Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 45, NWS Lake Charles, LA

February 10, 1998Orange County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 10, 1998, 1:51 PM CST for Orange County, Texas. It was in force for 59 min. 2 reports 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
Feb 10, 1998, 1:51 PM CST (19:51 UTC)
Expired
Feb 10, 1998, 2:50 PM CST
In force
59 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 19:53 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
Feb 10, 2:00 PM CSTThunderstorm WindMauriceville, TX
Feb 10, 3:00 PM CSTHail 1Orange, 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 10, 1:00 PM CSTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 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 1998-02-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 380 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 1998-02-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 125 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
380 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
709 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
125 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
182 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

176 
WUUS1 KLCH 101950 RRA
SVRLCH
TXC361-102050-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
151 PM CST TUE FEB 10 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES LA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 250 PM CST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS

   ...ORANGE COUNTY

AT 150 PM CST...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM
JASPER TO CHINA WILL REACH ORANGE COUNTY AROUND 200 PM. THIS LINE
HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. IF A TORNADO APPROACHES YOUR
AREA...REMAIN CALM...MOVE TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS...SUCH AS A BATHROOM OR CLOSET.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS WITH BLANKETS OR PILLOWS.

&

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 Feb 10, 9:00 AM CST, 4 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 10, 9:00 AM CST, 4 hours 51 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS..SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
900 AM CST TUE FEB 10 1998

LUKS LIKE WE COULD BE IN FOR A ROUGH LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
VIGOUROUS 5H S/W CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS OF
TX WILL PUSH RAPIDLY TO THE EAST TODAY WITH THE HELP OF 100 KT
JET. SFC COLD FRONT CURRENTLY ACROSS CENTRAL TX WL PUSH INTO THE
THE FA AROUND 00Z WED WITH SFC LOW PUSHING INTO WEST CENTRAL
LA. THE AMS WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME MOIST AND UNSTABLE WITH
LI VALUES EXPECTED TO BE IN THE -5 TO -10 RANGE AT TIME OF
FROPA. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE THUNDERTORMS WILL BE
STRONG DOWNBURST WINDS WITH A 60 KT LOW LEVEL JET SETTING UP
ACROSS THE FA AND A NICE DRY SLOT AT 700 MB. WL SEE SOME
SUNSHINE TODAY. SO...I WILL BUMP UP HIGH TEMPS FOR TODAY INTO
THE LOWER 70S ACROSS SW LA. OTRW...CURRENT FCST LUKS GUD.

10

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 10, 10:20 AM CST, 3 hours 31 minutes before
LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-101900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1020 AM CST TUE FEB 10 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST...
CENTRAL AND SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO
TONIGHT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL
400 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS: TYLER...
JASPER...NEWTON...HARDIN...JEFFERSON AND ORANGE AS WELL AS THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND
ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVE INTO THE AREA. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST LOUSIANA BY MID AFTERNOON AND
EXIT THE EXTREME SOUTH-CENTRAL PORTION OF LOUISIANA BY MIDNIGHT.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF
80 MPH...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
WILL GENERALLY BE AROUND 1 INCH...HOWEVER AMOUNTS OF 3 INCHES
WILL BE POSSIBLE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. PERSONS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL TV AND RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 10:20 AM CST, 3 hours 31 minutes before
LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-101900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
1020 AM CST TUE FEB 10 1998

...TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHWEST...
CENTRAL AND SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO
TONIGHT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL
400 PM FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS: TYLER...
JASPER...NEWTON...HARDIN...JEFFERSON AND ORANGE AS WELL AS THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHEAST
TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND
ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT MOVE INTO THE AREA. THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST LOUSIANA BY MID AFTERNOON AND
EXIT THE EXTREME SOUTH-CENTRAL PORTION OF LOUISIANA BY MIDNIGHT.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF
80 MPH...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
WILL GENERALLY BE AROUND 1 INCH...HOWEVER AMOUNTS OF 3 INCHES
WILL BE POSSIBLE.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. PERSONS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL LOUISIANA SHOULD STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR LOCAL TV AND RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 10, 12:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHHardin, Tyler60 min
Feb 10, 1:31 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson59 min
Feb 10, 1:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJasper, Newton61 min
Feb 10, 2:05 PM CSTTornado WarningLCHJasper35 min
Feb 10, 2:25 PM CSTTornado WarningLCHNewton35 min
Feb 10, 2:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHJefferson32 min
Feb 10, 2:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLCHOrange34 min

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.