Damaging Winds in Texas, February 1, 2011

Name: Damaging Winds in Texas, February 1, 2011
Start: 2011-02-01T08:40
End: 2011-02-01T08:46
Location: Texas

February 1, 2011 · NWS LCH · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving eastward across the region. Some reports of wind damage were received.

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: $6,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 LCH wrote it up.

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving eastward across the region. Some reports of wind damage were received.

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 Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 1, 8:19 AM CST, 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 1, 8:19 AM CST, 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
819 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

.DISCUSSION...UPDATED THE GRIDS TO RAISE POPS AND SHOW FALLING
TEMPERATURES IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. ALSO WENT AHEAD AND ISSUED
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY TONIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE
FORECAST AREA WHERE WIND CHILLS ARE FORECAST TO DROP BELOW 13
DEGREES.

BRAZZELL

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 545 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011/

DISCUSSION...
CONCERNING THE 01/12Z TAF ISSUANCE.

AVIATION...
A VERY STRONG ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS MOVING RAPIDLY INTO EAST TEXAS
AT OVER 40 KNOTS. EXPECT THIS FRONT TO REACH THE KBPT AREA AROUND
01/15Z...KLCH/KAEX AROUND 01/17Z...AND KLFT/KARA AROUND 01/19Z.

AHEAD OF THE FRONT...EXPECT IFR CEILINGS WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOUTHEAST WIND GUSTS WILL BE NEAR 20 KNOTS.

A BAND OF STORMS SHOULD LINE UP RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT. BRIEF HEAVY
RAIN WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO IFR LEVELS...AND WIND GUSTS
BETWEEN 35 AND 40 KNOTS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

BEHIND THE FRONT...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST WITH
SUSTAINED SPEEDS AROUND 20 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO OVER 25 KNOTS. SOME
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND IFR/MVFR CEILINGS WILL ALSO CONTINUE BEHIND
THE FRONT FOR A FEW HOURS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BY THIS
EVENING AS THE MUCH DRIER AIR MASS TAKES HOLD.

RUA

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 503 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011/

SYNOPSIS...LOW PRESSURE MOVING INTO NORTHEAST TEXAS AND
INTENSIFYING AS IT MOVES INTO ARKANSAS WILL ACCELERATE A STRONG
COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS MORNING,
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AROUND NOON, AND SHOULD BE THROUGH
ACADIANA BY LATE AFTERNOON. ARCTIC AIR IN THE WAKE OF THIS FRONT
WILL BRING A HARD FREEZE TO MOST OF THE AREA TONIGHT AND FOR THE
NEXT NIGHT AS WELL.

SHORT TERM...TEMPERATURES WILL BE MAXING OUT EARLY THIS MORNING
WITH A RAPID FALL INTO THE 40S FOR ALL EXCEPT ACADIANA THIS AFTERNOON.
DID NOT GO NEARLY AS COLD AS GUIDANCE FOR LOW TEMPS TONIGHT DUE TO
STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS. STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL PERSIST
OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS AND SHOULD HELP KEEP TEMPS BELOW GUIDANCE
VALUES LATE TUESDAY THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY WITH ADDITIONAL HARD FREEZES.

LONG TERM...BACKED OFF ON THE SNOW COVERAGE FOR FRIDAY MIXING IN
WARMER EUROPEAN TEMPERATURES WITH THE COLDER GFS. WILL JUST CLIP A
PORTION OF INTERIOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THAT SAID, POPS INCREASED TO
CHANCE.

MARINE...CHOSE NOT TO GO WITH A GALE WARNING AND EXTENDED THE
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY INTO EARLY THURSDAY IN THE PERSISTENTLY
STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW. ADDITIONAL WAVES DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT
BEYOND THE COASTAL WATERS WILL ASSIST IN KEEPING THE GRADIENT TIGHT.
AS THE FRONT MOVES INTO OUR WESTERN WATERS, BRIEF GUSTS TO GALE
FORCE ARE POSSIBLE AND WILL BE BEST HANDLED BY AN SMW IF
NECESSARY.

SWEENEY

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
KLCH  64  25  38  26  42 / 100  10  10  10  30
KBPT  65  24  38  23  38 / 100  10  10  10  30
KAEX  64  24  36  24  38 / 100  10  10  10  20
KLFT  66  29  41  28  41 / 100  10  10  10  30

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM CST WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: ALLEN...AVOYELLES...BEAUREGARD...
     CALCASIEU...CAMERON...EVANGELINE...JEFFERSON DAVIS...
     RAPIDES...ST. LANDRY...VERNON.

     WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: ACADIA...ALLEN...AVOYELLES...BEAUREGARD...
     CALCASIEU...CAMERON...EVANGELINE...IBERIA...JEFFERSON
     DAVIS...LAFAYETTE...LOWER ST. MARTIN...RAPIDES...ST.
     LANDRY...ST. MARY...UPPER ST. MARTIN...VERMILION...VERNON.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: ALLEN...BEAUREGARD...RAPIDES...
     VERNON.

     FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ACADIA...IBERIA...LAFAYETTE...LOWER ST. MARTIN...ST.
     MARY...UPPER ST. MARTIN...VERMILION.

TX...HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 2 PM CST WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: HARDIN...JASPER...JEFFERSON...
     NEWTON...ORANGE...TYLER.

     WIND ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: HARDIN...JASPER...JEFFERSON...NEWTON...
     ORANGE...TYLER.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM CST WEDNESDAY
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: HARDIN...JASPER...NEWTON...TYLER.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: 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.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: CALCASIEU LAKE...SABINE LAKE...
     VERMILION BAY.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 1, 5:29 AM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
529 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-021030-
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-
529 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA...WEST
CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO A FAST MOVING
COLD FRONT WHICH WILL BE SWEEPING THROUGH THIS MORNING AND EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE NORTHWEST. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
ARE THE MAIN THREAT. A WIND ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT AS WELL AS
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY AND A LOW WATER ADVISORY FOR THE INLAND WATERWAYS.
A HARD FREEZE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL EXCEPT ACADIANA TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

TEMPERATURES ABOUT 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
FRIDAY AS ARCTIC AIR PLUNGES SOUTHWARD. ADDITIONAL HARD FREEZES
ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THERE IS A
CHANCE OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION OVER PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR OF
SOUTHEAST TEXAS LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-021030-
SABINE LAKE-CALCASIEU LAKE-VERMILION BAY-
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-
529 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST
GULF OF MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NEAR SHORE WATERS UNTIL
NOON WHEN THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. WINDS COULD BRIEFLY REACH
GALE FORCE NEAR THE FRONT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT DUE TO STRONG AND
PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WINDS INTO EARLY FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WE MAY BE CONTACTING RIG SPOTTERS FOR VERIFICATION ON SPECIAL
MARINE WARNINGS THIS MORNING.

SWEENEY

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 1, 6:39 AM CST, 2 hours 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
639 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

TXZ180-181-201-011345-
JASPER TX-TYLER TX-HARDIN TX-
639 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JASPER...TYLER AND HARDIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 745 AM CST...

AT 635 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CHESTER TO 36 MILES WEST OF BATSON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  CHESTER BY 655 AM...
  VOTAW...ROCKLAND AND COLMESNEIL BY 710 AM...
  WOODVILLE AND THICKET BY 715 AM...
  BATSON BY 720 AM...
  EBENEZER...WILDWOOD AND WARREN BY 725 AM...

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH...
WHICH COULD DOWN TREE LIMBS AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS.
SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE
PASSED.

LAT...LON 3050 9455 3102 9466 3107 9458 3104 9447
      3112 9405 3115 9404 3115 9401 3013 9448
      3012 9462 3048 9474

RUA

Special weather statement, Feb 1, 7:35 AM CST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
735 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

TXZ180>182-201-215-216-011430-
NEWTON TX-JASPER TX-TYLER TX-HARDIN TX-JEFFERSON TX-ORANGE TX-
735 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NEWTON...JASPER...TYLER...
HARDIN...JEFFERSON AND ORANGE COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM CST...

AT 731 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 30 MILES
NORTH OF BROOKELAND TO 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HAMSHIRE...MOVING EAST
AT 45 MPH.

* THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  BROWNDELL...SPURGER...SOUR LAKE AND NOME BY 740 AM...
  CANEY HEAD...SILSBEE...MAGNOLIA SPRINGS AND LUMBERTON BY 745 AM...
  HARRISBURG AND ROGANVILLE BY 750 AM...

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH...
WHICH COULD DOWN TREE LIMBS AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS.
SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE
PASSED.

LAT...LON 3108 9424 3121 9354 3110 9356 3104 9351
      3098 9357 3093 9353 3069 9362 3055 9373
      3044 9370 3034 9376 3026 9370 2998 9378
      2983 9394 2967 9386 2967 9406 2956 9437
      2989 9438 2990 9446 3011 9446 3012 9461

RUA

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When: February 1, 8:40 AM CST
Where: Orange County, Rose City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.100, -94.050

Power lines were blown down in Rose City.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When: February 1, 8:44 AM CST
Where: Orange County, Vidor
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.120, -94.020

Power lines were blown down in Vidor.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When: February 1, 8:46 AM CST
Where: Orange County, 1.62 mi WSW of Connell
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.095, -94.007

A tree was blown down along Highway 105 in south Vidor.

What these are

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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, February 2011

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: 284879, 284881, 284880.