Air carrier flight crew on approach to hrl was cleared to 2000 ft from 4000 ft while IMC on the loca...

Narrative:

Flight to hrl without incident. ATC gave the crew several reroutes due to rainstorms on the field. WX reported as rain; 500 broken; 1200 ovc; expect localizer back course to 35L. Flight was initially given direct to hrl. After we were switched over to valley approach on 120.7; while at 4;000 ft; ATC asked if we had the field in sight to which we responded we were completely IMC. Then we requested vectors for the localizer back course 35L. Approach said to expect that. Next clearance was to descend to 2;000 ft. Flight read back the clearance and descended to 2;000 ft. After we were level for approximately two minutes; approach said we were only cleared to 3;000 ft to which we replied we confirmed the readback clearance with him. ATC directed us to climb to 3;000 ft and said to be advised of towers at one o'clock. We said we were initiating an immediate climb to 3;000 ft. There were no egpws warnings. The rest of the approach was flown without further event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew on approach to HRL was cleared to 2000 ft from 4000 ft while IMC on the LOC BC Runway 35L. When level; the crew was told to return to 3000 ft because of towers in the area.

Narrative: Flight to HRL without incident. ATC gave the Crew several reroutes due to rainstorms on the field. WX reported as Rain; 500 BKN; 1200 OVC; expect LOC BC to 35L. Flight was initially given direct to HRL. After we were switched over to Valley Approach on 120.7; while at 4;000 ft; ATC asked if we had the field in sight to which we responded we were completely IMC. Then we requested vectors for the LOC BC 35L. Approach said to expect that. Next clearance was to descend to 2;000 ft. Flight read back the clearance and descended to 2;000 ft. After we were level for approximately two minutes; Approach said we were only cleared to 3;000 ft to which we replied we confirmed the readback clearance with him. ATC directed us to climb to 3;000 ft and said to be advised of towers at one o'clock. We said we were initiating an immediate climb to 3;000 ft. There were no EGPWS warnings. The rest of the approach was flown without further event.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1311965
Time
Date	201511
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	HRL.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT

Air carrier flight crew on approach to hrl was cleared to 2000 ft from 4000 ft while IMC on the localizer back course runway 35L. When level; the crew was told to return to 3000 ft because of towers in the area.