Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 1999

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Brownsville, TX

March 27, 1999Hidalgo County, Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this tornado warning at Mar 27, 1999, 8:28 PM CST for Hidalgo County, Texas. It was in force for 32 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline the Iowa Environmental Mesonet reconstructed for it; the warning itself named whole counties.

The facts

Issued
Mar 27, 1999, 8:28 PM CST (02:28 UTC)
Expired
Mar 27, 1999, 9:00 PM CST
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX
Area
Whole counties; the outline is the Mesonet’s reconstruction

County Hidalgo County, TX

The radar

The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:32 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

Brownsville Intl, TX (KBRO), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 90 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

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

999 
WFUS1 KBRO 280229 RRA
TORBRO
TXC215-280300-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
828 PM CST SAT MAR 27 1999

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BROWNSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN HIDALGO COUNTY IN TEXAS
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...ALAMO DONNA EDCOUCH EDINBURG ELSA
  HIDALGO LOPEZVILLE MCALLEN MISSION PHARR SAN JUAN

* UNTIL 900 PM CST

* AT 827 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF
  HIDALGO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  OVER MCALLEN...PHARR AT 840 PM CST
  2 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAN JUAN AT 845 PM CST
  OVER LOPEZVILLE...3 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALAMO...4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
     EDINBURG AT 850 PM CST
  7 MILES NORTHWEST OF DONNA AT 855 PM CST
  6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELSA...7 MILES WEST OF EDCOUCH...8 MILES WEST
     OF MILA DOCE AT 900 PM CST

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 2618 9845 2602 9835 2622 9791 2642 9804

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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Mar 27, 7:45 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 7:45 PM CST, 43 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 21 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 21 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 53 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 53 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, 8:18 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROStarr, Zapata42 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

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 1999Every tornado warning in 1999Tornadoes 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.