The Jarrell, TX tornado May 27th, 1997
On May 27, 1997, a destructive tornado hit the town of Jerrel, TX, killing 30. It was rated and F5, and possilbly the strongest tornado on record to hit Central TX. Fore more information, please see the San Antonio/Austin National Weather Service's summary of the event.

The satellite picture is quite impressive for the storms that blew up this day. Here is an awesome radar picture of the storm that formed northeast of the Jarrell storm.. It has some HP (High or Heavy Precipitaion) and Classic characteristics with a strong reflectivity in the hook echo. Notice also, the strong reflectivity on the forward flank/Southeast side of the storm, the tight reflectivity graidient near the updraft region, an apparent inflow notch (the greens in the hook area), the diffluent precipitation on the east/northeast sector of the storm, and of course, the very very evident hook echo

The following are images provided by the National Weather Service's Goes-8 Site.

Satellite Image with watches and observed tornadoes (with times).
Satellite Derived LI's at 15z
Satellite Derived LI's at 19z
Goes 8/ETA Sounding Comparison Near Jerrel at 19z
Goes 8/ETA Sounding Comparison Near Lufkin, TX at 19z
Satellite Derived Precipitable Water at 19z

The detailed report from the National Weather Service Goes-8 Center is located at http://orbit7i.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/jarrell.html

Here is the Tornado Watch and the Tornado Warning for the storm.

A detailed ACUS1 with cool images and links within the text is found at the University of Wisconsin at http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/jarrell_day1.html

This image, provided by the National Weather Service and the University of Wisconsin's McIDAS Archive, shows that the the storm formed in the right rear quadrant of the 300mb jet. Notice the speed maximum in Oklahoma. This would be the center of the jet streak core. The winds to the west are less and speed up as the move into the "entrence" region of this jet streak.

Another great site with info on the Jarrell tornado is located at http://www.met.tamu.edu/research/texacal/outbreak.html--Texas A & M.