Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Corpus Christi, TX

April 16, 2015Calhoun County, Refugio County, Texas

NWS Corpus Christi, TX issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2015, 3:40 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Refugio County, Texas. It was in force for 35 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: Apr 16, 2015, 3:40 PM CDT (20:40 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2015, 4:15 PM CDT
In force: 35 min
Issued by: NWS Corpus Christi, TX
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Calhoun County, TX, Refugio County, TX

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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
Apr 16, 2:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 97 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: 1748 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 554 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 82 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 211 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.5
Supercell composite: 8.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

550 
WFUS54 KCRP 162040
TORCRP
TXC057-391-162115-
/O.NEW.KCRP.TO.W.0004.150416T2040Z-150416T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
340 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CORPUS CHRISTI  HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...
  NORTHEASTERN REFUGIO COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT
    
* AT 339 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
  CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS DANGEROUS STORM WAS LOCATED
  OVER TIVOLI...OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MCFADDIN...AND MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN BY LAW 
ENFORCEMENT.

IN ADDITION...HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 
MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LONG MOTT...TIVOLI AND GREEN LAKE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE
HOME OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

&&

LAT...LON 2847 9659 2842 9675 2847 9679 2842 9677
      2841 9680 2842 9686 2840 9685 2837 9694
      2844 9699 2850 9695 2849 9691 2850 9692
      2851 9689 2857 9691 2863 9686 2864 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 233DEG 17KT 2845 9689 

$$

TE

1 follow-up statement

507 
WWUS54 KCRP 162056
SVSCRP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
356 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

TXC057-391-162115-
/O.CON.KCRP.TO.W.0004.000000T0000Z-150416T2115Z/
CALHOUN TX-REFUGIO TX-
356 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN AND NORTHEASTERN REFUGIO COUNTIES...

AT 353 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR 
LONG MOTT...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF SEADRIFT... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 
20 MPH.

AT 329 PM CDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO 5 MILES WEST OF 
AUSTWELL.

IN ADDITION...HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 
MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LONG MOTT...TIVOLI AND GREEN LAKE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A TORNADO HAS BEEN SIGHTED. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE
COVER NOW. MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

IF A TORNADO OR OTHER SEVERE WEATHER IS SPOTTED...REPORT IT TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OR YOUR NEAREST LAW ENFORECEMENT AGENCY WHO
WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT. THIS ACT MAY SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN THE
PATH OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.

&&

LAT...LON 2847 9659 2842 9675 2847 9679 2842 9677
      2841 9680 2842 9686 2840 9685 2837 9694
      2844 9699 2850 9695 2849 9691 2850 9692
      2851 9689 2857 9691 2863 9686 2864 9684
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 235DEG 19KT 2848 9681 

$$

TE

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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Apr 16, 2:49 PM CDT, 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 2:49 PM CDT, 51 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
249 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

.DISCUSSION...UPDATED THE GRIDS FOR SVR TSM WATCH 60 FOR NERN
PORTIONS OF THE CWA. SUPERCELL CONTINUES TO TRACK ACROSS REFUGIO
COUNTY WITH ALREADY REPORTS OF A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN AND QUARTER
SIZE HAIL. LAPS INDICATES CAPES OF 2400-3600 J/KG ACROSS THE
COASTAL BEND. BULK SHEAR VALUES ARE CURRENTLY 40-45 KT WITH A
SLIGHT STRENGTHENING EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTN.
EXPECT THE SVR THREAT TO CONTINUE FOR A FEW MORE HOURS AND THEN IT
SHOULD WANE AS THE FORCING SHIFTS NORTH OF THE CWA.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI    80  71  80  68  80  /  50  30  60  50  50
VICTORIA          79  68  80  66  79  /  60  40  70  60  50
LAREDO            86  70  84  66  87  /  40  30  50  40  30
ALICE             82  70  82  67  83  /  50  30  60  50  40
ROCKPORT          77  72  77  68  76  /  50  40  60  50  50
COTULLA           82  68  80  64  85  /  40  40  60  30  30
KINGSVILLE        82  71  82  68  82  /  50  30  50  50  40
NAVY CORPUS       78  72  78  69  76  /  50  30  50  50  50

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.

&&

MB/80...SHORT TERM

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 16, 5:37 AM CDT, 10 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
537 AM CDT THU APR 16 2015

GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-171045-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT O'CONNOR-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT
20 NM-WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO
60 NM-LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL-
JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN-
537 AM CDT THU APR 16 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE
TEXAS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAJOR THREATS ALONG WITH FLASH
FLOODING. HOWEVER...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THERE IS AN ENHANCED RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AND A
SLIGHT RISK IN NORTHERN COUNTIES SATURDAY. LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREATS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CAN NOT
BE RULED OUT.

IN ADDITION...FLASH FLOODING COULD BECOME A THREAT WITH ANY HEAVY
AND PERSISTENT RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SPOTTER ACTIVATION
MAY BE NEEDED THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

PZ/TB

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
216 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0134 PM     HAIL             GOLIAD                  28.67N 97.39W
04/16/2015  1.00 INCH        GOLIAD             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HAIL AS LARGE AS QUARTERS REPORTED BY GOLIAD SHERIFF
            OFFICE.

&&

LKEYS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
222 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0205 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 NW WOODSBORO          28.28N 97.37W
04/16/2015                   REFUGIO            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FUNNEL CLOUD LOW TO THE GROUND.

&&

LKEYS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
226 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0216 PM     TORNADO          3 W REFUGIO             28.31N 97.32W
04/16/2015                   REFUGIO            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BRIEF ROPE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN FOR 30 SECONDS.

&&

LKEYS

Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:04 PM CDT, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
304 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0252 PM     TORNADO          8 E REFUGIO             28.31N 97.14W
04/16/2015                   REFUGIO            TX   PUBLIC

            BRIEF RAIN WRAPPED TORNADO TOUCHDOWN. SHED IN BACKYARD
            DAMAGED...TWO TREES DOWN.

&&

LKEYS

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 3:05 PM CDT, 35 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
305 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

TXZ234-162030-
VICTORIA-
305 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN VICTORIA
COUNTY...

AT 305 PM CDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER SALEM...OR
10 MILES NORTHEAST OF VICTORIA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
VICTORIA...SALEM...FORDTRAN...TELFERNER...NURSERY...VICTORIA MALL AND
VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

LAT...LON 2906 9694 2902 9683 2897 9681 2896 9681
      2892 9679 2881 9687 2890 9713 2899 9713
      2910 9698
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 211DEG 37KT 2896 9690

TE

Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:39 PM CDT, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
339 PM CDT THU APR 16 2015

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

0329 PM     TORNADO          5 W AUSTWELL            28.39N 96.93W
04/16/2015                   REFUGIO            TX   PUBLIC

&&

LKEYS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Corpus Christi, TX issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 12:45 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Refugio	30 min
Apr 16, 1:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Goliad	33 min
Apr 16, 1:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Bee	31 min
Apr 16, 1:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Bee	29 min
Apr 16, 1:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CRP	Goliad	23 min
Apr 16, 1:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Refugio	28 min
Apr 16, 1:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Victoria	33 min
Apr 16, 2:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CRP	Bee, Goliad, Refugio	45 min
Apr 16, 2:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	CRP	Refugio	32 min
Apr 16, 2:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	CRP	Aransas, Refugio	32 min
Apr 16, 3:05 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	CRP	Victoria	25 min
Apr 16, 3:06 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	CRP	Refugio	114 min
Apr 16, 3:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	CRP	Calhoun, Refugio, Victoria	31 min
Apr 16, 3:45 PM CDT	Special Marine Warning	CRP		45 min
Apr 16, 4:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CRP	Calhoun, Victoria	48 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2015 Every tornado warning in 2015 Tornadoes in 2015

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.