Eric Berger

Well, that was quite a morning. Not everyone saw severe weather in addition to a line of strong storms that moved through Houston, but there were at least three parts of the Houston metro area that sustained damage from winds and tornadoes. The National Weather Service says it is sending survey teams to look at the following areas for tornado damage:

• Richmond/Rosenberg/Stafford: Structural damage to homes and offices

• Wharton/El Campo: Damage to roofs and some fences

• Van Vleck/Sweeney: Major home damage

As of 11:30am CT the storms had moved well to the east of Houston, skies were clearing, and temperatures were falling with the passage of a cold front that precipitated this morning’s storms. Temperatures near College Station were falling into the low 50s and the entire Houston area had sunk down to around 60 degrees.

This is the beginning of a cooler period that will last through about Friday morning. For much of the Houston area this will probably be one our last chances for nighttime temperatures in the 40s this season, so savor the cooler weather while it lasts.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

Posted at 11:55am CT on Tuesday by Eric

As a line of storms now approach Houston, reaching areas such as Katy and nearing Sugar Land, Tomball and The Woodlands, we’re starting to see some tornado warnings pop up across the region.

Most notably the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning until 8:45am CT for parts of Northeastern Wharton County, Northwestern Brazoria County, South central Harris County, and Fort Bend County:

These storms will continue to move from west to east this morning, and I expect this mess to clear out of the area by around Noon, if not before. In the mean time, however, be prepared for the possibility of tornado warnings throughout the metro area, during which you should take cover indoors, in an interior room if possible.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

Posted at 8:01am CT on Tuesday by Eric

Good morning. As anticipated a cold front is approaching Houston from the west this morning, and will bring with it heavy rains, a tornado watch, and a chance of severe weather. You’ll need to pay close attention to weather conditions this morning. The storms will clear out this afternoon, and Houston will cool off for the remainder of the work week.

Today

Due to favorable conditions for tornado formation, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the entire Houston metro area through 1pm CT today. One measurement of a storm’s potential to produce tornadoes is a parameter know as Convective Available Potential Energy, or CAPE, and values later this morning could run as high as 2000 J/kg in the Houston area. While this value is far from extreme, it means there will be enough instability for tornadoes to form. Tornadoes appear most likely between Interstate 10 and the coast.

A line of storms should begin moving into western Harris County by around 7am CT this morning, and spread into most of the region by 8 to 10am CT. The most favorable conditions for tornadoes to form should be in place from around 8am to Noon. If your area falls under a tornado warning—issued when forecasters believe a tornado has developed and touched thr ground in a given area—please take shelter indoors, in an interior room, until the warning has ended.

The other primary threat from these storms this morning is heavy rainfall. Some of the heaviest storms could produce 1 to 2 inches of rain per hour, and isolated areas could receive as much as 5 inches of rain. While I don’t anticipate any home flooding, some streets in areas hardest hit could become briefly impassible later this morning and early this afternoon. Most areas will probably see 1 to 2 inches of rain, total.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

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NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the risk of thunderstorms in Houston on Tuesday from “slight” to “enhanced.”

This means the following for the Houston area:

• Numerous severe thunderstorms are possible across the Houston region, with the greatest chance most likely along the Highway 59 corridor.

• A few of these storms may be particularly intense, capable of spawning weak tornadoes, damaging winds or hail.

• Some moderate street flooding is possible where thunderstorm training occurs, but for the most part these storms should move through at a good clip, from west to east.

• The most likely time for storms will be from 10am to 2pm CT, with clearing likely during the late afternoon hours.

We’ll stay on top of the latest forecast for you.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)