January 20, 2017 • No Comments • Local News

…Elevated Fire Weather Conditions Expected Saturday…

…A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for South Texas from Late Morning Sunday through Sunday Afternoon… 

…A Gale Watch is in effect for the Bays and Middle Texas Coastal Waters from Late Saturday Night through Sunday Evening…

Timing and Overview:

A dryline-like feature is forecast to shift east across the Brush Country Saturday afternoon. This will result in a lowering of relative humidity values and an increase in westerly wind speeds, which may result in an elevated fire danger for Saturday afternoon for the Brush Country.

A cold front is expected to move across the region Saturday night with a strong to very strong northwest wind developing in its wake Sunday. The strong wind combined with very low relative humidity will lead to critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions across South Texas. In addition, gale conditions are expected across marine areas Sunday. As a result, a Fire Weather Watch and Gale Watch are in effect for South Texas and the Middle Texas Coastal Waters, respectively. 

South Texas Fire Weather Impacts:

Wind: 

• Saturday: Light/variable in the morning, becoming west 10-20 mph and a little gusty in the afternoon across the Brush Country. Lighter SSW winds are expected across the Coastal Plains to Victoria.
• Sunday: West to northwest wind 25 to 35 mph with frequent gusts 40 to 50 mph. However, the potential exists for greater sustained wind speed and gust magnitudes. 

Humidity: 

• Saturday: minimum relative humidity values of 15% to 25% across the Brush Country. Higher values elsewhere.
• Sunday: Minimum relative humidity values of 15 to 20 percent over the Rio Grande Plains to 25 to 35 percent over the Coastal Bend and over the Victoria Crossroads.

Impacts:  

• Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.  Extreme resistance to control efforts will occur over the Rio Grande Plains.  
• Substantial resistance to control efforts will occur over the Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads.

  

Marine Impacts:

Wind:

• NW 25 to 30 knots with frequent gusts to gale force across bays and nearshore waters.
• NW 30 to 35 knots and frequent gale force winds across offshore waters.
• Brief gusts to storm force will be possible across offshore waters.

Seas/Bays: 

• Bays rough to occasionally very rough.
• Seas building to 6 to 8 feet nearshore and 12 to 15 feet offshore.

Impacts: 

• Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels.
• It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions.

Additional Information Resources: 

NWS Corpus Christi Marine Webpage:  https://www.weather.gov/crp/marine
NWS Corpus Christi Fire Weather Webpage:  www.weather.gov/crp/firewx
Texas Forest Service Predictive Services:  https://ticc.tamu.edu/PredictiveServices/FuelsFireDanger.htm

Rob Hart
Forecaster
NWS Corpus Christi, TX

January 20, 2017 • No Comments • Local News

Here is a brief update regarding severe thunderstorm potential for parts of the region this afternoon through tonight, with best chances for severe weather roughly along and south of the Highway 59 corridor.

Changes Since Last Briefing

Minor updates to timing for the severe thunderstorm threat window, forecast rainfall amounts, and the addition of a threat for large hail.

Overview 

The radar is expected to remain quiet through early afternoon, with storms expected to develop southwest of the Houston metro between 3-6 PM. Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop and move across Houston in the 5-8 PM time frame, with the bulk of the thunderstorm activity clearing the region 12 – 2 AM Saturday. Scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected during the day on Saturday, but severe weather and flooding is not anticipated. Rain chances will end Saturday night/early Sunday morning as a cold front sweeps across Southeast Texas, with Wind Advisories likely needed behind the front with sustained northwest winds 20-30 MPH and stronger gusts to 40 MPH.

Hazards

The primary threats from thunderstorms this afternoon-tonight will be large hail (with the potential for large than golf ball sized hail) and damaging winds. Secondary threats will include brief heavy rainfall. An isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out, mainly along the immediate coast.

Hydrology

Widespread flooding is not anticipated with this afternoon-tonight’s rain as storms will be moving very quickly. However, stronger cells will be capable of producing localized 1-2 inch amounts that may create minor street flooding issues or rapid rises on bayous/creeks.

Links

NWS Houston/Galveston Webpage: www.weather.gov/houston

AHPS Webpage: https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=hgx

Melissa Huffman, Molly Merrifield, & Josh Lichter
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston

January 20, 2017 • No Comments • Local News

…A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for South Texas from Late Morning Sunday through Sunday Afternoon… 

…A Gale Watch is in effect for the Bays and Middle Texas Coastal Waters from early Sunday Morning through Sunday Evening…
Timing and Overview:

A cold front is expected to move across the region Saturday night with a strong to very strong northwest wind developing in its wake Sunday. The strong wind combined with very low relative humidity will lead to critical fire weather conditions across South Texas. In addition, In addition, gale force conditions are expected across the bays and coastal waters Sunday. As a result, a Fire Weather Watch and Gale Watch are in effect for South Texas and the Middle Texas Coastal Waters, respectively.
Forecast:

South Texas Impacts:

Wind:  West to northwest wind 20 to 35 mph with frequent gusts 40 to 50 mph. However, the potential exists for greater sustained wind speed and gust magnitudes.

Humidity:  Minimum relative humidity values of 15 to 20 percent over the Rio Grande Plains to 25 to 35 percent over the Coastal Bend and over the Victoria Crossroads.

Impacts:   Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.  Extreme resistance to control efforts will occur over the Rio Grande Plains.  Substantial resistance to control efforts will occur over the Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads.

Marine Impacts:

Wind:  Northwest 25 to 30 knots with frequent gusts to gale force across bays and nearshore waters and sustained gale force winds across offshore waters. Brief gusts to storm force will  be possible across offshore waters.

Seas/Bays:  Bays rough to occasionally very rough. Seas building to 6 to 8 feet nearshore and 9 to 11 feet offshore.
Impacts:  Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels. It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions.

January 20, 2017 • No Comments • Local News