Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 32, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

April 19, 20204 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 19, 2020, 9:44 AM CDT for 4 counties in Texas. It was in force for 46 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Apr 19, 2020, 9:44 AM CDT (14:44 UTC)
Expired
Apr 19, 2020, 10:30 AM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.5 in
Wind
50.0 mph

Counties Harris County, TX, Liberty County, TX, Montgomery County, TX, Waller County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:45 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 19, 8:41 AM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 214 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2020-04-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1153 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2020-04-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 215 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1153 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-291 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1054 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
215 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
276 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Apr 19, 4:05 AM CDT, 5 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 19, 4:05 AM CDT, 5 hours 39 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
405 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020

.SHORT TERM [Through Monday Night]...

A warm front will be moving through SE TX early this morning. Areas
of fog, locally dense at times and intermittent drizzle will persist
early this morning. Moisture levels are on the rise and should peak
near 2.00 inches between 15-18z. A well defined upper trough at 500
mb will move quickly east across the Southern Plains today. The
trough axis coupled with an approaching dry line and favorable upper
level winds (at least this morning) should yield an expanding area
of showers and thunderstorms this morning.  Fcst soundings look very
favorable for strong to severe storms with CAPE values around 2300
J/Kg, LI values between -6 and -9 and other instability parameters
also looking very favorable. Fcst soundings also show significant
capping, especially south of I-10. The jet structure shows a well
defined split in the 300 mb winds today and a LFQ this morning,
however as the 500 mb trough shifts east, the speed max also gets
puled east and this places SE TX in the subsident region of the jet
this afternoon. SPC has placed much of SE TX in a Slight Risk for
severe storms today and roughly the northern half of SE TX in an
Enhanced Risk for severe storms today. Current thinking is that the
best potential for strong to severe storms will be north of I-10
with damaging winds and large hail as the primary severe weather
hazards. Can't rule out an isolated tornado as helicity values
increase to around 150. Will maintain mentioning severe in the
weather grids over the northern half of the CWA.

Further south, the the threat for severe weather becomes more
conditional. Fcst soundings show the cap eroding but with the better
jet dynamics to the north and lift from the upper level trough also
to the north, not sure there will be enough lift to break the cap.
00z ARW/NMM look benign over our southern zones and will taper PoPs
from highest in the north, lower south and coast. FWIW, the 00z
ECMWF still shows a significant cluster of storms moving across the
entire CWA this morning and the 07z HRRR shows a supercell tracking
east right along I-10. Again, much will depend on if and when
capping erodes.

Temperatures are tricky today with a warm start to the day and
warming at 850. With rapid clearing expected over the western zones,
feel temps could warm into the upper 80's. Further east clouds and
lingering showers will keep it considerably cooler.

For tonight, skies will start out clear but it looks like some
moisture will wrap around todays system with clouds rotating into
the region from the N-NE. A weak cold front will cross the area late
tonight and slightly cooler and drier air will work into the area.
The cool down will be short lived as 850 temps warm on Monday. High
temperatures on Monday will be a bit cooler north with highs in the
lower 80s. But with a warmer start over the S-SW zones and a bit
more sun, feel temperatures will warm into the upper 80's over the
southern zones. 43

.LONG TERM [Tuesday Through Sunday]...

Southeasterly flow increases on Tuesday as surface high pressure
slides eastward. There will be increasing clouds through the day
ahead of an approaching upper level low approaching from the west.
This system will move across northern Texas and into Oklahoma
through the day on Wednesday bringing our region mostly cloudy
skies. The chance of precipitation increases late Wednesday
and into the morning hours on Thursday. The bulk of the
precipitation from this disturbance looks to remain north of our
CWA, but we can still expect some showers and thunderstorms
Wednesday PM/Thursday AM with better chances generally north of
Harris County. The Canadian is still siding with a stronger front
moving through SE Texas with this system bringing precipitation
down along the entire Texas coastline, but its the outlier at the
moment and have sided with the EC/GFS solution as depicted above.
A quick transitory high pressure moves across the area late
Thursday into Friday morning followed by another potential system
Saturday into Sunday.

Despite the midweek system, high temperatures through the long term
will be in the mid to upper 80s with lows generally near 70 (few
degrees warmer near the coast, few degrees cooler up north).

Fowler

&&

.MARINE...

An onshore flow will persist today with weak low pressure over North
Texas. Winds will veer to the SW tonight in advance of a weak cold
front that should cross the coastal waters prior to 12z Monday. Weak
high pressure will build into the Arklatex Mon AM and shift east
very quickly allowing an onshore flow to redevelop Monday evening.
Onshore winds will persist Tuesday and Wednesday with speeds
increasing Weds as deep low pressure develops over OK. As the low
move east, it will drag another cold front into the coastal waters
late Thursday but the resultant offshore flow will be short lived as
another area of low pressure quickly develops over the TX panhandle
and onshore winds redevelop on Friday. 43

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /Issued 1152 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2020/...

.AVIATION [06Z TAF Issuance]...

Poor flight conditions prevail across the area, and should hold
through most of the night. As another upper disturbance and
accompanying front approach, looking for some of those low clouds
to rise, but also come with a new round of showers and
thunderstorms. May be strong to severe from SGR/HOU northward,
with best chance for strong storms at CLL and UTS. For now, not
enough confidence to go with a prevailing and a bit too far out
for a TEMPO, so things stay at VCTS for now. Once front is
through, look for rapidly improving conditions as drier post-
frontal air moves in.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

College Station (CLL)  85  59  81  60  84 /  60   0   0   0  10
Houston (IAH)          84  63  84  62  83 /  60   0   0   0   0
Galveston (GLS)        78  68  78  69  77 /  30   0   0   0   0

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

TX...None.
GM...None.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 19, 8:47 AM CDT, 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
847 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020

TXZ199-211>213-227-313-191430-
Waller TX-Coastal Harris TX-Inland Harris TX-Fort Bend TX-
Montgomery TX-Austin TX-
847 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN AUSTIN...
NORTHWESTERN FORT BEND...SOUTH CENTRAL MONTGOMERY...SOUTHEASTERN
WALLER AND CENTRAL HARRIS COUNTIES UNTIL 930 AM CDT...

At 846 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Katy, moving northeast at 40 mph.

Penny size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Humble, Katy, Jersey Village, Brookshire, Hunters Creek Village,
Bunker Hill Village, Piney Point Village, Northside / Northline,
Kingwood, Spring Branch North, Greater Greenspoint, Spring, Greater
Heights, Near Northside Houston, Aldine, Eldridge / West Oaks, Spring
Branch West, Addicks Park Ten, Spring Valley and northwestern
Memorial Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CDT for southeastern
Texas.

LAT...LON 2966 9593 2981 9606 3018 9533 3005 9518
      2985 9513
TIME...MOT...LOC 1346Z 247DEG 41KT 2975 9584
Special weather statement, Apr 19, 8:57 AM CDT, 47 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
857 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020

TXZ211>213-226-227-191445-
Waller TX-Wharton TX-Inland Harris TX-Fort Bend TX-Austin TX-
857 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

At 857 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sealy, moving east at 55 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Katy, Sealy, Brookshire, Addicks Park Ten, Mission Bend, Eldridge /
West Oaks, Wallis, Fulshear, Simonton, San Felipe, Pattison, Cinco
Ranch, Weston Lakes, Cypress, Addicks and Memorial.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CDT for southeastern
Texas.

LAT...LON 2962 9616 2976 9619 3000 9563 2969 9562
TIME...MOT...LOC 1357Z 249DEG 49KT 2972 9609
Local storm report, Apr 19, 9:34 AM CDT, 10 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 19, 3:58 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryHGXAustin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Galveston, Grimes and 7 more4 hr
Apr 19, 4:00 AM CDTMarine Dense Fog AdvisoryHGX7 hr
Apr 19, 8:47 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXHarris43 min
Apr 19, 8:57 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXWaller48 min
Apr 19, 9:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXFort Bend, Harris43 min
Apr 19, 9:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXFort Bend, Harris, Waller37 min
Apr 19, 9:23 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryHGXFort Bend, Harris112 min
Apr 19, 9:39 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryHGXHarris2 hr
Apr 19, 10:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXHarris25 min
Apr 19, 10:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXLiberty48 min
Apr 19, 10:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXHarris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto41 min
Apr 19, 11:29 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXLiberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto61 min
Apr 19, 11:33 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXJackson27 min
Apr 19, 12:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda, Wharton40 min
Apr 19, 12:28 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXPolk, San Jacinto20 min
Apr 19, 12:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXJackson, Matagorda, Wharton46 min
Apr 19, 1:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Wharton49 min
Apr 19, 1:53 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXBrazoria, Matagorda37 min
Apr 19, 2:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXHouston47 min
Apr 19, 2:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Fort Bend45 min
Apr 19, 2:20 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXWaller40 min
Apr 19, 2:27 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXBrazoria27 min
Apr 19, 2:50 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX85 min
Apr 19, 2:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXHarris68 min
Apr 19, 2:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXBrazoria, Galveston21 min
Apr 19, 3:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXTrinity37 min
Apr 19, 3:13 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX47 min
Apr 19, 3:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXMontgomery38 min
Apr 19, 3:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXSan Jacinto52 min
Apr 19, 3:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXChambers37 min
Apr 19, 3:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningHGXGalveston14 min
Apr 19, 4:02 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX31 min
Apr 19, 4:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXLiberty38 min
Apr 19, 4:16 PM CDTTornado WarningHGXLiberty22 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.