Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2002

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

April 8, 2002Brazoria County, Galveston County, Harris County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this flash flood warning at Apr 8, 2002, 8:13 AM CDT for Brazoria County, Galveston County, Harris County, Texas. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 8, 2002, 8:13 AM CDT (13:13 UTC)
Expired
Apr 8, 2002, 10:15 AM CDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Brazoria County, TX, Galveston County, TX, Harris County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 8 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:15 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 1.2 hours before the alert went out and 200 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 2002-04-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2002-04-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -473 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
478 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-473 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-247 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.

000 
WGUS54 KHGX 081313
FFWHOU
TXC039-167-201-081515-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
812 AM CDT MON APR 8 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BRAZORIA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
  GALVESTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
  EASTERN HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS

* UNTIL 1015 AM CDT

* AT 805 AM CDT...AMATEUR RADIO WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED FLOODING   
  IN THE FRIENDSWOOD AND PASADENA AREAS.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS, ABANDON IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK
HIGHER GROUND.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY 
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

LAT...LON 2976 9525 2945 9543 2898 9522 2920 9489
          2955 9504 2983 9498

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Apr 8, 2:50 AM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 2:50 AM CDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
250 AM CDT MON APR 8 2002

MCS PROGRESSING ACROSS CWA EARLY THIS MORNING. SQUALL LINE BEGINNING
TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT WITH STRONGEST CELLS CLUSTERED NEAR GALVESTON
BAY. IR IMAGERY SHOWS COOLING CLOUD TOPS ASSOCIATED WITH CONVECTION
ON BACK SIDE OF MCS OVER EWX CWA. THIS ACTIVITY WILL MOVE ACROSS SE
TX NEXT FEW HOURS...WITH CONTINUED SEVERE THREAT PRIMARILY FROM
LARGE HAIL. PER SPC NEW WW WILL BE ISSUED TO COVER CENTRAL ZONES
UNTIL 13Z. MODELS KEEP STRONG LIFT FOCUSED OVER AREA UNTIL AT LEAST
MID MORNING. WILL KEEP FFA GOING THIS MORNING WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY
RAINFALL EXPECTED.

FCST A LITTLE MORE TRICKY FOR LATER TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY. EXPECT
SOME CLEARING TO TAKE PLACE THIS AFTN AS CONVECTION WEAKENS AND
SHIFTS EAST OF AREA. AS UPPER LOW PUSHES EASTWARD...COOLER AND DRIER
MID LEVEL AIR WILL OVERSPREAD SE TX. COMBINATION OF SFC TEMPS
WARMING INTO THE 80S AND STEEP LAPSE RATES WILL YIELD CAPES OF
2500-3500 PER ETA SOUNDINGS ACROSS CWA LATER TODAY. 00Z MODELS SHOW
DRYLINE MIXING EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL TEXAS WITH COLD FRONT
APPROACHING NRN ZONES BY EARLY EVENING. COULD SEE ISOLATED TSRA FIRE
ALONG EITHER BOUNDARY AND AFFECT PRIMARILY NRN ZONES LATE
AFTN/EVENING. LARGE HAIL COULD REMAIN A THREAT WITH STORMS IN
UNSTABLE AIRMASS. WILL KEEP LOW POPS GOING THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH
MENTION OF SEVERE ALL ZONES. DAY SHIFT CAN TWEAK AS NEEDED.

00Z ETA RUN STALLS FRONT ACROSS CWA TUESDAY WITH AVN SIMILAR TO
PREVIOUS RUNS PUSHING BOUNDARY WELL OFFSHORE. NOT READY TO JUMP ON
ETA SOLUTION YET BUT WILL ADD SOME CLOUDS TO FCST TUE/WED AND TWEAK
TEMPS UPWARD. ETA POINTS TO A FEW SHRA DEVELOPING TUESDAY WITH
LINGERING MOISTURE BUT WILL LEAVE OUT OF ZONES FOR NOW.

COULD SEE THIRD WEEKEND OF BAD WEATHER IN A ROW COMING UP PER
EXTENDED MODELS AS ANOTHER SOUTHERN STREAM UPPER LOW TRACKS TOWARD
TEXAS.

35/46/37/42/39

.HGX....SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS UNTIL 13Z.
        FLASH FLOOD WATCH NORTH OF I-10 UNTIL 17Z.
        SCEC GALVESTON AND MATAGORDA BAYS.
        SCA 00 TO 60 NM HIGH ISLAND TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL.

PRELIMS...
CLL TB 085/060 082/057 080 721
IAH TB 083/063 082/059 082 721
GLS TB 076/067 076/066 076 721

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 8, 3:00 AM CDT, 5 hours 13 minutes before
TXZ197-199-200-210>214-226-227-235>238-081300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
300 AM CDT MON APR 8 2002

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF
SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 AM CDT...

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
FOR THE SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 800 AM CDT. THIS
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE FOLLOWING SOUTHEAST TEXAS COUNTIES...

AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...
HARRIS...JACKSON...LIBERTY...MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...WALLER...
WASHINGTON...WHARTON.

ADDITIONAL STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS IN THE AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO AREAS. THESE STORMS WILL
PROGRESS ACROSS THE WATCH AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. LARGE HAIL
WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE STORMS...BUT DAMAGING WINDS ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA. RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHEAST
TEXAS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO KEEP ABREAST ON THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT
DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA FOR ADDITIONAL
UPDATES ON THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.
Local storm report, Apr 8, 5:30 AM CDT, 2 hours 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...COR FOR CDT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
530 AM CDT MON APR 08 2002

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1045 PM    WEIMAR                    TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/02   COLORADO                       POWER POLES DOWNED.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1115 PM    COLUMBUS                  TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/07/02   COLORADO                       REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1145 PM    BRENHAM                   TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1200 AM    MONTGOMERY                TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     TREES DOWN ON FM 2854.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1210 AM    MONTGOMERY                TX   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

1212 AM    3 N CONROE                TX   TORNADO
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     POSSIBLE TORNADO AT
                                          HONEA COMMUNITY NEAR
                                          LEAGUE LINE ROAD AND
                                          I-45. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0100 AM    CLEVELAND                 TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   LIBERTY                        TREE DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0215 AM    FRIENDSWOOD               TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   GALVESTON                      DAMAGE AT AUTO REPAIR
                                          SHOP ON FM 518. POWER
                                          LINES DOWN NEARBY.
                                          REPORTED BY MEDIA.
Local storm report, Apr 8, 5:31 AM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
431 AM CST MON APR 08 2002

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1045 PM    WEIMAR                    TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/02   COLORADO                       POWER POLES DOWNED.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1115 PM    COLUMBUS                  TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/07/02   COLORADO                       REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1145 PM    BRENHAM                   TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1200 AM    MONTGOMERY                TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     TREES DOWN ON FM 2854.
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

1210 AM    MONTGOMERY                TX   60 MPH TSTM GUST
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     REPORTED BY PUBLIC.

1212 AM    3 N CONROE                TX   TORNADO
04/08/02   MONTGOMERY                     POSSIBLE TORNADO AT
                                          HONEA COMMUNITY NEAR
                                          LEAGUE LINE ROAD AND
                                          I-45. REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0100 AM    CLEVELAND                 TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   LIBERTY                        TREE DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

0215 AM    FRIENDSWOOD               TX   WIND DAMAGE
04/08/02   GALVESTON                      DAMAGE AT AUTO REPAIR
                                          SHOP ON FM 518. POWER
                                          LINES DOWN NEARBY.
                                          REPORTED BY MEDIA.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 7, 10:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXColorado54 min
Apr 7, 10:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazos, Burleson62 min
Apr 7, 11:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXAustin, Washington59 min
Apr 7, 11:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHarris, Waller57 min
Apr 8, 12:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXMontgomery54 min
Apr 8, 12:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXSan Jacinto35 min
Apr 8, 12:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXFort Bend, Harris59 min
Apr 8, 1:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXLiberty56 min
Apr 8, 1:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria55 min
Apr 8, 1:42 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXBrazoria, Galveston48 min
Apr 8, 1:55 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX110 min
Apr 8, 6:16 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX74 min
Apr 8, 6:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda37 min
Apr 8, 6:57 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX93 min
Apr 8, 7:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Matagorda45 min
Apr 8, 7:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Galveston30 min
Apr 8, 7:47 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX58 min
Apr 8, 8:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXGalveston28 min
Apr 8, 8:22 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX83 min
Apr 8, 8:56 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX94 min
Apr 8, 10:29 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX46 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2002Every flash flood warning in 2002

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.