Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, January 31, 2008

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, January 31, 2008
Start: 2008-01-31T08:38
End: 2008-01-31T09:50
Location: Texas

January 31, 2008 · NWS HGX · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

An upper trough of low pressure moved across eastern Texas and initiated severe weather.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $7,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HGX wrote it up.

An upper trough of low pressure moved across eastern Texas and initiated severe weather.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jan 31, 3:58 AM CST, 4 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 3:58 AM CST, 4 hours 40 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
358 AM CST THU JAN 31 2008

.DISCUSSION...
COMPOSITE RADAR AND KFWS DEPICTING A BETTER ORGANIZED LINE OF
SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED STORMS (PER INCREASED LIGHTNING) JUST
PASSING THROUGH A KILLEEN TO WACO TO JUST SOUTHEAST OF DALLAS
METROPLEX LINE AT TOP OF 09Z HOUR. LINEAR SOUTHEASTERN PROGRESSION
OF LINE AT AROUND 40 KNOTS HAS THIS PREFRONTAL WAVE REACHING OUR
NORTHERN CWA BY 10Z...INTO CENTRAL ZONES BY 12Z. SFC ANALYSIS OF
DEW POINTS AND VEERING WIND FIELD HAS MAIN COLD FRONT LOCATED
ALONG A MIDLAND TO SYNDER TO NEAR CHILDRESS LINE...OR THROUGH THE
PANHANDLE...AT 09Z. SIGNIFICANTLY DRIER AIR MASS FILTERING INTO
THE PANHANDLE WITH CURRENT DEW POINTS NEAR ZERO...THE 60
ISODROSOTHERM BEING PULLED FURTHER ONSHORE WITHIN STRENGTHENING LL
JET. SCATTERED CONVECTION BEGINNING TO FIRE UP SOUTHWEST OF THIS
PRE-FRONTAL TROF...THROUGH OUR WESTERN COUNTIES...AN EARLY SIGN
THAT THIS MAY BE AN ACTIVE MORNING. SPC HAS PLACED OUR
SOUTHEASTERN CWA IN A SLIGHT RISK. OF COURSE...TIMING THE MAJOR
FACTOR UPON WHETHER WE WILL REACH SEVERE CRITERIA. MAIN THREATS UP
NORTH WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...WITH THE POTENTIAL
FOR MORE SOUTHEASTERN (TO NEAR COASTAL) ZONE ISOLATED TORNADOES
LATER THIS MORNING AS THE BULK OF THE UPPER TROUGHS ENERGY SWINGS
ON THROUGH INTO THE GALVESTON BAY REGION BY 18Z.

12Z MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOWING A NICE LL JET OVER THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES...A NEAR 9K WET BULB HEIGHT...AND K-INDICES AND TOTAL
TOTALS IN THE NEAR NUMEROUS COVERAGE RANGE FOR STRONG EARLY TO MID
MORNING STORMS. THUS...DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL NOT OUT OF
QUESTION IF ELEVATED CONVECTION MAKES IT TO SURFACE. NICELY CURVED
HODOGRAPHS IN THE 12-15Z PERIOD SUGGESTING STRONG LOWER 5K FT
SHEAR. VERY IMPRESSIVE 09-12Z NAM40 HELICITIES IN THE 600-900
M2/S2 RANGE OVER HARRIS COUNTY...500-800 M2/S2 NEAR COAST. A
DEFINITE SIGNAL OF ROTATING UPDRAFTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS
THE FIRST AND SECOND TIER EASTERN COASTAL COUNTIES. ALL THREATS
WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THIS MORNINGS SATHWOHGX.

THIS FAST PROGRESSION OF THE MAIN BOUNDARY WILL HAVE IT WELL OFF
THE COAST PAST 18Z WITH AMPED UP NORTHWESTERLIES PROMPTING A CWA-
WIDE WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 8 PM TONIGHT. RAPIDLY DROPPING RHS
WITH THESE STRONG BACKING NW WINDS WILL EXACERBATE FIRE WX
CONDITIONS (SEE FIRE WX BELOW).

THE EXTENDED SHOWS A WARMING TREND THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO REACH INTO THE MIDDLE 70S MONDAY.
INCREASED CHANCE FOR SHOWERS ON SUNDAY MAINLY FROM NEAR COASTAL
SOUTHWESTERLY DISTURBANCES RIDING ON THROUGH...BETTER POSITIONED 250
MB JET PARALLELING THE COAST. RAIN CHANCES STAY UP INTO TUESDAY
AHEAD OF THE NEXT FRONT EXPECTED TO TRAVEL ACROSS SE TX ON
TUESDAY. A REINFORCING HIGH WEDNESDAY WILL PICK UP
NORTHERLIES...SIGNIFICANTLY TIGHTENING THE COASTAL AND OFFSHORE
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT EARLY WEDNESDAY. 31

&&

.MARINE...
COLD FRONT AND ASSOCIATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS (SOME STRONG TO
SEVERE) WILL BE MOVING OFF THE COAST BETWEEN 8-11AM THIS MORNING AND
SHOULD BE WELL OFFSHORE BY NOON. WNW WINDS WILL INCREASE WELL INTO
ADVISORY LEVELS WITH GUSTS ABOVE GALE FORCE A GOOD BET. ALTHOUGH
WATER LEVELS ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING ABOUT 1 FOOT ABOVE NORMAL...ONCE
THE STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS KICK IN WATER LEVELS WILL FALL BELOW
NORMAL BY LATE AFTERNOON. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL
FOR POSSIBLE GROUNDINGS IN THE SHALLOWER PARTS OF THE BAYS LATE
TODAY AND TONIGHT. WIND SPEEDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH AFTER MIDNIGHT
AS HIGH PRES MOVES INTO THE REGION. AS THE HIGH MOVES OFF TO THE
EAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONSHORE WINDS WILL RESUME AND PERSIST INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK. SLIGHT INCREASE IN SPEEDS/SEAS EXPECTED LATER IN
THE WEEKEND AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS. NEXT FRONT STILL LOOKS ON TRACK
FOR TUES.  47

&&

.AVIATION...
LINE OF SHRA ASSOCIATED WITH COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING
ACROSS N CNTL TX. EXPECT IT TO INTENSIFY (WITH TSTMS DEVELOPING) AS
IT NEARS SE TX WITH SOME STORMS POSSIBLY GOING SEVERE. HAIL/WINDS
PRIMARY THREAT...THOUGH ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE SRN HALF OF SE
TX. THIS LINE SHOULD BE FAST MOVING AND IS CURRENTLY MOVING A BIT
FASTER THAN MODELS ARE SUGGESTING. IF IT KEEPS UP AT ITS CURRENT
SPEED IT SHOULD BE NEAR CLL AROUND 11Z...METRO AIRPORTS 13Z...COAST
14-15Z. WILL BE WATCHING RADAR TRENDS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS AND
UPDATE TAFS ACCORDINGLY IF ITS CURRENT SPEED HOLDS. SKIES SHOULD
CLEAR BEHIND THE FRONT BUT WILL THEN NEED TO DEAL WITH STRONG NW
WINDS IN ITS WAKE. ANTICIPATE 20-30KT SUSTAINED IN THE AFTN WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. SPEEDS SHOULD DIMINISH INLAND THIS EVENING...BUT
REMAIN UP AT THE COAST FOR A MUCH OF THE NIGHT.  47

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
FRONT AND ASSOCIATED PRECIP SHOULD BE WELL OFF THE COAST BY NOON.
RHS WILL FALL INTO THE 25-35 PERCENT RANGE BY LATE AFTERNOON...NOT
ENOUGH FOR A RED FLAG WARNING. NW WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL
INCREASE TO 20-30MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  47

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL)      58  34  63  45  71 /  80   0   0   0  10
HOUSTON (IAH)              64  37  62  45  70 / 100   0   0   0  10
GALVESTON (GLS)            65  44  59  53  65 / 100   0   0   0  10

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM CST THIS EVENING
     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 ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT CST
     TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA
     BAY.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 AM CST FRIDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE
     MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND
     TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE
     MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND
     TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM CST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL
     20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO
     60 NM.

&&

DISCUSSION...31/47

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 5:25 AM CST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
525 AM CST THU JAN 31 2008

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-011130-
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-
525 AM CST THU JAN 31 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...CORRECTED SPEED WORDING

A SOLID LINE OF SHOWERS...WITH NUMEROUS EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS...
WILL PASS ACROSS OUR REGION DURING THE MORNING HOURS. UNSEASONABLY
LOW FREEZING LEVELS FAVOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE HAIL...GENERALLY
ACROSS MORE INTERIOR COUNTIES NORTH OF INTERSTATE 10...AS THE MAIN
COLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY CATCHES UP WITH THE PRE FRONTAL TROUGH BETWEEN
5 AND 7 AM. INCREASING SOUTHERN COUNTY MOISTURE LEVELS...SURGING
DOWNSTREAM OF THIS LINE...WILL AID IN THE OVERALL LOWER LEVEL
INSTABILITY. THE SPEED OF THE LINE AT BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MPH...COMBINED
WITH THE HIGH SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR...FAVORS ROTATING
UPDRAFTS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES AS THIS LINE
NEARS THE FIRST AND SECOND TIER COASTAL COUNTIES BETWEEN 7 AND 10
AM. THIS FAST MOVING FRONT IS PROJECTED TO EXIT THE NEAR SHORE
WATERS SHORTLY AFTER NOON.

THE TIGHTENED PRESSURE GRADIENT...AND MUCH DRIER AIR MASS...BEHIND
THIS COLD FRONT WILL TRANSLATE TO STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS DURING
THE AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THUS...A WIND
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FROM 10 AM THROUGH 8 PM TONIGHT.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE
ACTIVATION THIS MORNING.

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:39 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Montgomery

When: January 31, 8:38 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 2.39 mi NNW of New Caney
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.180, -95.220

Penny sized hail fell two miles west of Woodbranch at FM 242 and Somerset.

Hail, Montgomery

When: January 31, 8:38 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.38 mi ENE of Tamina
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.190, -95.410

Quarter sized hail fell two miles south of Woodloch at I-45 and Research Forest.

Funnel Cloud, Montgomery

When: January 31, 8:38 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.18 mi SE of Porter
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.089, -95.215

A funnel cloud was sighted in Porter near the intersection of Needham and East Martin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: January 31, 9:50 AM CST
Where: Harris County, 1 mi NNW of Seabrook
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.563, -95.026

A 28 foot wall collapsed at a construction site on NASA Road One.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2008

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 68382, 68383, 68386, 75930.