Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Brownsville, TX

May 22, 2026Kenedy County, Willacy County, Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this tornado warning at May 22, 2026, 6:49 PM CDT for Kenedy County, Willacy County, Texas. It was in force for 41 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
May 22, 2026, 6:49 PM CDT (23:49 UTC)
Expired
May 22, 2026, 7:30 PM CDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Kenedy County, TX, Willacy County, TX

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Brownsville Intl, TX (KBRO), launched 12:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 91 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Brownsville Intl, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1545 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Brownsville Intl, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 167 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1545 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-93 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
756 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
167 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
236 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
5.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

601 
WFUS54 KBRO 222349
TORBRO
TXC261-489-230030-
/O.NEW.KBRO.TO.W.0001.260522T2349Z-260523T0030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
649 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Kenedy County in Deep South Texas...
  North central Willacy County in Deep South Texas...

* Until 730 PM CDT.

* At 649 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 12 miles south of Kenedy County Wind Farms, or 13 miles
  east of Armstrong, moving southeast at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Port Mansfield, Port Mansfield Airport, and Port Mansfield Chamber 
  Of Commerce around 715 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Brownsville.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 2639 9751 2689 9782 2702 9757 2686 9727
      2676 9724
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 331DEG 34KT 2687 9758 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

23-ATE
1 follow-up statement
974 
WWUS54 KBRO 230029
SVSBRO

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
729 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

TXC261-489-230038-
/O.EXP.KBRO.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260523T0030Z/
Kenedy TX-Willacy TX-
729 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN KENEDY AND NORTH CENTRAL
WILLACY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 730 PM CDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 
Southeastern Kenedy County and Northeastern Willacy County until 815 
PM CDT.

&&

LAT...LON 2639 9751 2689 9782 2702 9757 2686 9727
      2676 9724
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 331DEG 34KT 2656 9739 

$$

60-BE

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 22, 1:03 PM CDT, 5 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026 Key Messages: * Isolated showers and thunderstorms could impact the Western Ranchlands this evening as convection fires off the Sierra Madre. * A Flood Watch is in effect until Monday morning. There is a chance of isolated to scattered flash flooding in areas that receive heavier rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. * Warm and humid conditions are expected through next weekend with Minor (level 1 of 4) and Moderate (level 2 of 4) Heat Risks expected to impact the area. * A moderate risk of rip currents continues through Saturday afternoon.
Area forecast discussion, May 22, 1:03 PM CDT, 5 hours 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
103 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

Key Messages:

 * Isolated showers and thunderstorms could impact the Western
   Ranchlands this evening as convection fires off the Sierra
   Madre.

 * A Flood Watch is in effect until Monday morning. There is a
   chance of isolated to scattered flash flooding in areas that
   receive heavier rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.

 * Warm and humid conditions are expected through next weekend
   with Minor (level 1 of 4) and Moderate (level 2 of 4) Heat
   Risks expected to impact the area.

 * A moderate risk of rip currents continues through Saturday afternoon.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

A deeply moist atmospheric profile remains in place throughout the
weekend, due to a combination of ample Gulf surface moisture and
Pacific moisture aloft, which is being carried into Deep South Texas
across Mexico due to persistent westerly 500 mb flow. Resultantly,
abnormally high PWAT values (between 1.6 and 2.2 inches) are
expected over the region, with the highest values being observed on
Saturday.  Shortwave activity is also expected over the next few
days, which will make the atmosphere unsettled and prone for
convection to form. Since the atmospheric profile is so moist,
convection that forms this weekend will be persistent and efficient
rainmakers, which could result in high precipitation amounts and
possibly isolated to scattered flash flooding across portions of
Deep South Texas.  A Flood Watch is in effect until Monday morning.

The remainder of the afternoon today is expected to be relatively
dry and rain free, but convection is expected to form off the Sierra
Madres after sunset which could bring a few showers and
thunderstorms to the western portion of the CWA during the evening
hours. Overall, PoPs are expected to remain relatively low overnight
(less then 30 percent), before increasing to 50 to 70 percent
tomorrow, as more widespread convection is expected to form with the
main shortwave disturbance. The higher PoPs will shift to the
eastern counties on Sunday as the main disturbance moves slightly to
the east.

The Weather Prediction Center currently has all of Deep South Texas
in a Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) for excessive rainfall on Saturday,
and the Coastal Counties under a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for
Sunday.  Current probabilistic guidance for Saturday indicates a 15
to 25% risk that rainfall could exceed flash flood guidance.  While
areas further north (closer to Corpus and Houston) are expected to
receive the heaviest rainfall, given these probabilities, it is
therefore possible that Saturday's excessive rainfall risk could
trend upward if guidance can agree better on where the areas of
heaviest precipitation will occur, or if the heaviest expected rainfall
trends more southward.

Most of the rain received this weekend is expected to be beneficial.
It is most likely that the majority of areas will receive between
0.5-1.5 inches between now and Monday morning. However, it is
possible that some localized areas could receive up to 6 inches
where locally heavy rainfall occurs. Areas that will be prone to
isolated flash flooding are places where an excess of rain falls
over a short period of time (2- 3 inches an hour), or if training
showers and storms happen to form, with several showers going over
a single area in succession. Right now, the highest precip totals
and therefore highest chances of excessive rainfall are expected
over the eastern portion of the Northern Ranchlands. However,
isolated to scattered flash flooding could still happen anywhere
in Deep South Texas and it would be difficult to pinpoint
precisely where isolated flash flooding will occur, as shower
development will be scattered and random. Therefore, all flood-
prone areas should be prepared for the possibility this weekend,
despite most areas only expected to actually receive beneficial
rain.

Low rain chances continue into Monday as the atmosphere remains
somewhat disturbed, with the main chances (20-30%) in the Western
Ranchlands as more Sierra Madre convection is expected to form.
Conditions dry out Tuesday, but moderate rain chances (30-60%)
return for Wednesday and linger (20-30%) for Thursday before
becoming dry again for next weekend. Temperatures will remain warm
and humid through the next week, with Mild (level 1 of 4) and
Moderate (level 2 of 4) Heat Risks throughout the week.

In addition, a moderate risk of life-threatening rip currents are
expected to impact area beaches through at least Saturday
afternoon.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

VFR conditions are expected at all airports with light to moderate
southeasterly winds.  Overcast conditions are expected to develop
this evening, and there is a small possibility that MVFR conditions
could briefly develop tonight, but confidence was not high enough to
include it in the TAF product.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

Favorable conditions are expected this weekend into next week with
light to moderate southeasterly winds and low (2 to 4 feet) wave
heights.  Conditions could briefly deteriorate in the immediate
vicinity of any showers and thunderstorms that form offshore,
particularly over the weekend.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BROWNSVILLE             79  91  77  90 /  10  50  60  70
HARLINGEN               76  90  74  90 /  10  60  70  70
MCALLEN                 77  91  75  91 /  20  70  70  50
RIO GRANDE CITY         75  90  73  91 /  30  50  60  30
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND      80  85  79  84 /  20  40  60  60
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL     78  89  76  89 /  10  50  60  70

&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Flood Watch through Monday morning for TXZ248>255-351-353>355-
     451-454-455.

GM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...55-MM
LONG TERM....55-MM
AVIATION...55-MM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 5:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
508 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

TXZ250-251-351-222300-
Brooks TX-Coastal Kenedy TX-Inland Kenedy TX-
508 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN KENEDY AND
NORTHEASTERN BROOKS COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM CDT...

At 507 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sarita, moving north at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Sarita, Kenedy County Wind Farms, and Kenedy County Sheriffs Office.

This includes US Highway 77 between mile markers 710 and 724.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 2726 9773 2728 9765 2724 9763 2724 9759
      2700 9752 2711 9811 2726 9801 2726 9799
      2721 9799 2721 9797 2723 9795 2724 9792
      2724 9789 2725 9785 2725 9782 2727 9782
      2728 9779 2728 9776
TIME...MOT...LOC 2207Z 190DEG 6KT 2721 9782

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

23-ATE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Brownsville, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 5:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementBROKenedy52 min
May 22, 5:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROKenedy51 min
May 22, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROKenedy48 min
May 22, 6:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBROKenedy50 min
May 22, 6:37 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningBRO38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.