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National Weather Service Forecast OfficeHouston/Galveston, Texas | |||||
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EMWIN
Emergency Managers Weather Information Network By Gene Hafele As an integral part of its mission, the NWS recognizes the need to provide the emergency management community access to a set of basic NWS warnings, watches, forecasts, and other products at no recurring cost. EMWIN is now evolving into a fully operational and supported NWS service, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other public and private organizations. EMWIN is a low-speed data broadcast capable of using an audio signal. It was designed as a non-proprietary system to run at a minimal cost to the NWS and at no recurring costs to any user in range of the signal. The EMWIN data stream consists of real-time weather watches and warnings, advisories, forecasts, a subset of alphanumeric products for each state, a limited suite of alarms, auto-print, etc. from a personal computer. The computer must be on to receive ongoing information. Currently, the EMWIN sends data at a non-compressed, and some compressed, 1200-bps rate which, although slow, produces more than 5000 pages of data per day. EMWIN is a suite of methods of making available a live datastream of basic weather data, and providing access to stored sets of basic unenhanced data, using a variety of techniques and technologies. Each method has advantages and disadvantages over the others, hence this multilayered approach to enable multiple methods of availability. EMWIN's present methods in use or under development for disseminating the basic datastream include:
Currently there is no broadcast of the EMWIN data via radio in the southeast Texas area. It would require a user to acquire the data via satellite and re-transmit this data over a radio frequency that could then be received by radio receivers within the listening range of the transmitter. This is the least costly to the end user of all the methods currently being used. If you have Internet capability you can access the Interactive Weather Information Network (IWIN). The Internet address is http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov. The Internet version is very similar to the Radio and Satellite version except the data is not automatically updated and of course you have to be logged onto the Internet to access the data. Another drawback to this method is that the Internet and the IWIN home page, especially during major weather events, may be difficult or impossible to access because of weather server overloads. You can also access the data via FTP. FTP access: open iwin.nws.noaa.gov; login as "anonymous", with your e-mail name as password; cd to data, and then to graphics or text. Under graphics are AFOS UTF charts; under text are product subdirectories. Satellite is the other method used by the NWS for disseminating the EMWIN datastream. Although satellite broadcast permits broad geographic coverage, the receiving equipment currently can be more expensive than other methods for individual users. In certain areas groups of users pool their resources to downlink the data then rebroadcast it via radio broadcast. The EMWIN datastream is currently being broadcast on the PBS Telstar 401 satellite, GOES 8 and GOES 9 satellites and is also being uplinked to the Galaxy 4 satellite by Spacecom Systems of Tulsa, OK as a public service. The NWS is supplying the datastream of data that feeds the EMWIN system but you must acquire the proper hardware to access the data via radio or satellite in your area. After your hardware is configured and you have the proper software to receive the data, you will have no recurring costs. Listed below are a few commercial vendors that are supplying EMWIN products.
If you are interested in more information concerning EMWIN, or would like to see a demonstration please contact Gene Hafele at the Houston/Galveston NWS office at (281) 337-5074. We currently have a satellite system working and collecting data in our office.
The Coop-Observers Update
By Tom Fountain It has been one of those Hot-Dry-Dusty summers, the kind that makes people gravitate towards the shade or air- conditioner. At least, Jim Maxwell and I have used about all the available excuses we could think of to do just that. However, we did get out and visit some of our Coop-Observers and attend a retirement and move equipment around at a few sights. I want to give a hardy "Welcome Aboard" to our newest observers. We now have the Personal Service Group at Angleton, John Dunman at Bryan 17 NE, Kelly Kitkowski at Richards 3E, and Roy Huff at Madisonville. With almost 40 years of service, Ross Madole of Madisonville retired in April. He has been a model observer through the years and his shoes will be hard to fill. Ross and wife Mattee have always been a delight to visit (one of those places you have to force yourself to leave). All of us wish Ross and Mattee the very best. T. O. Dunman and his wife retired after 6 years. They finally got the opportunity to travel so they are off seeing the country. We hope they will have a great time and wish them the best. In June, Mickey Christensen our observer in Danevang invited us to their Danish Heritage Day. This Danish Community has been involved with the Coop Program for over 100 years and was the first Weather Station in Wharton County. Mickey and his wife Elsie put together a great scrap-book with pictures of all the past and present observers and interesting weather stories from the area and along with talent from the community created a beautiful graph of the monthly rainfall for the past 100 years. Bill Read, our Meteorologist-in-Charge gave a presentation on hurricanes that have affected the area and this years big topic "The 1996 DROUGHT". The following week, Danevang had thunderstorms that produced eight inches of rainfall. At the office, we are still debating over whether it was the drought talk or the good food that was responsible for the rain. Bill, Max, Cooper, and I all had a Great Time at the Danevang's Danish Heritage Day. Thanks again for the invitation and hospitality. How Dry has it been? It's been so dry most of us have probably gotten a little rusty on how to send rainfall reports to the computer. Please review how to send these reports in (remember you can use 9999 to test the system at any time) and check to see if the phone numbers and your phones are still working. If you do have any trouble getting in or any questions about taking observations, just give Max or I a call. Hopefully in the next few months we will get a lot more rain than we have had in the past three or four. We as a country can never say thanks enough for all the time and effort you have put into getting your weather reports in. They are used in a variety of ways, one is to establish normal conditions across the area, then we can use this to evaluate how much rainfall an area can take before it begins to flood, and like this year evaluate the extent of the drought. Jim Maxwell has been using your rainfall data or lack of it to track and verify the drought and drought severity. He has produced some great maps that have been used to brief many county and state officials and to give talks. In the future there is hope of getting a computer system upgraded and asking if you could send in rain reports each day even when there is no rain and also trying to get Max and Min Temperatures. Keep up the good work! Nature never stops amazing me! It's hard to imagine a little Cottonwood shelter not more than 20 yards from a large pecan tree and only 50 yards from a big steel bridge being struck by lighting. But that's what happened on the banks of the Colorado river. The cottonwood shelter had many of the slats on the west side splintered, and was burned on the metal leg. It's a reminder to use good judgement when dealing with nature!
Houston/Galveston Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS)
By Robert Van Hoven PORTS is an information acquisition and dissemination technology developed by the National Ocean Service (NOS) in cooperation with the Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Committee (HOGANSAC). PORTS was deployed in Galveston Bay during 1995 and 1996. The system is managed, operated and maintained by the Texas A&M University at Galveston under a grant from NOS. Houston/Galveston Bay PORTS includes the integration of real-time currents, water levels, winds, air and water temperatures at multiple locations with a data dissemination system that includes telephone voice response as well as modem dial-up and fax on demand capability. Houston/Galveston PORTS consists of three acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) with water temperature sensors, five water level gauges, three anemometers (wind sensors), packet radio transmission equipment, a data acquisition system and an information dissemination system (IDS). The tide prediction tables that are generated annually by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provide information about the astronomical tides and currents but do not include the effects of the wind, river flow and other meteorological forces. Non-tidal forces in Galveston Bay sometimes result in deviation from published tidal predictions. Real-time measurements were identified as critical requirements for safe navigation in Galveston Bay. PORTS is a public information system that provides essential real-time information for safe and cost-effective navigation, hazardous material and oil spill prevention and response, search and rescue, and scientific research. PORTS measures real-time data with six minute updates at eight strategic locations in Galveston Bay. PORTS also provides NOAA with coastal ocean measurements and dissemination components. When a vigorous high pressure system produces a strong northerly wind component (mainly from late fall to early spring) across Galveston Bay, data from PORTS will be utilized by the National Weather Service. This information, along with marine weather spotter reports, will be broadcasted on NOAA weather radio warning boaters of low tide levels. Galveston PORTS data are available on a priority basis for trajectory modeling supporting U.S. Coast Guard spill response. All data are continuously archived and are available on the Internet. Houston/Galveston Bay PORTS provides real-time information via an easy to use telephone voice data response system or modem dial-up. Communications software should be set at 9600 baud rates (2400 and 1200 baud rates are also supported), 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity and full duplex. Simply follow the prompt for "ports" log on. Enter "hgports" for a text screen or "hgfax" for obtaining Graphic Data Displays by fax. Telephone Voice Response System (409) 740-4975 (409) 740-4976 Modem Dial-Up (409) 740-4973 Telnet Access telnet ceob.nos.noaa.gov login:hgports Homepage http://www.ceob.nos.noaa.gov/houston.html http://www.hgports2.tamug.tamu.edu Note: PORTS information has been provided by Captain Stephen F. Ford. He can be reached at (409) 740-4471. Mailing address is - Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553.
Weather on the Web
By Wendy Wong 
Since its inception, weather information has been a popular subject on the Internet. Over the years, there have been plenty of sites on
the World Wide Web (WWW) one could surf to and get the weather information that they needed, but there was never really one
organized site to get a lot of data at one time. As time went on and its usage increased, so have the demands of users on the
Net. One of the first National Weather Service Offices to go on-line was the office in Tallahassee, FLA (TLH). The TLH Homepage
was one of the first sites to provide an organized list of useful and informative data for a specific user community.
Along that line, the Houston National Weather Service has moved onto the WWW. Our Homepage was designed with the residents of Southeast Texas in mind. From drought information to severe weather reports to tide heights along Galveston Bay, this Homepage strives to cover all the various and relevant interests of this unique region. We are also an excellent jumping off point to other weather-related sites. At present, we are at a temporary site until there is official approval of the final address. Until then, please drop by and give us a visit. Any and all comments are welcomed! Our goal to provide the best and most up-to date information possible on our Homepage, and you are an important part of this process. http://nwselp.epcc.edu/hgx/Homey1.htm
Please address e-mail, comments and questions concerning the Homepage (or anything else WWW weather-related) to: wendy.wong@noaa.gov
Storm Data
(For the period January - June 1996) By Brian Kyle 
It's hard to report a lot of severe weather when much of Southeast Texas is 10+ inches of rainfall below normal so far this year. The
National Weather Service in Houston has issued 131 Severe Thunderstorm/Tornado Warnings in the six month period. Fifty-eight of those
warnings were issued in June alone! At the same time last year (Jan.-June), 285 Warnings were issued.
Unlike last year, winter and spring did not have much severe weather associated with it. Not until late spring/early summer did the severe storms arrive. June has been the most active month of the year so far. Numerous reports of hail and damaging winds were associated with the storms. Grapefruit sized hail was reported in the town of Egypt in Wharton County on June 20th. Major structural damage to homes and cars occurred as well as a significant agricultural loss. Lightning also caused major problems in the month of June. House fires, as well as an explosion at a refinery in Texas City (Galveston County), were caused by lightning strikes. A Stafford woman was killed when struck by lightning on the afternoon of the 3rd. Over half (31 of 54) severe events reported in June occurred in Harris County. Harris County is also the leader in severe weather events in the six month period. Forty reports of severe weather were noted, with the next closest of 10 being reported by spotters in Fort Bend County. Many thanks to all the spotters, especially in Harris and Fort Bend Counties, who make our job a lot easier! If you witness severe weather, please report it to your local sheriffs office or call the National Weather Service in Houston at (281) 337-5074 Mon.-Fri. 830 am-430 pm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1996 hurricane season has had three named systems through August 1. Tropical Storm Arthur formed on June 17 in the
Bahamas and moved to the north across the outer banks of North Carolina on the 19th and 20th. The system then moved across
the North Atlantic. Arthur's peak winds were only about 40 mph.
With the summer months returning to
southeast Texas, heat related health problems become a major concern. Heat and humidity can greatly affect daily activities during the
summer. The human has a line of defense in dealing with the summer heat. This defense is sweating and the associated evaporative
cooling. Evaporation, by definition, is a cooling process. When the atmosphere is dry (i.e. low relative humidities), sweat has little
problem evaporating, thus cooling the body efficiently. However as air becomes moist (high relative humidities), evaporation is
inhibited and cooling of the body becomes a problem. With increased heat and increased relative humidities the body can no
longer efficiently maintain its proper body temperature. Problems such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke occur at this
time. On the average, about 175 deaths per year in the United States can be directly attributed to heat-related health problems.