John J Lynn

On Thursday afternoon, May 16, 2024, a line of strong thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of Austin, TX.  These storms were associated with an upper level trough that had formed in the vicinity of a strong jet stream, located unusually far south over West Texas.  This jet streak had split from the main jet stream core located well to the north over the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

As the line of thunderstorms intensified, an individual storm cell grew to well over 50,000 feet.  This cell was embedded within a jet streak containing winds of over 100 knots.  As the storm cell moved east of Austin and into an area of deep Gulf moisture, it intensified further, with cloud tops exceeding 60,000 feet.  Storms of this magnitude produce strong downdrafts, and in this case, the force of the jet streak embedded within, was driven toward the surface.  Winds near Giddings, TX were clocked at 50 mph, with the storm moving to the east-south-east at that rate of speed.  At this juncture, meteorologists in Houston, who’d closely monitored the storm’s radar image, knew something very unusual for the state of Texas was headed directly toward the nation’s fourth largest city; a Derecho (Spanish for straight ahead) had formed, moving forward at 60 mph as it produced heavy rainfall and near hurricane force wind gusts over Brenham, TX.

As the Derecho rapidly approached Harris county and Houston, radar indicated a distinct hook echo west of Cypress.  A tornado had formed, embedded within such heavy rainfall that, despite the heavily populated region, no visual confirmation could be made. And so, the Derecho raced ahead toward downtown Houston, only minutes away.  Warnings blared from cell towers across Harris County, but these were much too late for all the folks stranded in 6PM traffic, buffeted by blinding rain and near hurricane force winds whipping across I-10.  Moments later, 80 mph winds whistled through the high-rises of downtown Houston, broken glass flying toward the streets below.  Memories of Hurricane Alicia (Aug 1983) rose from the ashes.  A storm, Derecho, producing hurricane-like weather conditions, had approached the Gulf Coast from a seemingly impossible direction.

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