMES AND NUMEROUS ROADWAYS OVERNIGHT.

IN ADDITION TO THESE FLOOD PROBLEMS...THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT RISK FOR
SEVERE WEATHER TODAY.  FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL WINDS...STRONG LOW-
LEVEL INFLOW AND SOME HEATING OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL ALLOW FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.  A FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
MAY BECOME SEVERE.  TORNADOES WILL BE THE GREATEST THREAT.

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.

IF YOU OBSERVE FLOODING OR SEVERE WEATHER PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR RELAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RELIABLE NEWS
SOURCES FOR THE LATEST UPDATES OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 17, 7:08 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXColorado57 min
Oct 17, 8:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXColorado, Wharton61 min
Oct 17, 8:31 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXBrazos, Grimes, Madison, Washington4 hr
Oct 17, 8:31 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXAustin, Colorado4 hr
Oct 17, 8:31 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXHouston4 hr
Oct 17, 9:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXFort Bend, Wharton63 min
Oct 17, 10:52 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXWharton4 hr
Oct 17, 11:57 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXAustin, Colorado3 hr
Oct 18, 12:49 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris, Waller51 min
Oct 18, 2:55 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXAustin, Colorado, Wharton5 hr
Oct 18, 2:55 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXWaller5 hr
Oct 18, 3:36 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris, Waller39 min
Oct 18, 4:10 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris55 min
Oct 18, 4:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXHarris, Montgomery3 hr
Oct 18, 5:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXBrazos, Houston, Madison5 hr
Oct 18, 5:21 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXBurleson, Washington5 hr
Oct 18, 5:59 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXLiberty, Montgomery31 min
Oct 18, 6:10 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXWaller35 min
Oct 18, 6:33 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris57 min
Oct 18, 7:12 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXLiberty3 hr
Oct 18, 7:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXJackson3 hr
Oct 18, 7:40 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris40 min
Oct 18, 7:49 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXLiberty61 min
Oct 18, 8:06 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXAustin, Colorado, Wharton4 hr
Oct 18, 8:06 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXHarris, Montgomery, Waller4 hr
Oct 18, 8:17 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXSan Jacinto4 hr
Oct 18, 8:17 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXFort Bend4 hr
Oct 18, 10:01 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXBrazos, Madison, Washington4 hr
Oct 18, 10:01 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXLiberty4 hr
Oct 18, 10:01 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXJackson4 hr
Oct 18, 10:23 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXChambers32 min
Oct 18, 10:41 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers3 hr
Oct 18, 10:57 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXChambers63 min
Oct 18, 10:58 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXLiberty62 min
Oct 18, 11:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXBrazoria, Galveston3 hr
Oct 18, 12:02 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXAustin, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Waller4 hr
Oct 18, 12:02 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXSan Jacinto4 hr
Oct 18, 12:02 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXColorado, Wharton4 hr
Oct 18, 12:23 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXChambers32 min
Oct 18, 2:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXChambers, Liberty3 hr
Oct 18, 2:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXJackson4 hr
Oct 18, 6:07 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningHGXJackson3 hr

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.