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National Weather Service Forecast OfficeHouston/Galveston, Texas | |||||
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THE COOP-NEWS CORNER
By Tom Fountain How hot is it? Well, it is hot enough to drive old weathermen like Jim and I into the shade of an old Oak tree. This sure seems to have been a hot and humid year despite the fact that the average daily temperatures are running a little below normal. Just the other day, the two of us were forced into doing some work in the sun. We were both melting like ice cubes in the summer heat. I was in need of windshield wipers for my eyeballs, and a little concerned that the only thing that would be left of us would be a pile of wet rags. But, we survived. We have been busy preparing for the "PC Rosa" program, the next step in getting your information into our database. There won't be much change from what most of you presently do. Some adjustments will include a slightly different code to identify the information and the opportunity to put your temperature data into the system. Now, the only data we have is 24 hour rainfall. Soon, with your help, we will be able to get rainfall information for almost any period of time - today, yesterday, the last 3 hours, etc. Plus, those of you with max/min temperature units can add that data to the report. This extra information will help us with the forecast by giving us a reality check each day. We are also trying to dream up ways to track the information and make good use of the data. So, within the next month, I will start knocking at your door to reprogram the phone and to explain the code to you. As many of you know, Jim has been putting your climatological information together each month for our area, and he has some of the information available on the office's homepage. He gets started as soon as the data comes in at the beginning of each month. However, he can't finish his work until he receives all of your data. You can help by making sure your B-91 data gets in the mail as soon as possible after the end of the month. Jim, myself, and the entire National Weather Service staff thank you! Until Jim and I see you again, take care and stay cool!
A Tough Act to Follow!
by Tom Fountain 
Well, Roy Traylor has hung up his old weather thermometers after recording the weather in
Matagorda, Texas for more than 70 years. Roy has always been civic minded and interested
in the natural sciences, but at 94 years young he finally decided it was time to take it
a little easier.
Through the years, Mr. Traylor has been an outstanding observer and has received numerous awards, including the Thomas Jefferson Award and the Stufft Award. By the way, Roy was only the fourth person ever to receive the Stufft Award in the history of the Cooperative Weather Program. This award was given to Roy for collecting 70 years of weather data for the National Weather Service. Mr. Traylor is an interesting person and fun to be around. I have enjoyed all the stories about his life and time on the Texas coast. Thanks for all the memories, Roy!
UPPER TEXAS COAST TROPICAL CYCLONE CLIMATOLOGY
By Joshua Lichter Since 1990, most United States landfalling tropical storms and hurricanes have been in Florida and along the mid-Atlantic East coast. The Upper Texas coast has had only one landfalling tropical storm in the 90s (Dean in 1995), and not a single landfalling hurricane. In fact, not a single hurricane has made landfall anywhere along the entire Texas coast since 1989's Hurricane Jerry. The longest "hurricane free" period of 1972-1979 will be equaled this year if no hurricanes visit the Texas coast. How long can our good luck continue? Between 1886 and 1996, the Upper Texas coast has had several active years (1989 had two hurricanes and one tropical storm) and several long, dormant stretches with no storms or hurricanes at all (1922 to 1928, 1950 to 1956). Only eight years have had two or more tropical storms or hurricanes passing within 75 nautical miles of Galveston. On average, within 75 nautical miles of Galveston, a tropical storm passes through once every 2.4 years and a hurricane passes through once every 5.0 years. Both tropical storms and hurricanes have visited this area between June and October. No tropical cyclones have affected the Upper Texas coast in the month of November. More than half of all tropical cyclones that have reached the Upper Texas coast have formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Of the category 3 and 4 hurricanes, four out of twelve formed in the Gulf, leaving major problems for those needing lead times beyond 36 hours for taking necessary precautions. Most storms reached their maximum intensity well offshore. But, there are exceptions. The most notable was the 1932 hurricane, which intensified from a tropical storm some 90 miles southeast of Galveston to a category 4 hurricane at landfall near Freeport less than 18 hours later. A copy of the Upper Texas Coast Hurricane Climatology is also available via the NWS Houston/Galveston Homepage on the WWW. 
NOAA WEATHER RADIO EXPANSION By Gene Hafele The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service is continuing to work with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to install two new NWR's in southeast Texas. These new transmitters will be located at Bay City, in Matagorda County, and in Columbus in Colorado County. Under current plans we hope to have the Bay City site on the air during the Fall of 1997 while the Columbus site will likely be during the Winter of 1997-98. The transmitter in Bay City will be located at the LCRA office complex. The broadcast is expected to cover all or portions of the following counties: ...Matagorda....Jackson ...Wharton....Fort Bend...Brazoria...including Matagorda Bay and adjacent coastal waters. The transmitter in Columbus will be on a new tower to be constructed west of Columbus. The broadcast is expected to cover all or portions of the following counties: Colorado ...Austin....Wharton...Lavaca and Fayette. These new NWR transmitters will be a tremendous addition to the communities they will serve. It will enable these areas to receive weather information on a 24 hour basis directly from the Houston/Galveston NWS office. Specially built weather radios will be automatically activated when severe weather warnings are issued for the broadcast area. These specially built weather radios will enable places where large gatherings of people are located to be notified of possible severe weather without having to constantly listen to radio and or TV stations.
EMWIN ON THE AIR IN HOUSTON AND BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION AREA
By Gene Hafele The Emergency Management Weather Information Network(EMWIN) has recently been set to broadcast on a VHF broadcast in Houston and on a FM subcarrier in the Bryan/College Station area. EMWIN is a low cost...low speed...data stream that is available via satellite to your home and or business. With a satellite downlink...software...and a computer you can receive weather data from across the country with no recurring cost once your system is in place. Your total cost, assuming you already have a 486 or better computer, will range from $700 to $1500 depending on the vendor you chose. In Houston and Bryan/College station area this data can now be received for less than $200. The signal is being rebroadcast on radio frequencies so there is no need for a satellite downlink if you are within the broadcast range of these new radio transmitters. In Houston the EMWIN is currently being rebroadcast on a VHF frequency of 150.435 MHZ. The current 50 watt transmitter is located on a 175 foot tower near HWY. 290 and Loop 610 in northwest Houston. The broadcast range currently is 30-40 miles depending upon weather conditions. To receive this data stream you need a VHF receiver capable of receiving 150.435 MHZ , a demodulator (Bell 202 to RS-232 modem) and computer with Weathernode software. Software and demodulator can be purchased from vendors for less than $200. The VHF rebroadcast of the EMWIN data is through the hard work of some local amateur radio enthusiasts, who are donating their time and equipment to make this a reality. B.J. Lowrey (WB5PKD), John Coleman (WA5BXO) and Robert White (KF5ZL) are primarily responsible for current VHF broadcast along with Jim Robinson at the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD). For further information about this broadcast you can send an E-mail to EMWIN-Houston@hcad-hou.dst.tx.us and you will receive details about EMWIN and what hardware is required for you to receive this data.
**Please note that the e-mail address in the mail outs are incorrect -
the address above is the correct one!!**
In Bryan/College Station the NWS is working with KEOS FM radio station (89.1 MHZ) to rebroadcast the data on their FM subcarrier (67 KHZ). Similar to the Houston rebroadcast you must have a receiver capable of receiving the 67 KHZ signal along with demodulator and Weathernode software to display the data stream. The transmitter is currently at 100 watts located on a 200 foot tower. Their broadcast coverage covers all of Brazos county along with portions of the surrounding counties(Robertson... Burleson...Grimes...Madison) with an outside antenna. This data stream allows you to receive weather information for the entire United States and most important weather warnings for your area. You can set the software to alert you when a weather warning is received and send it to a printer if a hard copy is desired. Upgraded software and faster data rates are expected in the fall of 1997 which will give you much more flexibility with the data you receive. For further information on EMWIN in general or in particular the rebroadcast of the data locally contact Gene Hafele at the Houston/Galveston National Weather Service. If you have Internet access the following Internet sites will supply you with all the information you need about EMWIN and vendors.
HOUSTON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
by Robert Van Hoven The Houston Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) had a meeting last May 22 to elect new officers. The newly elected officers are listed below with their e-mail addresses and phone numbers:
Present and past officers of the chapter will meet late July to discuss and propose various upcoming activities for the next several months. Monthly meetings will commence starting sometime this September. Please check the Houston/Galveston National Weather Service homepage for information on upcoming meetings. To reiterate the contents of the Houston Chapter of the AMS article in a previous Storm Signals edition (Vol 43), the role of the AMS is to increase awareness of meteorology among the general public, as well as to provide a mechanism for local gathering of professionals and weather enthusiasts that ultimately will lead to a growth in Society membership. Membership in the local chapter is not limited to meteorologists nor do you have to be a member of the National Chapter to be a member of the Houston Chapter. If you have an interest in Meteorology regardless of your occupation or age, you are invited to join our local Chapter. Our membership includes National Weather Service employees, private meteorological forecasting companies, air pollution meteorologists and broadcast meteorologist, to name just a few. Membership dues are only $10 a year. Monthly meetings are usually held at various locations in the Houston metropolitan area. Our meetings consist of a short business session and introductions followed by a program. If you would like to be a member of the Houston Chapter, contact one of the officers listed above.
MARINE SPOTTERS
by Robert Van Hoven 
I recently provided a Marine Spotter Training session to ten "key" personnel of Neches Gulf Marine, Inc. in Sabine Pass, Texas. As a result, four lightering ships and 3 support vessels from this company now participate in our Marine Spotter Program. For those of you who may not be aware, lightering ships usually stay for several days along the upper Texas coastal waters from about 30 to 60 nautical miles offshore. Our network of marine weather spotters includes both commercial and recreational mariners. The participants are:
The spotters are an invaluable source of "on the spot" weather information especially during inclement marine weather situations. Numerous Special Marine Warnings have been issued based on spotter reports. Due to the obvious sparsity of routine weather data sources in the marine environment, marine spotter reports are of a significant importance to our forecasters.
Interesting Marine Weather Tidbits
(January through July 1997) By Robert Van Hoven January to March
With cool coastal and bay water surface temperatures, sea fog became a problem especially along the Houston/Galveston ship channel where traffic was closed about 12 percent of the time due to low visibilities. February usually has the highest frequency of sea fog as attested by 16 Marine Weather Statements on dense fog issued by our office. Towards the latter part of February, coastal flooding became a problem. Tides were higher than predicted astronomical levels (1 to 2 feet above) due to sustained 20 to 25 knot easterly winds. The tight surface pressure gradient across the upper Texas coastal waters during this period was produced by a broad high pressure system over east-central U.S. Several strong thunderstorm episodes during the mid and latter part of March led to the issuance of 14 Special Marine Warnings. April to June
Coastal flooding became a threat during the first three days of April as a high pressure system over southeast U.S. produced sustained easterly 15 to 20 knot winds across the upper Texas coastal waters. Tidal levels were 1 to 2 feet above astronomical predicted values. Again, from April 25-27, coastal flooding became a problem with strong easterly winds (20 to 25 knots) across the coastal waters. Several Coastal Flood Watches were issued. At 7 PM on April 27, tidal levels went up to 2.4 feet above astronomical predicted values at Jamaica Beach. Some street flooding, beach erosion, and minor inundation of property were reported. On April 5, severe thunderstorms produced 52 knot winds at Redfish Bar while on April 11, oil rig operators reported golf ball size hail and 50 knot wind gusts. The PORTS* system reported 40 knot wind gusts on April 25 as a thunderstorm passed by. Funnel clouds developed over Galveston Bay on May 20 while waterspouts were reported during the latter part of May mostly near and along the upper Texas coast. On June 6, waterspouts were reported at Galveston Bay again, and along the coast on June 7, 10 and 30. On June 17, a severe thunderstorm produced 51 knot wind gusts at Morgans Point via PORTS system. Severe thunderstorms on June 21 produced 60 knot wind gusts at the Lynchburg Ferry. *PORTS (Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System). For further information, call Captain S. F. Ford of TAMU Galveston at (409) 740-4471.
TEXAS WEATHER - A TALE OF TWO YEARS
By Jim Maxwell If you have or haven't noticed, this year (1997) has been extremely wet through June. Unlike 1996, when the topic of the day, whether on the TV, radio, in the local newspaper, or over that morning cup of coffee at home or in the community cafe where everybody gathers to talk over the news of the day, was the drought. The drought of 1996 was basically over, meteorologically speaking by the early fall as unusually heavy rainfall occurred through the summer months. In 1997, rainfall has been plentiful along with cooler than normal temperatures. In fact, the heavy rains kept the farming community of Southeast Texas from getting into the fields and accomplishing field work and planting. January began with almost every station in Southeast Texas, including the Houston Metro area, reporting above normal rainfalls. This trend continued through May. As summer set in, and the heat began, it began to dry out somewhat with the first widespread below normal rainfall totals in June. Through June, our Cooperative Stations and Airport Data indicated all stations above 100% of normal for the year up to this point. In fact, three stations have already exceeded there normal yearly rainfall by June. The following listing contrasts 1997 and 1996:
Barker 36.69 11.11 +25.58 - 5.79 217%
Clodine 36.77 16.18 +20.59 - 7.92 179%
Conroe 29.52 10.28 +19.24 - 17.81 145%
Cypress 30.67 12.90 +17.77 - 12.99 161%
Houston Heights 50.64 9.98 +40.66 + 1.47 251%
North Houston 41.78 12.45 +29.33 - 4.60 220%
Spring Branch 41.00 11.08 +29.92 + 8.01 279%
Tomball 30.64 13.26 +17.38 - 13.66 165%
Sugarland 39.35 10.23 +29.12 - 5.98 215%
(Supplemental Data that does not have a 30 year normal or data from this year or last year
was missing.)
NWSO Dickinson 38.26 15.70 +22.56
Port of Houston 4.73 16.61 +18.12
Deer Park 45.64 Incl. - 5.35 219%
Alief 32.77
(Southeast Texas Stations outside the Houston Metro area:)
Bay City 33.10 14.30 +18.80 -12.30 190 %
Brenham 26.50 10.19 +16.31 -14.42 143%
Bryan/College Station 25.64 -13.44 150%
Caldwell 21.24 10.87 +10.27 -17.55 117%
Cleveland 36.51 12.44 +24.07 -15.08 160%
Crockett 28.85 8.90 -19.95 -13.53 153%
Danevang 33.98 17.01 +16.97 - 8.30 202%
Edna 36.90 11.89 +25.01 - 4.40 210%
Freeport 34.31 6.82 +27.49 - 17.92 185%
Groveton 29.18 11.08 +18.10 -15.67 147%
Huntsville 32.18 8.49 +23.69 -12.78 164%
Liberty 37.86 15.35 +22.51 -16.25 174%
Livingston 29.36 12.13 +17.23 -19.35 136%
Matagorda 20.25 8.10 +12.15 -24.41 117%
Montgomery 23.12 7.96 +15.16 -21.43 119%
New Caney 40.17 12.35 +27.82 - 8.94 183%
New Gulf 31.94 16.34 +15.60 -11.97 188%
Pierce Ranch 41.88 15.18 +26.70 - 0.41 248%
Richmond 33.44 9.29 +24.15 -10.90 189%
Washington-on
-the Brazos 26.62 7.80 +18.82 -13.64 151%
Wharton 45.29 14.12 +31.17 + 3.60 271%
(Other Stations:)
Angleton 32.28
Belleville 29.91 6.81 +23.10
El Campo 35.72 24.02 +11.70 (15.20 inches fell in June 96)
Lake Somerville 26.69 8.56 +16.13
West Columbia 41.73 13.36 +28.37
If your station does not appear on this list we were not in receipt of your June data. It is interesting to note that three stations have already exceeded there normal yearly rainfall totals. Those stations are Houston Heights....Spring Branch and Wharton. Spring Branch was one of the drier stations in Southeast Texas last year along with Wharton. Several other stations are approaching there normals for the entire year. Thedriest area this year appears to be the Caldwell area where only 21.24 inches of rain fell. As is evidenced by this data is the fact that there has been quite a turnaround in the rainfall from 96 to 97. This is really not an unusual phenomenon. As many people have said, "Drought is almost always followed by flood in Texas". As is always the case. I would like to thank all the Cooperative observers for their work and the time they dedicate to the maintenance of our nation's weather database. If any of you folks reading this wish to turnover this article to your local news media (mainly newspapers, in your communities) please feel free to do so. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On Wednesday 16 July 1997, weather satellite images showed a weak cyclonic circulation
developing over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. During the period 16-18 July 1997, lightering
ships from Offshore Marine Services, Inc and Skaugen Petro-Trans, and manned oil platforms
including West Cameron 587, 580, High Island 368, 325, 489 and Galveston 296 were able to provide
the Houston/Galveston weather office significant "on the spot" wind and seas information with
regards to this circulation. The information gathered from the spotters was passed on to the
Tropical Prediction Center in Miami and other National Weather Service offices. As you know,
this circulation eventually developed into Hurricane Danny. The data was most helpful in making
the decision to issue the first advisory on the storm.
