Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 150, NWS Lake Charles, LA

August 31, 1998Orange County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 31, 1998, 5:55 PM CDT for Orange County, Texas. It was in force for 75 min. 1 report 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
Aug 31, 1998, 5:55 PM CDT (22:55 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 1998, 7:10 PM CDT
In force
75 min
Issued by
NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area
Whole counties

County Orange County, TX

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:55 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 31, 6:23 PM CDTThunderstorm WindVidor, 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 nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 67 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 1998-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 617 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 1998-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
617 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-80 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1106 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-39 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.

094 
WUUS1 KLCH 312257 RRA
SVRLCH
TXC361-010010-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
555 PM CDT MON AUG 31 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  ORANGE COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS

* UNTIL 710 PM CDT

* AT 554 PM CDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN THE VICINITY OF ORANGE MOVING SOUTHWEST
  AT 15 MPH.

* THIS STORM CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR...
  ORANGE BY 600 PM CDT


THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. FOR YOUR PROTECTION...SEEK
SHELTER IN A STRONG BUILDING. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM...SUCH
AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR
BUSINESS. DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.

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.

NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 31, 2:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 2:28 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS..SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
228 PM CDT MON AUG 31 1998

FORECAST PROBLEM THROUGH PERIOD WILL BE DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT
OF TROPICAL SYSTEM IN GULF.  CURRENTLY WEAK LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION
LOCATED ABOUT 500 SOUTH OF SABINE PASS OR AT 23.0 N 93.5 W. LARGE AREA
OF CONVECTION CONTINUES NORTH OF LOW. THIS ACTIVITY IS BEING ENHANCED
BY UPPER LEVEL TROF THAT IS MOVING THROUGH SE TX. BELIEVE THIS AREA OF
CONVECTION WILL BEGIN TO DISSIPATE WITH MAIN THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT
SHIFTING FURTHER SOUTH NEAR VICINITY OF SFC LOW.  HAVE A HARD TIME
BELIEVING MODELS QUICK DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM. UPPER LEVEL WINDS
CONTINUE TO SHEAR CONVECTION...WHICH SHOULD SLOW DEVELOPMENT. STILL
BELIEVE BEST SCENARIO WILL BE SLOW DEVELOPMENT...PUSHING NORTH TO
NORTHEAST 36-48HRS.  WITH THIS SOLUTION...AREA MAY BE UNDER SUBSIDENCE
ON TUESDAY. WILL KEEP POPS SCT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY FACTOR. ATMOSPHERE
WILL CONTINUE TO BE MOIST AND UNSTABLE WITH DEEP EAST / SOUTHEAST
FLOW. WILL NEED TO START WATCHING TIDE LEVELS ALONG COAST AS EASTERLY
WINDS STRENGTHEN.  WATCHES MAY NEED TO BE ISSUED TONIGHT OR TUESDAY
DEPENDING ON HOW QUICK SYSTEM DEVELOPSP.

12

LCH 73/92/72/91 2333
LFT 73/88/72/88 2445
AEX 72/95/69/93 2222
BPT 74/93/92/94 2223  TX ZONES 180>182-201 70/93/70/94 1122

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-010200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
356 PM CDT MON AUG 31 1998

...TROPICAL STORM EARL FORMS IN THE SOUTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO...

LATEST INFORMATION FROM A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REPORTED A
SURFACE LOW LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE
93.7 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 500 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE TEXAS /
LOUISIANA BORDER. SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUES TO INDICATE A LARGE AREA
OF DISTURBED WEATHER OVER THE SOUTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO IN ASSOCIATION
WITH THIS STORM.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF A NORTH TO NORTHEAST
MOVEMENT. WITH THIS PROJECTED TRACK...THE STORM WOULD MOVE TO THE
MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY WEDNESDAY AND REACH THE FLORIDA
PANHANDLE BY THURSDAY.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE
WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS FEATURE.
EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE IN THE COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT AND
TUESDAY CREATING SEAS TO 7 FEET. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL INTERESTS AROUND THE GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM EARL THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 3:56 PM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-010200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
356 PM CDT MON AUG 31 1998

...TROPICAL STORM EARL FORMS IN THE SOUTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO...

LATEST INFORMATION FROM A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT REPORTED A
SURFACE LOW LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.7 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE
93.7 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 500 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE TEXAS /
LOUISIANA BORDER. SATELLITE IMAGERY CONTINUES TO INDICATE A LARGE AREA
OF DISTURBED WEATHER OVER THE SOUTHWEST GULF OF MEXICO IN ASSOCIATION
WITH THIS STORM.

CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF A NORTH TO NORTHEAST
MOVEMENT. WITH THIS PROJECTED TRACK...THE STORM WOULD MOVE TO THE
MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY WEDNESDAY AND REACH THE FLORIDA
PANHANDLE BY THURSDAY.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE
WESTERN AND CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS FEATURE.
EASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE IN THE COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT AND
TUESDAY CREATING SEAS TO 7 FEET. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

ALL INTERESTS AROUND THE GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM EARL THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR
LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1998Every severe thunderstorm 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.