Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2003
Tornado Warning 67, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this tornado warning at Nov 17, 2003, 8:26 PM CST for Harris County, Texas. It was in force for 34 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, 8:26 PM CST (02:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Nov 17, 2003, 9:00 PM CST
- In force
- 34 min
- Issued by
- NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Harris County, TX
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:30 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 6:55 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 877 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 631 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 58 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 200 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 222 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.2
- Supercell composite
- 7.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS54 KHGX 180226
TORHOU
TXC201-180300-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
823 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
HARRIS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS
* UNTIL 900 PM CST
* AT 820 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
PAIR OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. THESE
STORMS WERE WEST OF PASADENA AND COUTH OF CROSBY ...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE...
SOUTH HOUSTON...PASADENA...GALENA PARK
DEER PARK...JACINTO CITY
CLOVERLEAF...LA PORTE
CHANNELVIEW
SHELDON
HIGHLANDS
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 MIDNIGHT CST TUESDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TUESDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
LAT...LON 2990 9500 2980 9490 2958 9517 2969 9533
3000 9501
$$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, 8:25 PM CST, 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 17, 8:25 PM CST, 1 minute before
SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 825 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR THE AREA AND TORNADO WATCH FOR BRAZORIA...GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND LIBERTY COUNTY TIL MIDNIGHT. FLASH FLOOD WATCH ALL SETX THROUGH TONIGHT. FLOODING A PROBLEM IN NORTH CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTY. FAST MOVING TROPICAL STORMS RACING NORTH WITH MORE TROPICAL SPINNING CHARACTERISTICS AND TROPICAL RAINS. TORNADO WARNINGS AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS MAY RESUME VERY SHORTLY. 45/40/38/35/31/36/D .HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TORNADO WATCH (#952) FOR BRAZORIA...GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND LIBERTY COUNTY TIL MIDNIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINDER OF SETX FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL SE TX THROUGH TONIGHT. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY BAYS AND 00-60 NM WATERS.
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 17, 11:00 AM CST, 9 hours 26 minutes before
TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-181300- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 1100 AM CST MON NOV 17 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. ...FLOOD WATCH THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH SOUTHEAST TODAY AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. STRONG WINDS ARE PRESENT IN THE ATMOSPHERE OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND WILL INCREASE THIS 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 AFTERNOON HOURS MAY INCREASE TONIGHT AS ORGANIZED CONVECTION MOVES ACROSS TONIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT TORNADOES...HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL ALL BE THREATS. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT. FAST MOVING STORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME LOCATIONS...CREATING THE HEAVY RAINFALL THREAT AND RESULTANT FLOODING. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 3 TO 5 INCH RANGE WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES POSSIBLE. THESE HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL LIKELY OCCUR NEAR AND EAST OF A HIGHWAY 59 AND INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR...OR ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM EDNA TO KATY TO CONROE TO GROVETON. .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 WILL BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Nov 17, 3:20 PM CST, 5 hours 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
320 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1207 PM HOUSTON TX TORNADO
11/17/03 HARRIS MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AND
STREET SIGNS TWISTED.
REPORTED AT DAIRY ASHFORD
AND AIRPORT.
0250 PM BRAZORIA TX TORNADO
11/17/03 BRAZORIA DAMAGE TO BUSINESSES IN THE
CITY OF BRAZORIA.
REHBEINLocal storm report, Nov 17, 3:35 PM CST, 4 hours 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
335 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0320 PM HOUSTON TX TORNADO
11/17/03 HARRIS DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS IN
DOWNTOWN HOUSTON NEAR
MINUTE MAID PARK.
REHBEINLocal storm report, Nov 17, 6:06 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
606 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0520 PM WALLISVILLE TX TORNADO
11/17/03 CHAMBERS 3 VEHICLES OVERTURNED ON
I-10 WEST BOUND AT THE
TRINITY RIVER BRIDGE.
0500 PM BEACH CITY TX TORNADO
11/17/03 CHAMBERS NO REPORTED DAMAGE.
0435 PM DICKINSON TX TORNADO
11/17/03 GALVESTON DAMAGE TO CAR DEALERSHIPS
IN DICKINSON ALONG I-45
XXXLocal storm report, Nov 17, 6:34 PM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
634 PM CST MON NOV 17 2003
TIME(CST) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0550 PM DEER PARK TX TORNADO
11/17/03 HARRIS SIX HOMES IN DEER PARK
SOMERSET SUBDIVISION HAD
ROOFS BLOWN OFF.
REHBEINThe office that day
Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 6:01 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Chambers, Liberty | 44 min |
| Nov 17, 6:19 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Liberty | 3 hr |
| Nov 17, 6:23 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Harris | 3 hr |
| Nov 17, 8:28 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Galveston | 32 min |
| Nov 17, 8:32 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Harris | 28 min |
| Nov 17, 9:06 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Galveston, Harris | 24 min |
| Nov 17, 9:38 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | HGX | Brazoria, Galveston, Harris | 3 hr |
| Nov 17, 10:09 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Liberty | 36 min |
| Nov 17, 11:16 PM CST | Special Marine Warning | HGX | 89 min | |
| Nov 17, 11:26 PM CST | Tornado Warning | HGX | Chambers | 49 min |
| Nov 18, 12:52 AM CST | Special Marine Warning | HGX | 113 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.