Crystal City, Texas

... Today is winter weather awareness day in Texas...

The governor's division of emergency management... through the
Texas department of public safety... has joined with the National
Weather Service to focus public attention on winter weather
preparedness across the state of Texas today.

Even though we are highlighting winter weather awareness on
this day... citizens across south central Texas should also be aware
that severe weather can happen year round in south central Texas.
For those of you that have lived through a Texas winter... you
realize that at times it can be warm and humid... just like a Spring
day. And its this weather that can bring severe thunderstorms and
even tornadoes when you least expect it.

With the El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean expected
to continue through the winter months... we have a better chance to
see a cooler and wetter winter. The subtropical jet stream which
will likely bring US this increased moisture... will also bring
stronger winds aloft. These stronger mid level winds are a key
ingredient for the formation of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Because of the recent rains in September and October... the threat
for flooding during the winter months has also increased. There
have been several flash flood events during the winter months in
south central Texas... and one of the largest events happened during
an El Nino winter... the Christmas flood of 1991. During the month
of December 1991... both San Antonio and Austin set new December
monthly rainfall records which led to widespread flash flooding over
portions of The Hill Country.

Severe weather can happen Spring or winter... day or night.
In Texas... we have to be prepared for bad weather... year round.
Dont get caught... get prepared now.