Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 72, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 15, 2008Jasper County, Tyler County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 2008, 2:46 AM CDT for Jasper County, Tyler County, Texas. It was in force for 44 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 15, 2008, 2:46 AM CDT (07:46 UTC)
Expired: May 15, 2008, 3:30 AM CDT
In force: 44 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jasper County, TX, Tyler County, TX

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 15, 3:10 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Brookeland, TX	SCATTERED TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 24 minutes after it went out.

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
May 15, 1:16 AM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 145 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2367 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 569 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 57 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 96 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.0
Supercell composite: 4.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS54 KLCH 150746
SVRLCH
TXC241-457-150830-
/O.NEW.KLCH.SV.W.0072.080515T0746Z-080515T0830Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
246 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN TYLER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
   THIS INCLUDES...ROCKLAND...COLMESNEIL...
  NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
   THIS INCLUDES...BROOKELAND...SAM RAYBURN DAM...

* UNTIL 330 AM CDT

* AT 242 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE
  HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS WERE
  LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF ROCKLAND TO
  COLMESNEIL...AND MOVING EAST AT 33 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  SAM RAYBURN DAM BY 315 AM CDT...
  BROOKELAND BY 325 AM CDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3106 9453 3104 9447 3112 9405 3115 9404
      3115 9395 3082 9408 3083 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 0746Z 263DEG 29KT 3108 9437 3088 9445

$$

SHAMBURGER

2 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 150806
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
305 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

TXC241-457-150830-
/O.CON.KLCH.SV.W.0072.000000T0000Z-080515T0830Z/
JASPER TX-TYLER TX-
305 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 AM CDT
FOR NORTH CENTRAL TYLER AND NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 300 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SAM RAYBURN DAM TO 11 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ROCKLAND...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF JASPER TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF TOWN BLUFF...MOVING
EAST AT 33 MPH.

THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  SAM RAYBURN DAM BY 310 AM CDT...
  BROOKELAND BY 325 AM CDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3105 9438 3112 9405 3115 9404 3115 9395
      3082 9408 3083 9443 3083 9444
TIME...MOT...LOC 0805Z 263DEG 29KT 3108 9415 3088 9423

$$

SHAMBURGER

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 150816
SVSLCH

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
316 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

TXC241-457-150830-
/O.CON.KLCH.SV.W.0072.000000T0000Z-080515T0830Z/
JASPER TX-TYLER TX-
316 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 AM CDT
FOR EAST CENTRAL TYLER AND NORTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTIES...

AT 315 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY
SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THESE STORMS
WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SAM RAYBURN DAM TO 12 MILES
SOUTH OF SAM RAYBURN DAM...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES
NORTH OF JASPER TO 7 MILES NORTH OF TOWN BLUFF...MOVING EAST AT 33
MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  BROOKELAND BY 325 AM CDT...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM CDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

LAT...LON 3115 9395 3082 9408 3083 9431 3109 9420
      3112 9405 3115 9404
TIME...MOT...LOC 0816Z 263DEG 29KT 3109 9405 3089 9413

$$

SHAMBURGER

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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 15, 1:36 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 1:36 AM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
136 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

.DISCUSSION...QUICK UPDATE TO FORECAST TO INCLUDE NEW TORNADO
WATCH ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS LAKES AREA INTO CENTRAL LOUISIANA UNTIL
10 AM. BOW ECHO WITH WELL DEFINED MARC SIGNATURE CURRENTLY HEADING
JUST A HAIR NORTH OF DUE EAST THROUGH TRINITY COUNTY WILL BE A
CLOSE CALL...AND MAY SKIRT JUST NORTH OF TYLER...NEWTON...AND
JASPER COUNTIES. MEANWHILE...A DEFINITE UPTICK IN CONVECTIVE
ACTION NOTED OVER THE PAST HOUR. CELL THAT DEVELOPED RAPIDLY
SOUTH OF GALVESTON ISLAND HEADING NORTHEAST TOWARD SABINE
LAKE...AND MAY IMPACT FAR SOUTHEAST JEFFERSON COUNTY BEFORE
HEADING INTO WESTERN CAMERON PARISH. OTHER UPDRAFTS ARE GOING UP
AROUND THIS CELL AND FARTHER NORTH INTO EASTERN TEXAS AS WELL.
UPDATED ZFP AND WCN ALREADY SENT.

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR LAZ027-028-030.

TX...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR TXZ180>182-201.

GM...SCEC ALL MARINE ZONES.

&&

13

Hazardous weather outlook, May 14, 6:03 AM CDT, 20 hours 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
603 AM CDT WED MAY 14 2008

GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-
201-215-216-151115-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON, LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY,
LA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX EXTENDING FROM 20 NM
TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA TO CAMERON, LA EXTENDING FROM
20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY, LA
EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM-VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-
ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-
LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-
LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
603 AM CDT WED MAY 14 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
GULF OF MEXICO...CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE TODAY AS SEVERAL
SHORTWAVES MOVE OVER THE AREA IN SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ENTIRE
OUTLOOK AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM ANY
SEVERE STORMS THAT DEVELOP WOULD BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS...BUT ISOLATED TORNADOES CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

IN ADDITION...DEEP MOISTURE OVER THE AREA WILL RESULT IN THE
POTENTIAL FOR SOME STORMS TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS. LOCALIZED
FLOODING COULD BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS AND WHERE
TRAINING STORMS OCCUR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY
INTO THURSDAY NIGHT...UNTIL A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

THE SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AND
THURSDAY NIGHT...AS WILL THE CHANCE FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

DRY WEATHER WILL RETURN BEHIND THE FRONT AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

13

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 15, 2:38 AM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
238 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0152 AM     MARINE TSTM WIND 1 S SEA RIM STATE PARK  29.67N 94.05W
05/15/2008  M55.00 MPH       GMZ450             TX   BUOY

            MEASURED WIND GUST TO 48 KNOTS.

&&

13

The office that day

Everything else NWS Lake Charles, LA issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 2:06 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jasper, Tyler	39 min
May 15, 2:21 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Jasper, Tyler	24 min
May 15, 3:30 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Newton	15 min
May 15, 3:59 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Jasper, Newton	16 min
May 15, 4:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Newton, Orange	45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 2008 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.