Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 81, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

May 10, 20124 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 10, 2012, 11:21 PM CDT for 4 counties in Texas. It was in force for 24 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
May 10, 2012, 11:21 PM CDT (04:21 UTC)
Expired
May 10, 2012, 11:45 PM CDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Colorado County, TX, Jackson County, TX, Matagorda County, TX, Wharton County, TX

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 153 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:23 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 severe thunderstorm 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
May 10, 7:50 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 00:00Z, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 150 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 00:00Z on 2012-05-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2214 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2012-05-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 204 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
2214 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
636 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
204 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
274 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
3.4
Supercell composite
14.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

637 
WUUS54 KHGX 110421
SVRHGX

TXC089-239-321-481-110445-
/O.NEW.KHGX.SV.W.0081.120511T0421Z-120511T0445Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1121 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LEAGUE CITY  HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO COUNTY IN  TEXAS...
  JACKSON COUNTY IN  TEXAS...
  EXTREME WEST CENTRAL MATAGORDA COUNTY IN  TEXAS...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN WHARTON COUNTY IN  TEXAS...

* UNTIL 1145 PM CDT

* AT 1117 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE 
  THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 
  MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES 
  NORTHEAST OF VICTORIA TO POINT COMFORT...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 
  40 MPH. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  EDNA...GANADO...AND LA WARD. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH...
DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR 
PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR 
HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE 
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING.

LAT...LON 2928 9665 2897 9621 2874 9640 2873 9644
      2871 9644 2871 9665 2882 9672 2885 9671
      2889 9673 2893 9680 2902 9683 2907 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 0417Z 207DEG 36KT 2892 9692 2868 9657 

$$

40

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 Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 10, 8:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 10, 8:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
820 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

.DISCUSSION...
UPDATED FCST FOR TORNADO WATCH. ALSO ADDED MENTION TO SVR IN ZONE
FCST. IN THE SHORT TERM...WILL NEED TO WATCH FOR DISCRETE INDIVIDUAL
CELLS FOR ROTATION. NEED TO PAY PARTICULAR INTEREST TO SFC
BOUNDARY STRETCHING ALONG SE TX COASTAL COUNTIES WWD TOWARD THE
LRD AREA WHERE THESE CELLS ARE TRAINING ALONG AND SPINNING AT
TIMES. LOOKING OUT WEST IT LOOKS LIKE THESE CELLS ARE BEGINNING TO
CLUSTER AND SHOULD EVOLVE INTO A MORE LINEAR SYSTEM AS UPPER LOW
EDGES EWD AND WILL BRING A DAMAGING WIND THREAT AS IT PUSHES INTO
SE TX LATER TONIGHT. 47

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL)      66  79  63  78  62 / 100  90  50  40  10
HOUSTON (IAH)              68  79  64  81  63 /  90  90  60  40  10
GALVESTON (GLS)            73  78  70  79  69 /  80  90  60  40  10

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 1 AM CDT FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...BRAZOS...
     BURLESON...CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON...
     GRIMES...HARRIS...HOUSTON...JACKSON...LIBERTY...MADISON...
     MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...TRINITY...
     WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON...WHARTON.

GM...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY...WATERS
     FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60
     NM...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT
     20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM...
     WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 10, 3:15 PM CDT, 8 hours 6 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
315 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-
227-235>238-112015-
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GALVESTON BAY-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-
MADISON-MATAGORDA-MATAGORDA BAY-MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-
TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM-WHARTON-
315 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST TEXAS LATER THIS
EVENING AND TONIGHT. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE BUT THE
MAIN THREAT WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. A SQUALL LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT
WHICH WILL LIKELY PRODUCE GUSTY STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. MORE HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AND PERSIST INTO
FRIDAY MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 1AM
TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS SOUTHEAST
TEXAS ON FRIDAY AS AN UPPER LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS
THE STATE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE
STORMS. THE RAINFALL COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO LESSON FRIDAY NIGHT
AND END ON SATURDAY.

GENERALLY EXPECTING RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH
ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 5 INCHES ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. HIGHER
AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED MAINLY ALONG THE COAST AND SOUTH OF THE
HOUSTON METRO AREA. STORMS COULD RE-DEVELOP LATER ON FRIDAY AND
INTO FRIDAY NIGHT WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SOME LOCALIZED HIGHER
AMOUNTS. RAINFALL MAY LINGER INTO SATURDAY BUT WITH RAINFALL
AMOUNTS GENERALLY LESS THAN A HALF INCH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 10, 6:21 PM CDT, 5 hours before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
621 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

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

0524 PM     TORNADO          WEIMAR                  29.70N 96.78W
05/10/2012                   COLORADO           TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AT AND NEAR WEIMAR HIGH SCHOOL.
            SCOREBOARD DAMAGED AND TRAIN DERAILED. NO INJURIES
            REPORTED PER DPS. TIME IS ESTIMATED VIA RADAR.

&&

47
Special weather statement, May 10, 6:44 PM CDT, 4 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
644 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

TXZ197-210-211-110045-
WASHINGTON TX-AUSTIN TX-COLORADO TX-
644 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 636 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ELLINGER...OR 11 MILES
NORTHWEST OF COLUMBUS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON...NORTHWESTERN AUSTIN AND
EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO COUNTIES. FRELSBURG...INDUSTRY AND
SHELBY MAY BE AFFECTED IF THE STORM EXPANDS IN SIZE.

LAT...LON 2996 9657 3004 9662 3013 9658 2990 9633
      2976 9670 2979 9672
TIME...MOT...LOC 2336Z 229DEG 8KT 2984 9667

47
Special weather statement, May 10, 9:16 PM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
916 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

TXZ195>197-211-110345-
BURLESON TX-WASHINGTON TX-AUSTIN TX-BRAZOS TX-
916 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BURLESON...WASHINGTON...
NORTHWESTERN AUSTIN AND BRAZOS COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE REGION FROM
THE WEST AFTER 10 PM. WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE ALONG THE LEADING LINE OF THESE STORMS ASSUMING THEY IT
DOES NOT SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKEN IN THE SHORT TERM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
COLLEGE STATION...BRYAN...CALDWELL...SOMERVILLE...SNOOK AND BURTON.

LAT...LON 3073 9663 3070 9656 3074 9647 3080 9642
      3065 9627 3006 9654 3005 9662 3015 9665
      3016 9669 3014 9677 3016 9679 3023 9674
      3030 9664 3032 9674 3047 9691 3052 9691
      3056 9695
TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 261DEG 22KT 3100 9779 3054 9749 3010 9778

47
Special weather statement, May 10, 10:40 PM CDT, 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1040 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

TXZ176-195-196-198-110445-
BURLESON TX-MADISON TX-GRIMES TX-BRAZOS TX-
1040 PM CDT THU MAY 10 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BURLESON...MADISON...GRIMES...
AND BRAZOS COUNTIES...

AT 1039 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR LEXINGTON...MOVING EAST
AT 40 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
COLLEGE STATION...BRYAN...CALDWELL...SOMERVILLE...SNOOK...AND WIXON
VALLEY.

LAT...LON 3055 9695 3073 9663 3070 9656 3074 9647
      3094 9631 3100 9616 3107 9605 3109 9594
      3056 9588 3030 9666 3032 9670 3032 9674
      3037 9677 3046 9690 3054 9692
TIME...MOT...LOC 0339Z 253DEG 35KT 3047 9706

40

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 10, 7:52 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX98 min
May 10, 9:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXBrazos, Burleson89 min
May 10, 10:26 PM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryHGX12 hr
May 10, 10:40 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXBrazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison65 min
May 10, 10:50 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX55 min
May 10, 11:43 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX92 min
May 10, 11:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXColorado, Jackson, Matagorda, Wharton31 min
May 10, 11:55 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX65 min
May 10, 11:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda46 min
May 11, 12:08 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXBrazos, Burleson, Madison, Washington52 min
May 11, 12:16 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda44 min
May 11, 12:37 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda, Wharton53 min
May 11, 12:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXMatagorda44 min
May 11, 1:04 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX86 min
May 11, 1:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Wharton46 min
May 11, 1:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Galveston27 min
May 11, 1:49 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX86 min
May 11, 1:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXLiberty, Montgomery41 min
May 11, 1:54 AM CDTTornado WarningHGXHarris, Liberty29 min
May 11, 1:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty63 min
May 11, 2:11 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX94 min
May 11, 3:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Liberty60 min
May 11, 3:21 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX54 min
May 11, 3:45 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX60 min
May 11, 3:53 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXChambers52 min
May 11, 4:10 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX50 min
May 11, 4:49 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX26 min
May 11, 4:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXBrazos44 min
May 11, 5:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXAustin58 min
May 11, 5:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXAustin, Colorado19 min
May 11, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazos, Grimes, Madison45 min
May 11, 5:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXAustin, Fort Bend, Waller44 min
May 11, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXGrimes, Madison, Walker37 min
May 11, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXSan Jacinto, Trinity, Walker48 min
May 11, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXAustin, Fort Bend, Harris, Waller47 min
May 11, 6:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXPolk, San Jacinto, Trinity45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 2012Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.