Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 14, 2014

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 14, 2014
Start: 2014-04-14T05:59
End: 2014-04-14T06:00
Location: Texas

April 14, 2014 · NWS HGX · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm developed along a strong cold front and produced large hail and strong winds as it moved through southeast Texas.

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: $2,000
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 HGX wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm developed along a strong cold front and produced large hail and strong winds as it moved through southeast Texas.

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 Apr 14, 3:45 AM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 14, 3:45 AM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
445 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

.DISCUSSION...
AT 09Z COLD FRONT WAS LOCATED FROM KSHV TO KACT AND MAKING QUICK
PROGRESS SOUTHWARD. AREA RADAR SHOWS SOME THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT OVER C TX. LOOK FOR CONVECTION TO
INCREASE ALONG THE BOUNDARY NEXT FEW HOURS BUT STILL SHOULD BE A
THIN LINE OF CONVECTION. UPPER AIR ANALYSIS HAS POLAR JET STREAK
OVER HILL COUNTRY THROUGH E TX WITH ANOTHER JET STREAK COMING
INTO W TX. THIS JET IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING SNOW IN THE TX
PANHANDLE. STRONG 850MB LLJ AXIS WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR KDRT
THROUGH THE ARKLATEX INTO THE MISS RIVER VALLEY. SFC MOISTURE AXIS
STARTS OVER UPPER TX COAST AND BENDS NE TOWARDS MISS RIVER VALLEY
AS WELL. WITH MAINLY VEERED FLOW FROM SSW TO W ALOFT...POSSIBLE
FOR ANY SHOWERS/STORMS INDIVIDUALLY MOVE ALONG THE BOUNDARY AS IT
PUSHES SOUTH. THE 850MB FRONT ALSO LAGS BACK BEHIND THE SFC FRONT
SO THERE COULD BE AN AREA JUST AHEAD OF THE 850MB FRONT THAT IS
UNSTABLE. THINK ELEVATED CONVECTION WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN WHICH
MAY LIMIT THE SEVERE POTENTIAL. THAT IS NOT TO SAY A FEW STORMS
COULD STILL PRODUCE HAIL/WIND BUT THINK THE THREAT WILL BE SMALL
DUE TO THE LACK OF QUALITY WARM SECTOR AIRMASS FOR STORMS.

FORECAST LOOKS ON TRACK WITH 60 POPS FOR MUCH OF THE AREA FOR
TODAY. ELEVATED CONVECTION SHOULD BEGIN TO DECREASE IN THE
EVENING/OVERNIGHT HRS AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD SOUTH.
NORTHERLY WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE QUITE STRONG SO HAVE A
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED WITH GALE WARNINGS FOR THE COASTAL WATERS.
MAIN ISSUE CONCERNING ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE THE AMOUNT OF
CAPPING SEEN ON THE 00Z CRP SOUNDING. THIS WILL BE THE LIMITING
FACTOR DESPITE QUITE A BIT OF FORCING FROM THE FRONT AND JET
STREAM. SO GIVEN MORE ELEVATED NATURE TO CONVECTION AND THE
CAP...THINK ANY SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA SIMILAR TO
SPC DAY 1 OUTLOOK.

TUE/WED THE MAIN ISSUE WILL BE LOW TEMPERATURES. THERE WILL BE
VERY STRONG COLD ADVECTION AS THE 850MB FREEZING LINE IS PROJECTED
TO REACH THE CXO/IAH AREA BY 12-18Z TUE PER THE GFS. VERY POSSIBLE
THAT MIN TEMPS FOR BOTH DAYS WILL BE IN THE 30S AND 40S. QUICK
LOOK AT RECORD LOWS FOR TUE/WED HAS KCLL WITH 38/36 AND
FORECASTING 35/37. HOUSTON IAH RECORD LOWS ARE 38/38 AND THAT IS
WHAT IS FORECASTED. GALVESTON HAS RECORD LOWS OF 41/51 AND
FORECASTING 45/50. SO THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT SOME RECORD
LOW TEMPS COULD FALL THE NEXT COUPLE OF MORNINGS. MAX TEMPS FOR
TODAY WILL BE IN THE MORNING AS TEMPERATURES FALL BEHIND THE
FRONT. WITH COLD ADVECTION HOLDING ON FOR TUE MAX TEMPS SHOULD
ONLY REACH THE LOW/MID 60S BUT THEN BACK INTO THE UPPER 60S FOR
WEDNESDAY.

THE EXTENDED FORECAST LOOKS CHALLENGING AS GFS CONTINUES TO SHOW
A STRONG SHORTWAVE COMING INTO THE PLAINS THUR/FRI. COLD FRONT
WITH THIS SYSTEM PUSHES THROUGH THE AREA WITH ONLY SLIGHT RAIN
CHANCES ON FRIDAY. ECMWF IS NOT AS POTENT WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT
SEEMS TO BE TRENDING CLOSER TO THE GFS SOLUTION. VERY FEW CHANGES
TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST UNTIL MODELS BEGIN TO RESOLVE DETAILS
BETTER.

39

&&

.MARINE...
A GALE WARNING AND A LOW WATER ADVISORY REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IN THE WAKE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT WILL
BRING WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 KNOTS OVER THE
GULF WATERS. TIDE LEVELS WILL FALL TO 1.5 TO 2 FEET BELOW NORMAL
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND A FEW TSTMS BY LATE MORNING AND THROUGH THE AFT HOURS
ALONG AND BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

HIGH PRESSURE OVER TX WILL MOVE EAST ON TUESDAY WITH WINDS
RELAXING INTO THE 15 TO 20 KT RANGE. AN EAST TO SOUTHEAST WIND
WILL PREVAIL WED AND THU...WITH A MUCH WEAKER COOL FRONT PUSHING
INTO THE MARINE AREA ON FRIDAY. 33

.FIRE...
STRONG NORTH WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT WILL BE OFFSET BY
RAINFALL AND FALLING TEMPERATURES SO DO NOT EXPECT ANY FIRE
WEATHER ISSUES TODAY. WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE HOW MUCH RAIN FALLS
TODAY CONCERNING THE NEED FOR A RFW ON TUESDAY. 33

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL)      63  35  63  37  70 /  60  10   0   0  10
HOUSTON (IAH)              72  38  63  38  70 /  60  10   0   0  10
GALVESTON (GLS)            70  45  62  50  66 /  60  20   0   0  10

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM CDT 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 SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING
     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.

     GALE WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 AM CDT TUESDAY 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.

&&

DISCUSSION...39
AVIATION/MARINE...33

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 14, 4:09 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
509 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-151015-
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-
509 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE AREA TODAY WITH A LINE OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW STORMS MAY FORM BEHIND THE FRONT WITH
ELEVATED INSTABILITY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG
WITH SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY
RAINFALL. STORMS SHOULD PUSH THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING AND
EARLY AFTERNOON WITH SHOWERS AFTER THE THUNDERSTORMS.

WINDS WILL BE VERY STRONG BEHIND THE FRONT WITH GENERALLY 20 TO 30
MPH WINDS AND GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
10 AM TO 9 PM TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES MAY BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
MORNINGS. FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE NOT EXPECTED BUT TEMPERATURES
COULD DROP CLOSE TO FREEZING IN RURAL AREAS. OTHERWISE HAZARDOUS
WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-151015-
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-
509 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH OFF THE COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS TO GALE FORCE WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 KNOTS. SEAS WILL BECOME VERY ROUGH WITH
SEAS GREATER THAN 10 FEET IN MOST OFFSHORE WATERS TONIGHT.
CONDITIONS WILL BE SLOW TO DECREASE. GALE WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT
THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. A LOW WATER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE
BAYS FOR BELOW NORMAL TIDES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED TUESDAY AS NORTHERLY WINDS
AND SEAS SLOWLY DECREASE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 14, 5:36 AM CST, 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
636 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

TXZ163-141215-
HOUSTON TX-
636 AM CDT MON APR 14 2014

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 635 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ELKHART...OR 15 MILES SOUTH OF PALESTINE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRAPELAND AND WECHES.

LAT...LON 3158 9526 3157 9522 3159 9517 3156 9514
      3154 9514 3153 9511 3150 9510 3149 9511
      3140 9569 3151 9571 3152 9565 3155 9564
      3159 9527
TIME...MOT...LOC 1135Z 257DEG 32KT 3155 9556

LW

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 187 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Houston

When: April 14, 5:59 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 2.15 mi NNW of Grapeland
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.510, -95.480

Quarter sized hail was reported north of the Grapeland area.

Hail, Houston

When: April 14, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 0.88 mi NNW of Grapeland
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $500
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.492, -95.474

Nickel sized hail was reported on the east side of Grapeland.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: April 14, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 1.09 mi NNW of Grapeland
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.495, -95.476

Wind gust to 60 mph was estimated by a trained spotter on the east side of Grapeland.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, April 2014

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: 502180, 502181, 502183.