STORM SIGNALS
Fall 1996, Vol. 43
CONTENTS
This edition of Storm Signals was printed by E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Company, La Porte, Texas, as a service to the citizens of Southeast Texas and The Upper Texas Coastal area.
Schedule your Skywarn program for 1997 now. Get the date and time that will maximize your attendance. The 1997 Skywarn program will include new slides and new video so even the old pros will learn some new things about Storm Spotting.
Skywarn is a program sponsored by your National Weather Service Office in conjunction with your local Emergency Management Organization. It is a group of trained volunteers that watch the skies during severe weather and relay reports back to local Emergency Management Official and/or the National Weather Service (NWS). These volunteers provide valuable information to the NWS to improve the warning program which could save lives and prevent property damage in your community.
During 1997 the Skywarn program is going to place special emphasis on flood and flash flood problems in southeast Texas. We hope to identify flood prone areas throughout southeast Texas and have spotters who can assist the National Weather Service in issuing timely and accurate warnings for these areas to prevent loss of life and property. You can also expect to learn about the four basic thunderstorm types (Single Cell...Multi-Cell Cluster... Multi-Cell Line and the Super Cell) and what type of severe weather to expect from each type of thunderstorm. You will also learn what type of information needs to be reported to the National Weather Service and how to get that information to the NWS.
If you or your community is interested in sponsoring a Skywarn Program now is the time to reserve your training session. The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service will be conducting Skywarn classes during the months of January, February and March before the spring severe weather season begins in April and May. These training sessions last around three hours and can be scheduled during the day...in the evening or even on Saturday to fit your schedule.
If your group or your community is interested in sponsoring a Skywarn Program in early 1997, make your reservations now. Call Gene Hafele at 281-337-5074. The 1996 severe weather season so far has been rather mild. We have recorded only two deaths, both due to lightning, during 1996 and very few injuries. We cannot assume 1997 will be another mild severe weather season. We must be prepared for the major severe weather outbreak or a major flood event.
On Friday, September 13th, Mr. R.R. Traylor of Matagorda, Texas was presented the Ruby Stufft Award by the National Weather Service Southern Region Director, Harry Hassel. He was given this award for collecting 70 years of weather data for the National Weather Service. This was only the fourth time this award has been presented in the history of the Cooperative Weather Program which began in Thomas Jefferson's time.
Mr. Traylor is one of the nearly 11,000 dedicated citizens who volunteer to take weather observations across the nation, providing vital information to define and track the changes in the climate of our country.
Every day for over 70 years, Mr. Traylor has recorded and reported high and low temperatures and rainfall from Matagorda Texas to the National Weather Service. When Hurricane Carla struck the Texas coast near Matagorda in 1961, his weather equipment was virtually destroyed. Mr. Traylor quickly made the needed repairs to insure that no weather data would be lost.
At 93 years of age, Mr. Traylor maintains an avid interest in weather, astronomy, and other natural phenomena. He is a rancher and although he has given up riding horses, he still works cattle on a regular basis from his trusty old Dodge Ram Charger.
With the winter season rapidly approaching, now is the time to properly prepare for winter weather. Over the past couple of years, Southeast Texas has experienced relatively mild winters and residents need to become reacquainted with winter weather procedures. Winter storms are often considered a deceptive killer for the simple reason that most deaths that occur are indirectly related to the storm. For example, the majority of deaths occur from driving accidents on icy roads and hypothermia from exposure to freezing temperatures. Hypothermia is not the quite same as frostbite. Frostbite is damage to body tissue from direct exposure to freezing temperatures. Hypothermia is reduced overall body temperature from exposure to cold temperatures. Often hypothermia begins as the limbs of the body become cold and are not re-warmed properly. As the blood circulates from the cold limbs to the heart, the heart cools and risks failure.
There are many ways to prevent the damage done by cold weather and many other ways to help correct possible damage after it has started. As far as prevention in the home, try to keep a stash of emergency supplies such as canned goods, extra batteries, flashlights, extra medicine, alternative heating supply with heating fuel, and some form of fire extinguisher. The main concern at home during winter weather is the possible prolonged termination of electrical power and telephone services. Precautions can also be taken for vehicles. First and foremost, winterize your car. When at all possible keep the fuel tank full and carry a winter survival kit which would include extra blankets, first aid kit, knife, non-perishable food, extra clothing, a small can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking purposes, shovel, windshield scraper, and booster cables. By taking these precautions one can help minimize the effects of the cold. If symptoms of frostbite or hypothermia have already begun, don't panic. Try to heat the affected parts of the body slowly. If needed use body heat from other individuals.
Despite all of the preparations, one can still become stranded in the cold. If stranded outside, try to stay dry and cover all exposed parts of the body. Get out from exposure to the wind. If possible build a fire to help stay warm and to attract attention. If stranded in an automobile, stay in the vehicle. One can become quickly disoriented in the snow and cold. Run the engine for ten minutes every hour to provide heat. Crack the windows slightly to ventilate fresh air. Exercise from time to time to keep blood circulating. If stranded in a building, stay inside and try to use alternative forms of heat such as wood stoves and fireplaces. Cut off any unneeded rooms and insulate cracks with towels or rags. Wear layers of loose-fitting clothes and always remember to eat and drink whenever possible to help the body replenish liquids and energy.
By following these procedures, one can minimize the effects of cold weather during winter storms or during any cold weather.
It was 6 P.M. on a Sunday evening in deep South Florida when the phone rang in my hotel room. When I answered, a voice on the other end said, "Captain Darbe, it's time to go fly a storm". So I jumped out of the bed that I had so desperately tried to sleep in during my crewrest period, but the anticipation of flying tonight's mission into Tropical Storm Hortense kept me awake. Tired, but excited, I quickly put on my uniform, grabbed my gear and headed for the crew bus that would take me to Homestead Air Force Base, or what was left of it after Hurricane Andrew got finished with it back in 1992. How ironic it seemed to be flying tropical storms out of an area of Florida that, on almost every corner, still revealed just how powerful and dangerous these storms from the tropics really are. Well, not too worry, I thought. The Weather Channel in my room still had Hortense categorized as a tropical storm with winds only around 50 knots. Should be an easy mission, right?
As weather officer and mission director, it was my job to coordinate with the Hurricane Center and brief the crew on where and what we could expect for tonight's mission. As anticipated, the Hurricane Center reaffirmed that Hortense should still be a tropical storm (based on the last planes fix and infrared satellite) and was located about 160 miles south southeast of Puerto Rico and was slowly drifting west northwest. We were to fly at 5000 feet and do two scheduled fixes (fly through the storm center), one at 0600 Zulu (midnight) and the other at 1200 Zulu (6 am) with at least two intermediate fixes in between. After the navigator and I worked out the particulars, I briefed the crew and we were off for our anticipated long but relatively easy mission...a 3.5 hour flight to get to the storm, 6 hours of flying the storm, and then another 3.5 hours back. Little did we know what Hortense had in store for us when we got there.
About 50 miles south of Puerto Rico and about 110 miles from the storms center, we descended to our storm altitude and began our inbound leg into what we thought was mild and manner Tropical Storm Hortense. When we were about 60 miles from the storm's center, I began directing the planes track based on winds and radar...although radar was not much help as it showed one massive blob of shower and thunderstorm activity dead ahead. The closer we got to the center, the more we noticed the night being continually lit up with a tremendous display of lightning. I then remembered reading somewhere, as I continued to direct the plane toward this tremendous light show, that tropical storms usually only experience frequent lightning like this when they are in a rapidly intensification stage. It was about that time we hit our first jolt of moderate turbulence and my checklist and some charts went flying off my desk. From then on we experienced continuous light to moderate turbulence as we came closer and closer to this very angry tropical storm (I also thought, I'd be angry too if someone named me Hortense.)
When we were about 25 miles from the center I noticed my instruments reading a pressure of 988 millibar and 96 knots of sustained winds. This was at least 10 millibar lower in pressure and almost 50 knots stronger in wind speed than the last plane had encountered and yes, it meant we had a full blown rapidly intensifying hurricane on our hands. As turbulence continued to jolt us around, and lightning lit up the night, we began to question if it was a good idea to be headed for such a tremendous display of God's fury, manifested in numerous 50,000 degree bolts of heat that could easily fry any of our vital electrical systems or set our 75,000 pounds of jet fuel on fire. I continued to let the winds direct me toward the center and every time I corrected our flight track, it would point us even more at the heart of the lightning activity ahead. As we continued to get closer to what was trying to become a well defined eye of a hurricane, the turbulence and torrential rains were getting worse, and the lightning began to strike so close to our nose that it blinded us if we tried to look outside the cockpit. It was at this time the pilot suggested we abort the penetration. I quickly agreed and directed a right turn to go around the west side of the eyewall and try and come in from the south. We hugged the angry eyewall, flying no more than 15 miles from what I estimated to be the center of the storm just on the other side. As we circled around the south side and turned inbound for one more try to get in this stubborn storm...the radar showed us now surrounded by thunderstorms which was immediately confirmed by the fact that lightning was now striking all around us. I don't know if it was our imagination, but, we all began to smell something burning in the airplane. As the Dropsonde Operating began investigating the strange smell, we heard over the intercom a loud, "OH HELL" that came from the navigator who was glued to the radar. I quickly peeked over her shoulder and confirmed her fear with an "OH HELL" of my own. There on the radar, just up ahead to our left, was a well defined hook echo...meaning a possible tornado was in the neighborhood. The crew all seemed to agree simultaneously that we needed to get out of there. The navigator gave an escape heading and the pilot made an immediate 50 degree right bank and we left Hortense's fury in our wake like a puppy with its tail tucked between it's legs after being swapped by large newspaper.
I then sent a message to the Hurricane Center that we were aborting the fix due to continuous lightning and the airways went silent. This was the first time in many years that a fix had to be aborted for any reason other than mechanical difficulties. You see...tropical storms just aren't noted for having a lot of lightning. Torrential rains...strong wind shear and severe turbulence yes, but not continuous lightning.
After we got a safe distance away, we began to take inventory of the plane, and to our surprise, the smell of smoke was gone and all instruments were reading ok. I was able to do a plot of our track on my computer and, based on winds, pressure and temperature, I was able to give the Hurricane Center a good estimate of where the center of Hortense was. They also evaluated the data I had sent them and agreed, and therefore, gave us credit for an on-time fix.
We decided to head north and come in from the northeast for our next try. We figured this would give Hortense a couple of hours to settle down. Well, we weren't out hour when the Hurricane Center came back and asked if we could try and get in from the east now. I asked the crew if they were willing to give it another shot this soon, and reluctantly, we all agreed. So, here we went again, headed for the center of a very angry storm that did not want anybody messing with it. As we got closer, I began directing the plane toward the center, but this time the lightning up ahead didn't seem quite so frequent. Unfortunately the turbulence was still there but we could handle that. Although the ride was rough, and lightning strikes were still around us, I was able to direct us right through the angry eyewall this time and we broke out into a welcomed calm and peaceful center. The bliss was short lived tho...as we quickly nailed the center and then headed right back into the raging eyewall on the other side. Again the ride was rough with lightning all around, but with every mile we put Hortense behind us, we all felt a relief and a sense of pride, that this time we were the victors and Hortense had to feel our sting.
We penetrated Hurricane Hortense three more times that night, and each time, the ride seemed to get easier. When the Hurricane Center finally released us for home, it was daylight outside and we were one tired crew. When we arrived back at Homestead Air Force Base some 13 plus hours after takeoff, I gave the ground a kiss, and then said a little prayer for those people on Hispaniola that were in harms way. For I realized that they cannot fly away from Hortense's fury like I just did. They must face it and ride it out on the ground. Poor souls!
The NWS Houston/Galveston homepage has finally found a permanent home on the World Wide Web. Our permanent address is:
Our homepage contains a lot of information regarding Southeast Texas weather, Upper Texas coast marine information and regional climate data. We are now sporting a couple different versions of our page. The text-only version allows users who do not have graphics capabilities or graphics-based browsers access to data; and the original framed (or split screen) version is still available to those running systems with Netscape 2.5 or higher. We also have another version of our homepage in the works - a non-framed (or single screen) less graphics intensive version which we hope is up before too long.
As always, we are open to your ideas and comments. Please e-mail all inquiries concerning the homepage to: wendy.wong@noaa.gov
After so active a year in 1995 one could realistically expect 1996 to be rather quiet. Such has not been the case. Interestingly, Dr. William Gray, our long range hurricane forecasting guru at Colorado State University, predicted a slightly above average year this season even though historically that has not been the case. An average year brings about 10 named storms, 6 of which are hurricanes and 2 of which are category 3 or higher (greater than 95 knots wind speed). Gray's prediction for 1996 was 11 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 category 3 or higher. During 1996 we have had 13 named storms, 9 of which made it to hurricanes and a surprising 6 of which were category 3 or higher. By comparison, we had 19 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 5 category 3 or higher storms in 1995.
| NAME | DATES | WINDS | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur | 6/18 - 6/21 | 35 knots | TS |
| Bertha | 7/5 - 7/14 | 100 " | 3 |
| Cesar | 7/25 - 7/28 | 70 " | 1 |
| Dolly | 8/20 - 8/23 | 70 " | 1 |
| Edouard | 8/21 - 9/3 | 125 " | 4 |
| Fran | 8/24 - 9/6 | 100 " | 3 |
| Gustav | 8/27 - 9/2 | 40 " | TS |
| Hortense | 9/4 - 9/15 | 120 " | 4 |
| Isidore | 9/24 - 10/1 | 100 " | 3 |
| Josephine | 10/4 - 10/8 | 60 " | TS |
| Kyle | 10/11 - 10/12 | 45 " | TS |
| Lili | 10/15 - 10/26 | 100 " | 3 |
| Marco | 11/18 - 11/26 | 65 " | 1 |
As always, several storms were unusual and undoubtedly we will have lessons to learn for future years. Arthur was unusual in that no storm had formed so early just off the east coast. Bertha followed that trend by being one of the earliest storm of the so-called Cape Verde type. Then Cesar formed in the Eastern Caribbean in July - never before seen! Cesar also had the distinction of reincarnation as an eastern Pacific storm after crossing Nicaragua, a rare occurrence. After Cesar, the season followed a more traditional pattern with the flurry of development in late August and September from Cape Verde systems, then the October storms in the western Caribbean and Gulf. Lili was a bit unusual in moving west to east at a low latitude just north of Cuba and into the Bahamas. Marco was the last storm of the official hurricane season. Marco became a hurricane on November 20. This is the latest in the year a hurricane has occurred in the Caribbean since Hurricane Alice moved into the carribean on January 2, 1955.
As has been the case for most of the 1990s, the preferred storm tracks have been recurvature into the open Atlantic or up the East Coast. The southeast coast of North Carolina was ground zero this year with three storms...Arthur, Bertha, and Fran all making landfall within 50 miles of each other. Bertha and Fran proved particularly devastating to coastal communities plus Fran caused much power and tree damage as well as flooding well inland. Our National Weather Service Office in Wilmington took a direct hit from Fran's 100 mph winds and fared well...never losing communication or sustaining any significant damage. Since it is built much like our office in League City, it was encouraging to see the office ride out the storm so well.
When storms track mainly up the East Coast, the Gulf can be quiet. Not since Jerry in 1989 has a hurricane made landfall anywhere in Texas. Only the period between Fern in 1971 and Allen in 1980 have we gone longer without a storm on the Texas Coast...can we be so fortunate in 1997???
The role of the Houston chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) is to increase awareness of meteorology among the general public, as well as providing a mechanism for local gatherings of professionals and weather enthusiasts that would ultimately lead to a growth in Society membership.
Membership into the local chapter is not limited to persons with degrees in Meteorology nor do you have to be a member of the National Chapter to be a member of the local chapter. If you have an interest in Meteorology regardless of your occupation or age, you are invited to join our local Chapter. Our membership currently includes National Weather Service employees, private meteorological forecasting companies, air pollution meteorologists, broadcast meteorologist to name just a few. The dues for the Houston Chapter are only $10 per year.
Meetings are usually held once a month at various locations around the Houston Area. Typically, we meet before the meeting for dinner at a nearby by restaurant. Our meetings consist of a short business meeting and introductions followed by a program. If you would like to become a member of the Houston Chapter of the AMS, contact one of the officers listed below or attend one of our upcoming meetings. You can find information on upcoming meetings on the Houston/Galveston National Weather Service Homepage ( http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/ams/ams.htm).
The rainfall pattern for Southeast Texas has been inconsistent this year to say the least. From January to July, the weather focus was directed at the drought over the state. Southeast Texas was not spared of the dry weather. Most locations over the region received from one-third to one-half of the normal precipitation. Only isolated locations across the Coastal Plains in Jackson and Wharton Counties witnessed near normal precipitation.
For the Houston Intercontinental Airport area, the January to June time frame pushed a record for the driest first half of the year. The annual rainfall through June was 12.38 inches, the 9th driest since 1900. July didn't help matters across Southeast Texas as only Danevang, Washington- on-the-Brazos State Park, Coldspring, and Crockett reported above normal rainfall for the month.
As August rolled around, the weather pattern over the region began to change. For the first half of the year, an upper level ridge was anchored over Southeast Texas effectively "capping off" the rain. By August, the ridge slid east allowing for conditions to become more favorable for rain development.
Every station over Southeast Texas reported above normal rainfall for the month of August and ranged from almost 2 inches above normal for Caldwell to more than 8 and 1/2 inches above normal north of Houston. This wet trend continued into September as only a few stations across portions of the Brazos Valley and in Matagorda, Wharton, and Jackson counties reported below normal monthly rainfall.
The Marine Advisory Committee (MAC) met on Wednesday, October 23. The meeting was highly successful. Most of the members were able to attend. Several guests from the marine community were present including Captain Hunter While and Captain Rick Rule, both sports fishermen who venture out from 80 to 100 nautical miles offshore from the upper Texas coast. Also in the meeting were two meteorologists from the National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters (Mario Valverde and Steve Cooper).
Robert Van Hoven provided guests and members a background report on the local Marine Weather Program while Gene Hafele (Warning and Coordination Meteorologist) talked about the results of cooperation between the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and National Weather Service. LCRA will fund the installation of a NOAA Weather Radio transmitter in Bay City, Matagorda County. Tentatively, the transmitter is expected to be operational early next year. This will provide coverage for mariners on Matagorda Bay and adjoining coastal waters out to about 20 nautical miles.
Captain Stephen Ford of Texas A&M University at Galveston provided a "superb" presentation about the information acquisition and dissemination technology system developed by the National Ocean Service in cooperation with the Houston/Galveston Navigational Safety Committee. The system is called Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System or PORTS. The system was explained more in detail in this year's summer issue of STORM SIGNALS.
Steve Allen (Science and Operations Officer) explained to the committee the marine weather related research proposals given to the National Weather Service by the Texas A&M Cooperative Institute for Applied Meteorological Studies. Staff members at the Houston/Galveston weather office will be involved in some of the proposed studies. Steve also talked about local marine weather studies currently being done by the weather office staff. He stressed to committee members that the doppler weather radar in League City can not look at the lower levels (near sea surface) of the upper Texas coastal waters due to the elevation of the radar beam. Because of this, marine weather spotter reports are invaluable. He noted that spotter reports have already helped by providing data for local marine weather studies.
Jim Nelson (Port Meteorological Officer) talked to committee members and guests about the cooperative concept of having other coastal weather offices reaching out to ocean going vessels. Members of staff from weather offices in Houston/Galveston, Corpus Christi and Brownsville have been provided training by Jim. The goal is to have more ships participate in the Voluntary Ships Observations Program (VOS). The participating ships take weather observations that are assimilated in the global weather database.
The last portion of the MAC meeting was about getting "feedback" from the mariners. Marine weather forecasts and products were discussed. Captains John Cochrane and Rick Rule mentioned the importance of mariners being able to track frontal movements especially when approaching the coastal waters. Lieutenant Darran McLenon said that cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and the weather office has been excellent. Once spotter reports have been passed on to the weather office, VTS will almost always receive an updated weather broadcast. Robert Van Hoven mentioned that reports from VTS, in numerous instances, have provided forecasters a better picture of what is happening ("sea truth") in the marine environment.
After the meeting, guests and members were provided a tour of the weather office.
Other than the usual small hail and gusty winds associated with strong thunderstorms in late summer/early fall in Southeast Texas, 2 significant events occurred during the period.
On Friday evening, September 20th, NWS tracked a supercell thunderstorm moving toward the region from North Central Texas. This storm had a history of producing tornadoes, very strong downburst winds, and large hail. As the storm approached Burleson County, the NWS issued a tornado warning nearly 30 minutes in advance. This allowed law enforcement and emergency management officials to be notified in time so that many outdoor activities, including high school football games, could be cancelled/postponed so that people could take shelter. The supercell trekked southward along Highway 36 through Burleson and Washington Counties where numerous reports of tornadoes and large hail were reported. As the storm moved toward the coast, warnings were also issued for Austin, Wharton and Matagorda Counties where strong downburst winds and large hail were reported. Luckily, no injuries were reported but estimated damage was set at $605,000.
Significant coastal flooding occurred October 5th-8th. Strong high pressure in the eastern U.S. combined with developing Tropical Storm Josephine produced a strong east and northeast flow resulting in tide levels 2 to 5 feet higher than the predicted astronomical tides. The flooding caused major beach erosion and damaged/destroyed coastal roads and houses. Total damage estimates stand at $21.5 million.
Severe weather season for Southeast Texas is approaching one of its' peaks (late fall/early winter) and storm spotters are urged to relay reports to the National Weather Service or their local law enforcement agency should severe weather occur in your area.
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