Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2003

Tornado Warning 45, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

November 17, 2003Wharton County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Nov 17, 2003, 9:16 AM CST for Wharton County, Texas. It was in force for 29 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Nov 17, 2003, 9:16 AM CST (15:16 UTC)
Expired
Nov 17, 2003, 9:45 AM CST
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Wharton County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:20 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Nov 17, 8:20 AM CSTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 12:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 206 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 2003-11-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1818 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 2003-11-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 150 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1818 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
573 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
150 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
146 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.4
Supercell composite
8.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KHGX 171516
TORHOU
TXC481-171545-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
914 AM CST MON NOV 17 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WHARTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS

* UNTIL 945 AM CST

* AT 910 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR PIERCE 
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH. THIS TORNADO IS HEADING TOWARD THE 
SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY OF WHARTON. AT APPROXIMATELY 9 AM...A 
TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND NEAR PIERCE WITH NUMEROUS CARS BLOWN OFF 
OF U.S. HIGHWAY 59.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE...
  PIERCE
  WHARTON

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN THE INTERIOR HALLWAY OR
A ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A STURDY BUILDING. 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.

PLEASE REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF...LOCAL POLICE...
OR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

LAT...LON 2925 9633 2912 9619 2932 9594 2942 9608

$$

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 Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Nov 17, 2:20 AM CST, 6 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 17, 2:20 AM CST, 6 hours 56 minutes before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
220 AM CST MON NOV 17 2003

SCT CONVECTION IS ALREADY BREAKING OUT W AND SW OF SE TX TONIGHT
WHERE THE LLJ IS INCREASING. CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE OVER
SE TX THIS MORNING...BECOMING WIDESPREAD BY MID-DAY.

MAIN FORECAST ISSUES ARE FLOOD AND SVR TSTM THREAT. WHAT TO SAY
THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SAID? IN A NUTSHELL...PARAMETERS ARE ALL
IN PLACE FOR A FLASH FLOOD AND SVR TSTM THREAT TODAY AND TONIGHT.
EXPECT THE EXIT REGION OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT
DIVERGENCE ALOFT THIS MORNING AND COUPLED WITH A LITTLE
HEATING...WILL PROVIDE FOR AN EXPLOSIVE ENVIRONMENT OVR SE TX. WITH
LOW-LEVEL HELICITIES IN THE 200-300 RANGE LATER THIS MORNING AND
DURING THE AFT HOURS...IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE A TORNADO
THREAT OUT AHEAD OF A SQUALL LINE THAT SHOULD PUSH THROUGH THE
REGION TONIGHT AS MID-LEVEL WINDS REALLY STRENGTHEN WITH THE
APPROACH OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. DAMAGING WINDS/LARGE HAIL ARE
LIKELY TO BE THE PRIMARY THREATS TONIGHT. TWO ITEMS THAT HAVE CAUGHT
MY ATTENTION WITH THIS UPCOMING EVENT ARE THE MODEL FORECASTS OF
NEAR 2 INCH PW OVER SE TX THIS AFT/EVE (RARE FOR NOV) AND THE
STRENGTH OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET CORE OVR SE TX (140 KTS) TONIGHT.
APPEARS THAT THERE WILL BE A GOOD SETUP FOR TRAINING PRECIP IN AN
EXTREMELY MOIST ATMOSPHERE. STILL HAVE A WEAK BOUNDARY IN PLACE FROM
LAST EVENINGS CONVECTION WHICH COULD AID IN FOCUSING PRECIP LATER
TODAY. THEREFORE...FLOOD WATCH IS A GIVEN AND WILL BE EXTENDED
THROUGH TONIGHT.

BEHIND THE FRONT...FROM TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...DRY AND SEASONAL
TEMPS EXPECTED WITH A TEMPORARY WEAK MID-LEVEL RIDGE IN PLACE. DEEP
TROF DEVELOPS ON FRIDAY OVER THE WESTERN U.S. WHICH IS PROGGED TO
AMPLIFY INTO A CLOSED LOW OVR THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON SUNDAY. WILL
HAVE SLIGHT CHC POPS ON SAT AND CHC POPS ON SUN AHEAD OF THIS
FEATURE. IF THIS PATTERN VERIFIES...WILL SEE MUCH COOLER TEMPS TO
START NEXT WEEK.

WILL HAVE A CAUTION STATEMENT TODAY FOR THE MARINE AREA AS WINDS
SHOULD INCREASE AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS.

33/41

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
 FLOOD WATCH ALL SE TX TODAY AND TONIGHT.
 CAUTION HIGH ISLAND TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 60 NM AND BAYS.

PRELIMS...
CLL TU 078/058 072/044 071 8+1
IAH TB 079/063 074/045 071 8+2
GLS TB 081/068 074/054 070 7+4

MONDAY RECORDS FOR GALVESTON:
HIGH MIN 73/1921
REC HIGH 80/1986
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 17, 7:00 AM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-181300-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
700 AM CST MON NOV 17 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT...
...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH SOUTHEAST TODAY AND MOVE ACROSS
THE AREA TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY. STRONG WINDS WILL BE PRESENT IN
THE ATMOSPHERE OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS BY MID-DAY TODAY AND WILL INCREASE
DURING THE AFTERNOON. THESE STRONG WINDS ABOVE THE SURFACE AND
INCREASING INSTABILITY IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. TONIGHT...A SQUALL LINE
IS LIKELY TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT.
THEREFORE...AN ISOLATED SEVERE THREAT DURING THE LATE MORNING AND
EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS MAY INCREASE AS ORGANIZED CONVECTION MOVES
ACROSS THIS EVENING. IT APPEARS THAT TORNADOES...HAIL...AND DAMAGING
WINDS WILL ALL BE THREATS.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT...HEAVY RAINFALL IS
POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT AS WELL. FAST MOVING STORMS WILL LIKELY
MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME LOCATIONS...CREATING THE HEAVY RAINFALL
THREAT. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 2 TO 4
INCH RANGE WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO END WITH THE COLD FRONT
PASSAGE. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST TUESDAY MORNING.
DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH
TONIGHT.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 16, 7:21 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXHarris114 min
Nov 17, 8:23 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXWharton52 min
Nov 17, 9:06 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXMatagorda, Wharton39 min
Nov 17, 9:50 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXWharton25 min
Nov 17, 10:09 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend51 min
Nov 17, 10:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXWharton28 min
Nov 17, 10:59 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend46 min
Nov 17, 11:08 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXFort Bend3 hr
Nov 17, 11:11 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXHarris34 min
Nov 17, 11:54 AM CSTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend, Harris51 min
Nov 17, 12:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXWharton3 hr
Nov 17, 12:42 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXHarris48 min
Nov 17, 12:55 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXMatagorda, Wharton50 min
Nov 17, 1:02 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXHarris3 hr
Nov 17, 1:20 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend40 min
Nov 17, 1:31 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXMatagorda44 min
Nov 17, 1:45 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXMontgomery, San Jacinto3 hr
Nov 17, 1:54 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHarris36 min
Nov 17, 2:01 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXFort Bend29 min
Nov 17, 2:03 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXFort Bend117 min
Nov 17, 2:03 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXHarris, Montgomery42 min
Nov 17, 2:12 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXBrazoria, Matagorda48 min
Nov 17, 2:35 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningHGX55 min
Nov 17, 2:43 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXHarris47 min
Nov 17, 2:47 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXLiberty, Montgomery43 min
Nov 17, 2:58 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXBrazoria47 min
Nov 17, 3:30 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXHarris45 min
Nov 17, 3:44 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningHGXHarris3 hr
Nov 17, 4:05 PM CSTSpecial Marine WarningHGX115 min
Nov 17, 4:29 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXGalveston31 min
Nov 17, 4:46 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXChambers29 min
Nov 17, 5:09 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXLiberty36 min
Nov 17, 5:16 PM CSTTornado WarningHGXChambers29 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2003Every tornado warning in 2003Tornadoes in 2003

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.