Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Lake Charles, LA

May 15, 2008Jasper County, Newton County, Texas

NWS Lake Charles, LA issued this tornado warning at May 15, 2008, 3:59 AM CDT for Jasper County, Newton County, Texas. It was in force for 16 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, 3:59 AM CDT (08:59 UTC)
Expired: May 15, 2008, 4:15 AM CDT
In force: 16 min
Issued by: NWS Lake Charles, LA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Jasper County, TX, Newton County, TX

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:01 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 15, 4:00 AM CDT	TORNADO	3 Se Buna, TX	EF0 TORNADO BLEW A ROOF OFF A BARN AND DOWNED TREES ALONG CAILLIER LOOP. PATH LENGTH OF 1/4 MILE AND PATH WIDTH OF 25 YARDS.

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 tornado warning; the first came 1 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, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 62 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.

266 
WFUS54 KLCH 150900
TORLCH
TXC241-351-150915-
/O.NEW.KLCH.TO.W.0016.080515T0859Z-080515T0915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
359 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
   THIS INCLUDES BUNA...
  SOUTHWESTERN NEWTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS...
   THIS INCLUDES DEWEYVILLE...

* UNTIL 415 AM CDT

* AT 357 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BUNA...
  MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 47 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  DEWEYVILLE BY 410 AM CDT...

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

LAT...LON 3044 9371 3039 9376 3037 9376 3034 9377
      3031 9375 3030 9371 3025 9371 3024 9374
      3034 9402 3051 9395
TIME...MOT...LOC 0859Z 290DEG 41KT 3039 9388

$$

SHAMBURGER

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS54 KLCH 150911
SVSLCH

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

TXC241-150920-
/O.CAN.KLCH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-080515T0915Z/
JASPER TX-
410 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

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

LAT...LON 3047 9382 3044 9372 3039 9376 3037 9376
      3034 9377 3031 9375 3030 9371 3025 9371
      3024 9374 3029 9389
TIME...MOT...LOC 0910Z 295DEG 39KT 3034 9376

$$

TXC351-150915-
/O.CON.KLCH.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-080515T0915Z/
NEWTON TX-
410 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 AM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN NEWTON COUNTY...

AT 406 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF
DEWEYVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

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

LAT...LON 3047 9382 3044 9372 3039 9376 3037 9376
      3034 9377 3031 9375 3030 9371 3025 9371
      3024 9374 3029 9389
TIME...MOT...LOC 0910Z 295DEG 39KT 3034 9376

$$

SHAMBURGER

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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 15, 1:36 AM CDT, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 15, 1:36 AM CDT, 2 hours 23 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, 21 hours 56 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, 1 hour 21 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

Special weather statement, May 15, 3:00 AM CDT, 59 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
300 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

LAZ041-042-051-052-150900-
CAMERON LA-VERMILION LA-JEFFERSON DAVIS LA-CALCASIEU LA-
300 AM CDT THU MAY 15 2008

..SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR CAMERON...VERMILION...JEFFERSON DAVIS
AND CALCASIEU PARISHES UNTIL 400 AM CDT...

AT 256 AM CDT...A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED BY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9
MILES EAST OF GRAND LAKE TO 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JOHNSON
BAYOU...MOVING EAST AT 38 MPH.

* STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  BELL CITY BY 315 AM CDT
  CONSTANCE BEACH BY 320 AM CDT
  HAYES BY 325 AM CDT
  HOLLY BEACH BY 330 AM CDT
  FORKED ISLAND BY 330 AM CDT
  CAMERON BY 345 AM CDT
  LACASSINE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...KLONDIKE...RUTHERFORD BEACH
  AND CREOLE BY 400 AM CDT

VERY FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.  IN
ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
WILL BE POSSIBLE.

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

SHAMBURGER

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, 2:46 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Jasper, Tyler	44 min
May 15, 3:30 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	LCH	Newton	15 min
May 15, 4:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	LCH	Newton, Orange	45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.