MORE Strong Storms For SE TX / SW LA possible

[southerngale]

Last night I was in Nederland & Port Arthur and shortly before dark, I saw some of the darkest clouds approaching that I'd seen in quite some time. When I looked off to the west however, the sunset was gorgeous. (didn't last long though)

Anyway, I needed just a few things from Walmart and thought maybe I could beat the rain and get in and get out quickly. I was flying and grabbed 2 things and was heading to get the last 2 things I needed, when I heard the loudest KA-POW and kids started screaming. Then it started pouring. Not that big of a deal, but being in a SuperWalmart and it being that loud, I knew it was a doozy outside. On my way to the checkout, I figured I'd better buy an umbrella since my "good one" was broken at home from the last wind event. I found one of those handy dandy wind-proof ones (I just learned about these about a week ago) and figured I'd put it to the test.
After I checked out, there was a conglomeration of storm-shocked people in the little entry area waiting for the storm to subside so they could get to their cars. We didn't know then, but that wait was gonna be a while. It was pouring, torrential type rains, lightning was non-stop, and you could see small things flying around in the wind, but I didn't want to wait. I opened my new wind-proof umbrella, thinking to myself that I was about to break yet another umbrella, and headed for my car. Much to my surprise, the wind-proof umbrella worked!! It is huge, but I was still soaking wet when I got to my car. The rain was coming down sideways.
So I started to drive off, when I noticed that I couldn't see to drive. Whoops, maybe I should have just stayed in Walmart. But....I had a better view. I just sat in the flooding parking lot and watched the cloud to ground lightning all around me, thinking what are the odds it's gonna strike me? I decided it wasn't very likely, so I sat there in awe of this surprising storm, to me. I hadn't been home in hours and thought high pressure sitting over the area bringing these horrible temps was gonna keep rain away for a few days. So my Mom calls to tell me to look out, there was a severe thunderstorm warning and it was headed my away (she was watching TWC). Umm Mom, TWC is behind. It's heeeeeeeeeere. lol

Anyway, I eventually ventured onto the street and headed home, poking along on the freeway with everyone else. Once I had hydroplaned a little, I decided I needed to go even slower.

It's rained A LOT this summer, but this was by far the strongest storm I've seen in a while.

Looks like a repeat may be possible...


Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
430 AM CDT THU AUG 17 2006

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-172100-
VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-
CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-
CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-
NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEESVILLE...ALEXANDRIA...MARKSVILLE...
DERIDDER...OAKDALE...VILLE PLATTE...OPELOUSAS...LAKE CHARLES...
JENNINGS...CROWLEY...LAFAYETTE...ST. MARTINVILLE...CAMERON...
ABBEVILLE...NEW IBERIA...MORGAN CITY...WOODVILLE...JASPER...
NEWTON...LUMBERTON...BEAUMONT/PORT ARTHUR...ORANGE
430 AM CDT THU AUG 17 2006

...AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE UPPER 90S TO 100 EXPECTED TODAY...
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE BY LATE AFTERNOON...
ANOTHER HOT DAY IS IN STORE FOR THE REGION...WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS
REACHING 100 DEGREES ACROSS INLAND SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND CENTRAL
LOUISIANA...AND UPPER 90S FROM I-10 SOUTH. HEAT INDICES WILL
LIKELY RANGE BETWEEN 105 TO 108 DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. A FEW OF THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE POSSIBILTY EXISTS
FOR SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS REACHING SEVERE LIMITS...WITH WET
MICRO BURSTS THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR VISIT http://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/LCH
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...FORECASTS...AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

[CajunMama]

Those were some wicked storms. And we may be in for more today? Tell me more about that umbrella! I'm always losing mine.

[Yankeegirl]

We didnt get a drop here yesterday!!! Maybe today?? Sunny out, but not as hot as its been.. its only 93.4...

[PTrackerLA]

It was definately one of the strongest storms all summer, pretty much turned day into night around 5pm. I'm hoping for a repeat today, we could still use the rain.

[Extremeweatherguy]

From the Houston HWO:

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...RETRANSMIT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1000 AM CDT THU AUG 17 2006

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-181200-
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-
1000 AM CDT THU AUG 17 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
DUE TO DEEPER MOISTURE THAT HAS ADVECTED IN FROM THE EAST AND
NORTHEAST AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE WITH HEATING INTO THE MID
90S...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OR MOVE INTO
THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTHEAST
OF HIGHWAY 59...OR FROM NEAR LIVINGSTON TO HOUSTON TO WHARTON. A FEW
OF THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF BRIEFLY PULSING UP TO
SEVERE LEVELS WITH WIND DAMAGE BEING THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER
THREAT. MOVEMENT OF THE STORMS WILL BE WEST OR SOUTHWEST...SO AREAS
JUST WEST OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED AREA COULD EXPERIENCE A STRONG OR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DURING THE EVENING HOURS.

IN ADDITION TO THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT...IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY
HOT TODAY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. HEAT INDICES WILL LIKELY PEAK
CLOSE TO 108 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A
CLEVELAND TO HOUSTON TO WHARTON LINE. NORTHWEST OF THIS LINE...PEAK
HEAT INDICES WILL BE CLOSER TO 105 DEGREES BECAUSE OF SLIGHTLY DRIER
AIR. ANYONE THAT IS PLANNING TO BE OUTSIDE TODAY SHOULD DRINK PLENTY
OF WATER...SPORTS DRINKS...OR OTHER NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND WEAR
LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT COLORED...AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA
BEGINNING AROUND 3 PM.

$$

[Extremeweatherguy]

Also, here is the latest and nicest Houston disco I have heard in awhile:

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
224 PM CDT THU AUG 17 2006

.DISCUSSION...
STARTING TO SEE SOME ENHANCEMENT IN THE CU FIELD...ESPECIALLY
ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS WHERE IT IS THE WARMEST. NOT MUCH HAS
CHANGED CONCERNING THE SHORT TERM CONVECTIVE FCST. STILL THINK
CONVECTION WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP 3-4 PM AND CONTINUE UNTIL
8 OR 9 PM. ALSO STILL THINK A FEW STORMS COULD GET STRONG OR
REACH SEVERE LEVELS. I DECIDED TO SHIFT THE CHC POPS A
LITTLE FURTHER WEST THIS EVE AS THE HIGHER PW AIR HAS MIGRATED
WESTWARD.

DEEPER MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO PERSIST OVER THE AREA THROUGH
SATURDAY AS THE MID/UPPER RIDGE IS CENTERED N/NE OF THE AREA AND
DEEP EASTERLY FLOW BRINGS MOISTURE OFF OF THE GULF. A WEAK
MID/UPPER TROF WILL MOVE WEST AROUND THE RIDGE AND INLAND ACROSS
S TX ON SATURDAY. THE ADDITIONAL LIFT/MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
FEATURE WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SCT CONVECTION ACROSS CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN AREAS DURING THE AFT/EVE HOURS...WITH A SLIGHT CHC ACROSS
THE NORTH. THE RIDGE WILL BUILD BACK OVR SE TX ON SUN AND MON...
THEN BEGIN SHIFTING WEST OF THE AREA AS A COUPLE OF SHRT WV TROFS
MOVE SE ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS WILL CAUSE A MORE ZONAL
MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FIELD TO DEVELOP WITH LOWER HEIGHTS OVER THE AREA.
A WEAK STALLING FRONT MAY BE IN THE VICINITY AROUND MID-WEEK AS
WELL. THIS SCENARIO WILL MOST LIKELY LEAD TO NEAR NORMAL TEMPS
AND A CHC OF RAIN. SO...I MADE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FCST
NEXT WEEK. 33

[Yankeegirl]

so... when is the action supposed to get started? its been hot and sunny here all day... not even looking like rain later...

[Yankeegirl]

To make me feel better, I did see that The Weather Channel has us getting a 60% chance of rain tomorrow... I like that... even if its from the weather channel...

[Extremeweatherguy]

The seabreeze is now visible on Houston radar. I bet that this will likely be our primary focus for storms as we head into the 5-7pm hours.

[Yankeegirl]

I am ready,... I am sooooo sick of this heat!!!! It is kinda late for the seabreeze.... I think better chances of rain for tomorrow...

[Extremeweatherguy]

I am ready,... I am sooooo sick of this heat!!!! It is kinda late for the seabreeze.... I think better chances of rain for tomorrow...

yeah, your probably right. Looks like a better shot for tomorrow.

[Yankeegirl]

But things are popping up there around Lake Conroe...Still too north of here, if was dark I could prolly see the lightning!!

[Extremeweatherguy]

But things are popping up there around Lake Conroe...Still too north of here, if was dark I could prolly see the lightning!!

Looks like those storms have faded. We will probably now have to wait until tomorrow for rain.

[Yankeegirl]

ug.... I am so impaitent!!!

[Yankeegirl]

Rain oh rain!!!??? Where art thou????

[Extremeweatherguy]

Lots of storms popping up around the area this morning. Hopefully I will get in on the action.

[KatDaddy]

Torrential tropical rains down here in League City. I had a rainfall rate of 5.85" earlier this morning. Picked up 1.31" and still raining.

[Extremeweatherguy]

wow, I wish I could have gotten some of that!

Instead though, the storms seemed to go POOF just before reaching my area.

The wait for rain continues..

[Johnny]

We might get some up our way later on this afternoon EWG but don't hold your breath. The air is a little more drier up our way.

Thursday we got a good one at the house. It only lasted 10 minutes but we had big branches down all over the place up and down the road.

[southerngale]

Just curious...do y'all "need" rain in the Houston area? We've had so much over here lately, I am thrilled to see the occasional day or two WITHOUT any rain.