STORM2K

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
558 PM CST FRI DEC 29 2006

.UPDATE...
UPDATED FORECAST FOR NEW TORNADO WATCH #888 WHICH REPLACES WATCH
#886 ISSUED EARLIER THIS AFTN. THE NEW WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
08Z AND INCLUDES ALL OF SE TX AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
KHGX VAD PROFILE SHOWS STRONG TURNING IN THE LOWEST 3KFT WITH
50-55 KNOT WINDS IN THE 1KFT-3KFT LAYER. KHGX RADAR SHOWS NUMEROUS
TSRA CONTINUING ACROSS OUR WRN ZONES WITH CONVECTION BEGINNING TO
FILL IN OVER THE REST OF THE AREA. TORNADO AND DOWNBURST WIND
THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATER TONIGHT AS LIFT AND SHEAR
INCREASE IN RESPONSE TO APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM. HEAVY RAIN
THREAT EXPECTED TO INCREASE LATER TONIGHT AS SQUALL LINE DEVELOPS
AND PROGRESSES ACROSS CWA. 35/47/41/32/31

Stratosphere747 wrote:Kelly...

Don't be surprised to see some warnings hoisted for your area with the storms coming in off the Gulf in the next hour or so....

Thanks...I'm watching closely. I just hope I don't lose electricity tonight. I need my s2k!
It's raining now...I can hear it hitting the window pretty hard.

I have always enjoyed thunderstorms, but tornadoes scare me and I can't stand to be in a tornado watch, so I'm quite uncomfortable tonight.

jschlitz wrote:

Jason..

Can you close in on that storm coming off the Gulf, into the Beaumont/Pt. Arthur area?

A wider view:

Do y'all see that "hole" over west Harris county on the radar? That would be The Bear Creek Dome. Still just experiencing increasing wind and a few chicken dimes & nickels once in a while....

Looks like a shear marker on that storm coming in off the Gulf...

I'm getting a pretty bad storm at the moment. Rain is very loud and a ton of thunder and lightning. Thunder is shaking the house.

I don't like to exaggerate, but it is truly like someone is spraying a water hose...no wait...make that a power washer on my windows. The rain is slamming into my windows. Ack..

Moderate Risk over Houston Area

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

WOW! That new tornado watch covers a large area, and is in effect for a long time.
Reminds me of the tornado watches during tropical storms, and hurricanes...

I am surprised that there are no warnings right now in SE Texas.

Just had a burst of heavy rain and wind from the isolated cell over N Galveston Co in League City near Friendswood. I am watching much heavier convection approach the Freeport to Galveston coastline headed Nward.

still no warnings out...

this is strange considering we are in a moderate risk area and under a tornado watch.

UPDATE: I just went outside to take a look around and wow...it is eerie out there. There is a lot of distant lightning and the wind is still just howling! While I was out I also spotted a good 2-3 foot long pine branch snap and fall onto a roof nearby during a strong gust.

That is when I decided to come back in. lol.

Extremeweatherguy wrote:still no warnings out...

this is strange considering we are in a moderate risk area and under a tornado watch.

As you age, and see events such as this unfold, you will understand that not every risk assessment necessitates a warning so to speak.

Also we are still somewhat early in the watch, and hopefully the earlier events have de-stabilized the atmosphere enough to limit any tornadic activity…