A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded.These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary.

Flash Flood in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 14:30:00 to 18-NOV-03 00:40:00 (CST)
Location: HOUSTON
Property damage: 3M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Extensive flooding in and around the Sharpstown area. One 17 year old female fatality with one 18 year old male injury when van they were driving became flooded outside of high school. Flooding extended into Houston metro with numerous flooded or completely submerged vehicles. 300 homes flooded.

Tornado in FORT BEND, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 12:05:00 to 17-NOV-03 12:15:00 (CST)
Location: SUGARLAND
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 500K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Tornado touched down on west Airport Drive near Industrial in Sugar Land. 60 injuries with 7 people sent to hospital for further treatment. Damage to several office building roofs in Industrial Park. Additional damage to a Daycare facility at West Airport Drive and Dairy Ashford Road. Roof damage to several residential homes in the Meadows subdivision. Reports of several cars overturned or blown off of road along Airport Drive.

Tornado in CHAMBERS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 16:50:00 to 17-NOV-03 16:53:00 (CST)
Location: BEACH CITY
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado touch down near Beach City.

Tornado in LIBERTY, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 17:42:00 to 17-NOV-03 17:48:00 (CST)
Location: MOSS BLUFF
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado downed some trees as it touched down along Highway 563.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 12:20:00 to 17-NOV-03 12:25:00 (CST)
Location: ALIEF
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 500K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. Tornado moved over the intersection of West Bellfort and Kirkwood. Numerous apartments lost roofs in the extensive SW Village Apartment Complex damage.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 13:00:00 to 17-NOV-03 13:05:00 (CST)
Location: (IAH)HOUSTON INTL AR
Tornado F-scale: F0
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Tornado spotted by an FAA employee at Bush-Intercontinental Airport.

Flash Flood in MONTGOMERY, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 14:00:00 to 17-NOV-03 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: NEW CANEY
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Flooding in the New Caney and Porter areas.

Flash Flood in SAN JACINTO, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 14:30:00 to 17-NOV-03 16:40:00 (CST)
Location: COLDSPRING
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flooding in Coldspring.

Tornado in BRAZORIA, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 14:50:00 to 17-NOV-03 14:59:00 (CST)
Location: BRAZORIA
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado touch down in downtown Brazoria. Roof damage to several buildings along Highway 36 with tree damage in Old Town Brazoria. A semi-trailer was lifted and over-turned on its side at intersection of Road 332 and Highway 36.

Flash Flood in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 12:33:00 to 17-NOV-03 14:45:00 (CST)
Location: WHARTON
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Flooding in and around the town of Wharton.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 15:01:00 to 17-NOV-03 15:12:00 (CST)
Location: SOUTH HOUSTON
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 550K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado touched down just east of Highway 288 in the Third Ward. One church completely destroyed, 50 homes damaged, and extensive tree damage. Wind damage to several downtown buildings in SE Houston near Minute Maid ballpark.

Tornado in CHAMBERS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 17:30:00 to 17-NOV-03 17:40:00 (CST)
Location: WALLISVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado crossed the Old Trinity River Bridge on I-10, blowing over 10 semi trucks. One eastbound semi was dumped onto two cars. Another westbound semi was picked up, blown across a stone retaining wall, ripped through metal fencing and landed on a car in the westbound lane. Description of trucks were one loaded with 60K pounds of nuts and bolts, another with 42K pounds of paper towels, and a tanker truck filled with spring water. 5 injured transported to local area hospital.

Tornado in LIBERTY, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 17:45:00 to 17-NOV-03 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: MOSS BLUFF
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado downed trees and severely damaged a garage.

Tornado in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 16:40:00 to 17-NOV-03 16:45:00 (CST)
Location: DICKINSON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado damaged local car dealership's sign and rearranged a few cars in lot with tree damage along I-45.

Flash Flood in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 22:05:00 to 18-NOV-03 00:30:00 (CST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flooding across northern Galveston County.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 22:30:00 to 17-NOV-03 22:35:00 (CST)
Location: BAYTOWN
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 225K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado down in southeast Baytown with 54 apartment units in 4 buildings damaged and several homes receiving roof damage. A few minor injuries.

Tornado in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 21:15:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:18:00 (CST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 275K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado hit a Friendswood home subdivision. Numerous homes received roof damage, garage door damage, and tree damage.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 17:20:00 to 17-NOV-03 17:25:00 (CST)
Location: DEER PARK
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado on Somerset Street in Deer Park with minor home damage.

Flash Flood in BRAZORIA, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 22:00:00 to 18-NOV-03 00:00:00 (CST)
Location: PEARLAND
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flooding across northern Brazoria County.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 21:00:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:02:00 (CST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado traveled from Galveston County across Clear Creek 1/4 mile into Harris County. Tree damage in community park on east side of creek.

Flash Flood in LIBERTY, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 19:00:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: PLUM GROVE
Property damage: 225K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

6 to 7 homes flooded in Plum Grove with flooded roads in and around Hardin.

Tornado in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 21:08:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:15:00 (CST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado struck a Friendswood church on FM 2351. Church's sanctuary received damage, church's bell tower completely torn off.

Tornado in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 20:55:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: FRIENDSWOOD
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touch down at FM 528 and FM 518. Tornado crossed Clear Creek and moved 1/4 mile into Harris County.

Tornado in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 21:30:00 to 17-NOV-03 21:35:00 (CST)
Location: BAYTOWN
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touch down in Northern Baytown causing minor roof and tree damage near Lynchburg-Cedar Bayou Road at Barkuloo.

Tornado in GALVESTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 16:25:00 to 17-NOV-03 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: SANTA FE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touched down in Santa Fe along 4th Street and FM 1764.

Tornado in CHAMBERS, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 23:35:00 to 17-NOV-03 23:45:00 (CST)
Location: OAK ISLAND
Tornado F-scale: F1
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado touch down in White Harring Estates area between Oak Island and Smith Point. One home destroyed with seven other homes receiving damage.

Tornado in FORT BEND, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 12:15:00 to 17-NOV-03 12:20:00 (CST)
Location: STAFFORD
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. One home lost roof with several other homes damaged.

Flash Flood in FORT BEND, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 11:45:00 to 17-NOV-03 15:55:00 (CST)
Location: KENDLETON
Property damage: 80K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Extensive flooding in and around Kendleton. Flooding extended into the towns of Needville and Mission Bend.

Tornado in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 09:10:00 to 17-NOV-03 09:17:00 (CST)
Location: PIERCE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Tornado reported by Wharton County EMC as blowing automobiles off the highway.

Tornado in MATAGORDA, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 09:10:00 to 17-NOV-03 09:15:00 (CST)
Location: CLEMVILLE
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 30K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado touched down in town of Clemville damaging the roofs of two homes.

Flash Flood in HARRIS, TEXAS
From 16-NOV-03 20:05:00 to 16-NOV-03 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: ALDINE
Property damage: 3K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Flooding in and around Aldine

Tornado in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 10:00:00 to 17-NOV-03 10:08:00 (CST)
Location: BOLING
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tornado damaged three barns and broke several tree limbs.

Tornado in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 09:20:00 to 17-NOV-03 09:25:00 (CST)
Location: WHARTON
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Tornado reported touching down near Highway 59 and Colorado River.

Tornado in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 08:38:00 to 17-NOV-03 08:43:00 (CST)
Location: EL CAMPO
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 8K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Tornado sighted by personnel in a large plant nursery. Employees took cover and F0 tornado blew out two windows of an on-site office building. Two minor injuries.

Tornado in WHARTON, TEXAS
From 17-NOV-03 08:33:00 to 17-NOV-03 08:38:00 (CST)
Location: EL CAMPO
Tornado F-scale: F0
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Storage shed destroyed with its tin debris field spread to the northeast 1/4 mile.