Texas Summer 2012

[Portastorm]

Just had a nice DOWNPOUR from a couple scattered cells on the north side of Austin! Checked the gauge (out in the open away from trees and structures). It measured 0.2-inch just from this little cell! Just finished trimming dry yard a couple hours ago! Perfect timing! I'm hoping this is just a preview of things to come.

Hey ... that's great ... now blow it down south so it can rain here!

[weatherdude1108]

Just had a nice DOWNPOUR from a couple scattered cells on the north side of Austin! Checked the gauge (out in the open away from trees and structures). It measured 0.2-inch just from this little cell! Just finished trimming dry yard a couple hours ago! Perfect timing! I'm hoping this is just a preview of things to come.

Hey ... that's great ... now blow it down south so it can rain here!

I'm working on it portastorm.

[somethingfunny]

It's raining here in Garland! Temp dropped from 101 to 76 in my backyard. This year's July beats the HECK out of last July!

[Portastorm]

I've also seen some reports on Twitter about power outages in the Metroplex as a result of a gust front outflow from storms and some damage.

[Texas Snowman]

I've also seen some reports on Twitter about power outages in the Metroplex as a result of a gust front outflow from storms and some damage.

In addition to the power outages, a potentially tragic afternoon in the DFW Metroplex thanks to those t-storm outflow winds. Several people are missing in area lakes (White Rock, Lewisville, Ray Hubbard) according to WFAA-TV.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Search-a ... 81335.html

[Texas Snowman]

Those outflow winds came out of a cluster of t-storms that moved through Fannin, Grayson, and Hunt counties this afternoon with some heavy rains.

About an inch of rain fell in portions of Grayson County.

[Portastorm]

Hoping we have better "luck" today at the Portastorm Weather Center in scenic southwest Travis County in terms of getting wet. Yesterday, I counted about 25 raindrops around 5 p.m. as I watched some beautiful cumulonimbus clouds move east to west to my north.

The forecast from NWSFO Austin/San Antonio includes decent rainfall chances for much of the week.

[vbhoutex]

Rain on and off all day here in Houston. I am a happy weather weenie!!

[Rgv20]

This is the latest HPC forecast Rainfall valid thru Friday Evening....Looks like a wet work week for vbhoutex area!

[vbhoutex]

We are hearing 4"-6" for the week which looks like what SPC shows. I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but can't we spread it out over maybe 2 weeks?

[~FlipFlopGirl~]

Temple had lightening strike a transformer at the Water treatment plant and needless to say it was a disaster declaration- mandatory water restrictions and businesses were forced to close- Makes you think of how prepared you would be you were in the same boat- We did have fun running through the rain pushing our cart of groceries today! Rain is never a problem in Texas especially during July

[horselattitudesfarm]

Is Portastorm still high and dry? I bet the Austin Rain Shield isn't as strong as the one over our farm down near Luling. After all, I don't call it Horselatitudes Farm for nothing!

[Portastorm]

Is Portastorm still high and dry? I bet the Austin Rain Shield isn't as strong as the one over our farm down near Luling. After all, I don't call it Horselatitudes Farm for nothing!

Funny you should mention that, horselatitudesfarm ... there was a significant amount of water falling on my lawn last evening ... because I was running my sprinklers!!

We had maybe five minutes of rain. Worse yet, I saw dark clouds to my north, northeast, and south and they all moved away in one direction or another. I can tell you that southwest and south Austin didn't get squat yesterday in the rainfall department.

I'm sorry for Luling. Y'all need lots of rain so the Watermelon Thump can show off some tasty melons for us cityfolk!

[weatherdude1108]

Is Portastorm still high and dry? I bet the Austin Rain Shield isn't as strong as the one over our farm down near Luling. After all, I don't call it Horselatitudes Farm for nothing!

Funny you should mention that, horselatitudesfarm ... there was a significant amount of water falling on my lawn last evening ... because I was running my sprinklers!!

We had maybe five minutes of rain. Worse yet, I saw dark clouds to my north, northeast, and south and they all moved away in one direction or another. I can tell you that southwest and south Austin didn't get squat yesterday in the rainfall department.

I'm sorry for Luling. Y'all need lots of rain so the Watermelon Thump can show off some tasty melons for us cityfolk!

I heard a steady pitter patter on the roof this morning around 5am. Lasted a solid 10 or so minutes.
Got 0.10 out of it! The rain shield is bound to be compromised at some point Portastorm. Hang in there!

[weatherdude1108]

I'm looking at the radar, and there appears to be a rain shield over the Dallas area, down I35 towards Austin and San Antonio. Rain showing on both sides of the interstate.

What a shock!

[Portastorm]

I'm looking at the radar, and there appears to be a rain shield over the Dallas area, down I35 towards Austin and San Antonio. Rain showing on both sides of the interstate.

What a shock!

At about 5:30 pm, radar shows a healthy blob of rain to our immediate north moving south. (Fingers crossed). We did have a 5-minute rainshower at the Portastorm Weather Center earlier this afternoon.

[Longhornmaniac8]

I'm sure it's already been discussed, but could someone either briefly explain what's causing this instability resulting in these showers, or point me in the direction of a post that does? With the winds coming from the north, are we now on the backside of a stalled low pressure system?

[jasons2k]

WWUS54 KEWX 092309
SVSEWX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
609 PM CDT MON JUL 9 2012

TXC453-491-092345-
/O.CON.KEWX.SV.W.0100.000000T0000Z-120709T2345Z/
TRAVIS TX-WILLIAMSON TX-
609 PM CDT MON JUL 9 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WILLIAMSON AND CENTRAL TRAVIS COUNTIES...

AT 559 PM CDT...NWS METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO DETECT A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ROUND ROCK...
MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH.

THIS IS A LARGE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SEVERE
WEATHER OVER A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF NORTHEAST AUSTIN AND THE
ADJACENT COMMUNITIES OF ROUND ROCK AND PFLUGERVILLE. SOME LOCATIONS
IN THE WARNING AREA INCLUDE BRUSHY CREEK...WINDEMERE...WELLS
BRANCH...CAMP MABRY...WEST LAKE HILLS...AND ROLLINGWOOD.

[vbhoutex]

I'm looking at the radar, and there appears to be a rain shield over the Dallas area, down I35 towards Austin and San Antonio. Rain showing on both sides of the interstate.

What a shock!

At about 5:30 pm, radar shows a healthy blob of rain to our immediate north moving south. (Fingers crossed). We did have a 5-minute rainshower at the Portastorm Weather Center earlier this afternoon.

Is that rain I see moving into Austin? Looks to me like PWC may already be getting a shower? We are dry for the moment, but we are waiting to see if the rains to our North last long enough to make it into the Metro.
Well I guess the last post answered that question.

[jasons2k]

I'm sure it's already been discussed, but could someone either briefly explain what's causing this instability resulting in these showers, or point me in the direction of a post that does? With the winds coming from the north, are we now on the backside of a stalled low pressure system?

It's a combination of a few things. The heat ridge up north has broken down and we are caught in a weakness. A trough axis moved west, under the ridge, across the northern gulf states, and is now caught over Texas and has stalled. That continues to pull-in moist, tropical, unstable air over the state. Add to that afternoon heating and some minor disturbances, and we are getting a daily outbreak of scattered storms. In the next few days, a front will move down and drape across the state, increasing the rain threat even more. Hope this helps.