NWS Corpus The South Regional Christi CoCoRaHS Newsletter Fall 2010 Edition

The Updated 2010 Season Outlook by Tony Merriman

The 2010 Atlantic Basin tropical develop- has decreased slightly. hurricane season kicked ment. However, it only takes off with a slow start with Due to the relatively slow one hurricane in only three named tropical start, the outlook for the to make it a as of August 17, total number of named bad season. The follow- 2010. However, scien- storms, hurricanes, and ing table shows how the tists at the Climate Pre- major hurricanes for 2010 outlook has changed. diction Center (CPC), the National Hurricane Center Date of Named Major Hurricanes (NHC), and the Hurricane Outlook Storms Hurricanes Inside this issue: Research Division (HRD) May 27, 2010 14-23 8-14 3-7 are still forecasting an active 2010 Atlantic Basin August 5, 2010 14-20 8-12 4-6 hurricane season. The The Updated 2010 1 expected active hurricane Atlantic Hurricane season is primarily due in Season Outlook part to the developing La Hurricane Alex 1-2 Niña conditions and re- cord high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic Ocean. The Flooding 2 La Niña conditions should minimize the over the Atlantic Basin and the record high At- Significant Weather 3 lantic Ocean SSTs should Developing La Niña conditions and above normal SSTs over the Atlantic Reporting Feature provide ample energy for should generate an active 2010 Atlantic Basin hurricane season. Meet a Kleberg County 3 Hurricane Alex Observer by Juan Alanis, Jr. National Weather Ser- 4 vice Mission Statement and Brief History The first storm of the 65mph. Alex weakened Alex would strengthen to 2010 Atlantic hurricane to a tropical depression a Category 2 hurricane season developed on while moving over the before making its final Meet a Refugio County 4 June 25th in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula. How- landfall near Soto La Ma- Observer Sea. Alex ever, Alex regained its rina, , or about made its first landfall on strength once it re- 110 miles south of June 26th just north of emerged over the warm Brownsville around 9pm City as a tropical waters of the Gulf of CDT on June 30th. storm with winds of Mexico. (continued on page 2) Page 2 The South Texas Regional CoCoRaHS Newsletter

Hurricane Alex (Cont.)

Maximum sustained winds Leon in 24 hours according reports between 15 to 25 “Alex was the at landfall were 105mph, to the Mexican govern- inches across Mexico’s strongest June with a central pressure of ment, with many more Nuevo Leon state. 947mb, making Alex the hurricane since strongest June in 1966.” since Alma in 1966. High winds and some tor- nadoes were observed across South Texas. How- ever, the primary impact from Hurricane Alex was heavy rain and flooding. Many reports of 3 to 6 inches of rain were re- corded with several areas in the Alice and Corpus Christi areas reporting be- tween 7 and 10 inches. The heaviest rains from Alex occurred in Mexico. Hurricane Alex making landfall as a Category 2 storm 110 miles Nearly 18 inches of rain south of Brownsville, TX. More information can be found at the fell in , Nuevo following website: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=hurricanealex Rio Grande Flooding by Juan Alanis, Jr.

Heavy rains along the the time. The river Mines Road, sections of Rio Grande basin in crested at 42.45 feet on the west side along Los the Mexican states of July 9th at International Martinez Street, areas and Nuevo Bridge One in down- along Chacon creek and Leon from the rem- town, and at 49 feet at businesses along the Rio nants of Hurricane the Laredo-Colombia Grande in downtown Alex and Tropical De- Bridge. The flood waters Laredo, including the Rio pression Two caused forced the closure of Grande Plaza Hotel and severe flooding in Laredo’s Colombia the historic La Posada those areas. The Bridge and Bridge #1 for Hotel. The river and its heavy rainfall forced several days, with the tributaries also flooded authorities to open remaining two bridges homes and businesses in Source: Storm Survey flood control dams open at very reduced , Mexico. It along the Rio Grande. capacity. Waters rose to also forced the closure Flood waters at the corner of Water St. and Santa Maria Ave. More information can be In Laredo, the Rio the base of International of the city’s only high- found at the following website: Grande rose to its Bridge One at its peak. way (Federal Hwy 85) http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=riograndeflood highest level since the The flood waters also into interior Mexico, cut- famous 1954 flood forced the evacuations ting off the city from the of many areas along the that washed away rest of the nation for Laredo’s only bridge at river including Laredo’s five days. The South Texas Regional CoCoRaHS Newsletter Page 3

Significant Weather Reporting Feature by Tony Merriman

Many areas of South warnings and statements, We really appreciate your Texas experienced flash which alerted the local daily reports. Your timely flooding from April 12-17, residents of the exact severe weather reports 2010. It was because of impacts the heavy rainfall help us at the National real-time reports from was having in their com- Weather Service better observers like you that munities. protect life and property. provided National Weather Service (NWS) warning forecasters with accurate and timely infor- mation. An observer in Jim Wells County in par- ticular effectively utilized the “significant weather” reporting feature on April 16 and kept NWS fore- casters updated hourly on conditions at his location. After you log in, click on the This extremely valuable “significant weather” link on the left of the page. Your report goes information was incorpo- Rainfall totals for April 12-17, 2010. More information can be found here: directly to meteorologists at the rated into the flash flood http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=april2010heavyrain National Weather Service. Meet a Kleberg County Observer by Tony Merriman

team All-State player on H.M. chamber of commerce. He is cur- King High School's only state rently the Mentor and Chaplain of finalist football team. the Texas A&M - Kingsville After high school, Buddy served Javelina football team. in the Texas Army National When he’s not working or giving Guard. When he turned 26, he back to the community, Buddy became the youngest Ford enjoys fishing, hunting, and dealer in the nation. He has spending time with his family. since been a Ford dealer in Kingsville for 34 years. During that time, he was the Vice K.A. "Buddy" Childs has been President for South Texas for the TX-KL-7 CoCoRaHS ob- the Texas Auto Dealers Associa- server since February 2008. tion. Buddy also served on He also coordinated the first Ford's National Dealer Council. CoCoRaHS training session for He was the representative of Kleberg County in 2009. the 153 dealers located across Buddy is a South Texas native the eastern half of Texas. through and through. He was Buddy is very much involved in born and raised in Kingsville. the community. He has held all He was an All-District and 2nd of the offices in the Kingsville Page 4 The South Texas Regional CoCoRaHS Newsletter

National Weather Service Mission Statement:

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydro- logic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community.

Brief National Weather Service History:

The National Weather Service has its beginnings in the early his- tory of the United States. Weather has always been important to the citizenry of this country, and this was especially true during the 17th and 18th centuries. National Weather Service 300 Pinson Dr. The beginning of the National Weather Service we know today Corpus Christi, TX 78406 started on February 9th, 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution of Congress authorizing the Secretary of War to establish a national weather service.

Public Phone Line: (361) 289-0959 ext. 1 Recorded Forecasts: (361) 289-1861 ON THE WEB! E-mail: [email protected] http://www.weather.gov/corpuschristi

Meet a Refugio County Observer by Tony Merriman

Texas A & I University in Kingsville. He earned Bachelor of Science de- grees in both government and history. If you would like to be featured in the After college, Dwight became a life- Spring 2011 edition of the South Texas long teacher in Texas. He is now en- CoCoRaHS newsletter, please email me at joying retirement from Austwell-Tivoli [email protected]. We would love to hear from observers in other parts ISD. of South Texas! Even though he is retired, Dwight re- mains active in the community. He currently serves as the Secretary- Dwight Mutschler has been the Treasurer of the Austwell-Tivoli Lion’s TX-RF-2 CoCoRaHS observer Club. He has also been the coordina- since September 2007. He also tor of the Texas State Adopt-A-Beach coordinated the first CoCoRaHS program for the Austwell Beach since training session for Refugio the state initiated the program. County in 2009. When he’s not giving back to the Dwight was born and raised in community, Dwight enjoys spending Smiley, TX; which is about 60 time with his family and fishing. He miles east of . Af- once was almost caught in a water- ter high school, he furthered spout while wade fishing in San his education by attending Antonio Bay!