{"id":59297,"date":"2024-05-16T23:59:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T23:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/?p=59297"},"modified":"2024-05-19T02:33:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T02:33:15","slug":"30-second-images-of-thunderstorms-that-produced-damaging-winds-with-some-fatalities-in-the-houston-texas-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/archives\/59297","title":{"rendered":"30-second images of thunderstorms that produced tornadoes and damaging winds (with some fatalities) in the Houston, Texas area"},"content":{"rendered":"
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30-second GOES-16 \u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m, top) and \u201cClean\u201d Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m, bottom) images with time-matched (+\/- 3 minutes) SPC Storm Reports plotted in cyan, from 2230 UTC on 16 May to 0018 UTC on 17 May [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n

Overlapping 1-minute\u00a0Mesoscale Domain Sectors<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0provided 30-second interval GOES-16\u00a0(GOES-East)<\/em>\u00a0\u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) and “Clean” Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m<\/strong><\/a>) images (above)<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 which showed thunderstorms that produced two EF1-rated tornadoes<\/strong><\/a> as well as damaging winds<\/strong><\/a> (resulting in some fatalities) across the Houston area (SPC Storm Reports<\/strong><\/a>) on 16 May 2024<\/strong><\/a>. Widespread structural damage occurred in downtown Houston — and there were also power outages across much of the area. The Infrared images revealed numerous pulses of thunderstorm overshooting tops that exhibited infrared brightness temperatures of -80\u00baC or colder (shades of violet embedded within brighter white regions).<\/p>\n

Larger-scale views of 30-second GOES-16 Visible and Infrared images are shown below.<\/p>\n

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30-second GOES-16 \u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m) images with time-matched SPC Storm Reports plotted in red, from 2130 UTC on 16 May to 0017 UTC on 17 May [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n

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30-second GOES-16 \u201cClean\u201d Infrared Window (10.3 \u00b5m) images with time-matched SPC Storm Reports plotted in cyan, from 2130 UTC on 16 May to 0017 UTC on 17 May [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n

Taking a closer look at the Houston metro area, 30-second GOES-16 Visible images with\/without an overlay of GLM<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Flash Extent Density<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(below)<\/strong><\/em> showed the lightning activity associated with these thunderstorms, which included a few brief lightning jumps.<\/p>\n

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30-second GOES-16 \u201cRed\u201d Visible (0.64 \u00b5m) images, with\/without an overlay of GLM Flash Extent Density, from 2300 UTC on 16 May to 0030 UTC on 17 May [click to play animated GIF | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

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Survey reports from severe storms 5\/16:
– EF-1 tornado near Cypress (peak winds 110mph).
– Straight-line wind damage in downtown Houston. Winds peaked ~ 100mph.
– Widespread straight-line winds near Baytown\/Galena Park area. Wind peaked 90-100mph.

More details to be shared later<\/p>— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) May 17, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>