Impending Storm

Summer is severe weather season in Texas. Starting in May and running into September, nearly any day can present "pop-up" thunderstorms, and these can often somewhat unexpectedly turn severe. Tornados are the biggest risk, though damaging straightline thunderstorm winds can be nearly as bad, and hail and flash flooding are concerns as well. Central Texas is the flash flood capital of the United States, and far too many people die each and every year, too often from attempting to drive across a flooded roadway. It takes very little moving water to upset even a large vehicle. The San Antonio office of the National Weather Service came up with the catchphrase "Turn Around, Don't Drown." Perhaps a bit corny as are many catchphrases, it is nonetheless sage advice.

A hailstorm this past March (and while the peak season is May-September, severe weather can occur here essentially year round) was Austin's most expensive ever, with over $100 million (US) in damage.

Nighttime tornados are the most worrisome. You can't see them coming, and you can't count on the "locomotive" sound happening, or if it does, happening early enough to take shelter. The National Weather Service has gotten extremely good at predicting tornadic behavior, and using wind shear and other indicators from Doppler radar to give often 15-20 minutes warning, but sometimes these bad boys sneak up even on the NWS. During daylight hours, the generally flat terrain of the plains let you see quite a distance, but even then, sometimes tornados are "rain wrapped" and impossible to see. But like everything else in Texas, we take pride in our weather and even our tornados.

"On a calm day in Texas we chase tornadoes
On a slow day we race our pickup trucks
And on a hot day down in Texas we drink Tabasco
And on a bad day we thank God for our good luck.
May the Lone Star flag forever fly.
May the spirit of the Alamo never die."
- "Lone Star Flag," from Pauline Reese


Backblipped Saturday and Sunday.