Anthony Franze

San Antonio

Newsroom Meteorologist at The San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Express-News Meteorologist. GUNTER ➡️ @ValpoU ➡️ MISSOULA ➡️ MIDLAND ➡️ SAN ANTONIO. I love all forms of precipitation.

Articles

Here's how often tornadoes actually hit the San Antonio area

1 week ago | expressnews.com | Anthony Franze

The climatological peak of tornado season is upon us. Texas sees its highest frequency of tornadoes between mid-April and late May, as an active upper-level weather pattern interacts with increasingly moisture-rich air from the Gulf of Mexico and an unstable atmosphere. Sure, tornadoes can happen at any time of the year, but spring marks when conditions are most favorable. Thankfully for us in San Antonio, tornadoes are not as common as in other parts of the state.
Will Houston see any storm chances at all this week?

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

After a soggy start to the year, Houston's skies have turned noticeably quieter. More than 8 inches of rain fell across the city in January and February, but that wet pattern didn't carry into the spring. Rainfall dropped off sharply in March, with Houston recording just 1.91 inches, about 1.5 inches below normal for the month. The dry trend has continued into April, as only 0.13 inch of rain has fallen so far this month. Since March 1, Houston has picked up just 40% of its climate-normal rainfall.
Texas tornado history: Here's the 5 worst to ever hit the state

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Anthony Franze

Texas sees an average of 135 tornadoes each year, the most of any U.S. state. Here's a look at the worst ones in the Lone Star State's history.
Houston temps to fall into 40s. Here's how long we'll stay cold.

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

After a line of thunderstorms swept through Southeast Texas on Saturday afternoon, a strong cold front was not far behind. The front swept through Houston by Saturday evening, shifting the wind to the north, and bringing unseasonably chilly air into Southeast Texas. If you've already put your winter coat away, you may want to reach back in and grab it one last time.
Tornado watch issued for Southeast Texas, including Houston

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

A tornado watch has been issued for much of Southeast Texas, including Houston, until 9 p.m., the National Weather Service announced Saturday afternoon. The entire Houston area is included in the tornado watch. The watch covers the following counties in Southeast Texas: Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, and Tyler. The tornado watch also extends north to Lufkin and Nacogdoches.
What can make Houston hail big? Here's how we get Texas-size hail

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

This weekend, severe thunderstorms are expected to roll through parts of Southeast Texas along and east of Interstate 45, possibly delivering damaging winds and hail that's at least an inch in diameter. But what makes hail sometimes reach Texas-size proportions? Just like snowflakes, no two hailstones are the exact same. Each hailstone has a unique journey through a storm cloud, which can affect the shape, size and even color of a particular hailstone.
In Rio Grande Valley, historic rains flood roads, strand drivers

3 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Annasofia Scheve |Anthony Franze

The Rio Grande Valley was hit with historic rainfall this week, causing power outages, school cancellations, flooded roads and more. (See videos and photos below.)The Texas Department of Transportation urged residents to limit travel today and to check conditions using the agency's online map before hitting the roads. "Turn around, don't drown," the agency warned. Article continues below this adAs little as 6 inches of water can cause drivers to lose control.
Here's how Texas wildfires get their names. But who names them?

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

Fire crews on Thursday continued efforts to contain a massive wildfire at Sam Houston National Forest north of Houston. The fire, which as of 9 a.m. Thursday had burned 2,000 acres and was only 20% contained, was dubbed the Pauline Road Fire. Meanwhile, a wildfire that had started last Saturday about 8 miles northeast of Fredericksburg, has scorched 9,858 acres in northeast Gillespie County.
Which large Texas city is the most prone to getting large hail?

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

Severe weather season is in full swing across Texas, a state that sees more reports of severe thunderstorms than any other state from March through June. These reports include events like damaging winds, tornadoes and, notably, large hail. While significant hail storms can occur anywhere in Texas, some regions experience them with a much higher frequency than others. So which cities are most prone to these damaging rounds of large hail, and which places are the most safe?
Houston weather will be practically perfect Sunday, but for how long?

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Anthony Franze

Southeast Texas has been treated to some impressively comfortable weather so far this March. Through the month's first 15 days, Houston's average high temperature has been a balmy 78 degrees while the average low has been a crisp 55 degrees. Altogether, March has started about 4 to 5 degrees above the climate normal. The pleasantly comfortable weather was expected to continue into Sunday and the start of the work week.