From: Lorenzo Sanchez
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 4:27 PM
To: Be Prepared
Subject: EM Alert: Tornado Watch for Bexar County Until 11 pm

UTSA Preparedness Partners,

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Bexar County and the surrounding areas from 3:40 pm – 11:00 pm today.  A watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes within our area throughout the awareness period.  Additionally, the NWS advises hail and damaging winds may accompany developing storms.  Rainfall of 1 – 3 inches may be possible in localized areas with the threat of flooding.  Please review the full NWS discussion below.

UTSA Protective Measures:

· Actively monitor local news and weather stations/websites for the latest information and radar data.

· Tornado preparedness:

o Stay away from windows.

o Seek shelter on the lowest floor and an interior room, bathroom, closet, and/or hallway – avoid glass windows.

o Protect your body from debris, cover your head.

o Do not go outside to your car.

· Keep your emergency kit available, including personal belongings.

· Stay alert of your surroundings and keep an eye to the sky.

Resources:

· National Weather Service – www.weather.gov/sanantonio

· FEMA Tornado Ready & Tips – www.ready.gov/tornadoes

· Campus Alerts – www.alerts.utsa.edu

Should conditions warrant, additional information will be distributed.  Please continue to monitor local news stations and the NWS for the latest information on watches and warnings.  Be safe UTSA!

______________________________

Lorenzo D. Sanchez, MPA, CEM

Director of Emergency Management

The University of Texas at San Antonio

University Police Department

Office of Emergency Management

One UTSA Circle

San Antonio, Texas 78249

Phone:  (210) 458-6756

Fax:  (210) 458-7602

Email:  lorenzo.sanchez@utsa.edu

Website:  www.utsa.edu/utsapd

Campus Alerts:  http://alerts.utsa.edu/

From: Jon Zeitler [mailto:jon.zeitler@noaa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2:43 PM
Subject: Tuesday 245 pm Weather Update...Threat for Heavy Rain and Severe Storms Continues

South Central Texas Partners...

...HEADLINE...Periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue from this afternoon through Wednesday morning.

...AREA OF CONCERN...Severe storms possible west of U.S. 281, but the best chances for severe storms and minor flooding are east of U.2. 281 tonight through noon Wednesday.

...IMPACTS...Severe storms may produce large hail and damaging winds. There is only a very small chance for weak tornadoes. The much better chance is for rainfall of 1-3 inches in spots, which will produce minor flooding (underpasses, typical low-lying spots). A number of creeks and rivers are running near bankfull, so additional rain may cause them to go into minor flood stage.

 ...TIMING...Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across the eastern half of the area this afternoon. Some storms may move off the Mexican mountains and affect the Rio Grande Plains late this evening. An organized cluster of storms is forecast to develop near Waco after midnight and move south-southeast. This cluster may move across locations along and north of Texas Highway 71 between 4 and 8 am Wednesday morning.

...CONFIDENCE...Moderate.

...DISCUSSION...A large upper low continues to move slowly eastward along the Red River. Moist Gulf air and instability will combine with the low to maintain scattered showers and thunderstorms across the area through Wednesday. While the ingredients are close to minimal thresholds for severe storms, they are in place and would most likely produce damaging winds and large hail. A weak tornado is also possible. A weak east-west boundary will help to focus the storms over the northeastern quarter of our area -- generally along and north of Texas Highway 71, including Metro Austin. Individual storm cells may slide from west to east along the boundary as the overall cluster of storms moves south, resulting in training of cells over some locations, and the potential for 1 to 3 inches of rain. This amount of rain would fall within 1-2 hours, and thus may produce minor flash flooding. There will be a small chance of afternoon thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon through Saturday, but neither severe storms, nor heavy rain are expected.

You can see the latest forecasts and watches/warnings/advisories by going to the Austin-San Antonio National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/austin

Jon Zeitler
National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio TX