Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1999

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 9, NWS Brownsville, TX

March 27, 1999Starr County, Zapata County, Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 27, 1999, 8:18 PM CST for Starr County, Zapata County, Texas. It was in force for 42 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 27, 1999, 8:18 PM CST (02:18 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1999, 9:00 PM CST
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

Counties Starr County, TX, Zapata County, TX

The radar

The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 181 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:22 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

Brownsville Intl, TX (KBRO), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 183 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, Brownsville Intl, TX at 00:00Z on 1999-03-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1929 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, Brownsville Intl, TX at 00:00Z on 1999-03-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
1929 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-124 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
598 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
-0.0
Supercell composite
-0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 27, 7:45 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 7:45 PM CST, 33 minutes before
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
745 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER UNDERWAY OVER NORTHEAST MEXICO AND DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
CAUSED BY UPPER AIR LOW AMBLING SLOWLY NORTHEAST FROM MEXICO..WILL
TAPER OFF LATE LATER TONIGHT AS ENERGY MAKING STORMS RACES NORTHEAST.
HOWEVER..STORM DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED AGAIN TOMORROW BUT STARTING MORE
EAST THAN CURRENT POSITION KEEPING WITH LOWS EASTWARD MIGRATION.

FORECAST UNDERWAY LOOKS APPROPRIATE WITH 60 POPS TONIGHT AND
TOMORROW..POSSIBLY SEVERE STORMS..HEAVY RAINFALL. PRECIP ALGO SUPPORTS
THE POPS. BY TOMORROW NIGHT..LAND AREA WILL BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
SUBSIDING AIR IN THE LOWS WAKE..GULF OF MEXICO WILL NOT HOWEVER..WHERE
STORMY WEATHER WILL DOMINATE.

SO FAR..MOST DAMAGE HAS BEEN FROM WIND.

.BRO...SCA RIO GRANDE-BAFFIN BAY OUT 50 NM INCLUDING BAYS. GRADIENT IS
STILL QUITE STRONG.

62

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 27, 3:07 PM CST, 5 hours 11 minutes before
TXZ248>255-281200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
307 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

...GOOD POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OVER DEEP SOUTH
   TEXAS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WAS CENTERED SOUTHWEST OF
BIG BEND NEAR CHIHUAHUA MEXICO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  THIS SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO TRACK EAST TO SOUTHEAST OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS...
BRINGING THE BEST CHANCE IN SOME TIME FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

STRONG SOUTHEAST WIND HAS SUPPLIED THE AREA WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE
MOISTURE...WHILE THE APPROACHING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE SHOULD
SUPPLY THE NECESSARY DESTABILIZATION AND ENERGY NECESSARY TO
PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  THE BEST CHANCES WILL BE FROM
THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

DUE TO THE EXPECTED CONVECTIVE NATURE OF THIS SYSTEM...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY TO VARY WIDELY ACROSS THE REGION.  WHILE SOME
LOCATIONS MAY RECEIVE LITTLE OR NO PRECIPITATION...THE POTENTIAL
EXISTS FOR SOME SHOWERS OR STORMS TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...
WHICH COULD LEAD TO AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES.  ALTHOUGH THE
GROUND ACROSS THE REGION IS VERY DRY AND CAPABLE OF ABSORBING
SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL...HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE
QUICK RUNOFF AND LOCALIZED FLASH-FLOODING...PARTICULARLY IN LOW-
LYING AND FLASH-FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

PERSONS IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD STAY UPDATED ON THIS DEVELOPING
WEATHER SITUATION THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FURTHER STATEMENTS
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...OR THEIR LOCAL MEDIA
OUTLET OF CHOICE.

VALONE
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 3:07 PM CST, 5 hours 11 minutes before
TXZ248>255-281200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
307 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

...GOOD POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL OVER DEEP SOUTH
   TEXAS TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

A VIGOROUS UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WAS CENTERED SOUTHWEST OF
BIG BEND NEAR CHIHUAHUA MEXICO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  THIS SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO TRACK EAST TO SOUTHEAST OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS...
BRINGING THE BEST CHANCE IN SOME TIME FOR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TO
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

STRONG SOUTHEAST WIND HAS SUPPLIED THE AREA WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE
MOISTURE...WHILE THE APPROACHING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE SHOULD
SUPPLY THE NECESSARY DESTABILIZATION AND ENERGY NECESSARY TO
PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  THE BEST CHANCES WILL BE FROM
THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

DUE TO THE EXPECTED CONVECTIVE NATURE OF THIS SYSTEM...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY TO VARY WIDELY ACROSS THE REGION.  WHILE SOME
LOCATIONS MAY RECEIVE LITTLE OR NO PRECIPITATION...THE POTENTIAL
EXISTS FOR SOME SHOWERS OR STORMS TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...
WHICH COULD LEAD TO AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES.  ALTHOUGH THE
GROUND ACROSS THE REGION IS VERY DRY AND CAPABLE OF ABSORBING
SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL...HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE
QUICK RUNOFF AND LOCALIZED FLASH-FLOODING...PARTICULARLY IN LOW-
LYING AND FLASH-FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

PERSONS IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD STAY UPDATED ON THIS DEVELOPING
WEATHER SITUATION THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO...FURTHER STATEMENTS
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...OR THEIR LOCAL MEDIA
OUTLET OF CHOICE.

VALONE
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 3:35 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
TXZ248>255-281200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
335 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
   TONIGHT OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS...

ENERGY FROM AN APPROACHING STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM FROM MEXICO
WILL INTERACT WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE PRESENT OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA.  A FEW OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING
WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH.  IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE
HAIL OR DAMAGING WIND...LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WHICH COULD
LEAD TO FLASH-FLOODING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PERSONS IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES OR
WARNINGS THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR THEIR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET OF
CHOICE.

VALONE
Special weather statement, Mar 27, 3:35 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
TXZ248>255-281200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
335 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

...SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
   TONIGHT OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS...

ENERGY FROM AN APPROACHING STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM FROM MEXICO
WILL INTERACT WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE PRESENT OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA.  A FEW OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL OR DAMAGING
WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH.  IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE
HAIL OR DAMAGING WIND...LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WHICH COULD
LEAD TO FLASH-FLOODING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PERSONS IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES OR
WARNINGS THROUGH NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR THEIR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET OF
CHOICE.

VALONE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Brownsville, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 27, 6:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROZapata28 min
Mar 27, 6:38 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROHidalgo, Starr37 min
Mar 27, 7:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROHidalgo, Starr43 min
Mar 27, 8:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROHidalgo41 min
Mar 27, 8:28 PM CSTTornado WarningBROHidalgo32 min
Mar 27, 8:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROCameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Willacy57 min
Mar 27, 9:04 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROJim Hogg, Starr, Zapata56 min
Mar 27, 9:54 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningBROJim Hogg, Starr4 hr
Mar 27, 10:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROJim Hogg, Starr60 min
Mar 27, 10:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROBrooks, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr56 min
Mar 27, 10:50 PM CSTTornado WarningBROHidalgo35 min
Mar 27, 11:22 PM CSTTornado WarningBROHidalgo23 min
Mar 27, 11:28 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROCameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Willacy62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 1999Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1999

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.