Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Corpus Christi, TX

May 21, 2026Duval County, Jim Wells County, Kleberg County, Texas

NWS Corpus Christi, TX issued this tornado warning at May 21, 2026, 3:25 AM CDT for Duval County, Jim Wells County, Kleberg County, Texas. It was in force for 27 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 21, 2026, 3:25 AM CDT (08:25 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2026, 3:52 AM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Corpus Christi, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Duval County, TX, Jim Wells County, TX, Kleberg County, TX

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:24 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

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

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 00:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 97 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1962 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, Corpus Christi, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 32 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1962 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
887 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
32 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
20 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
4.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

422 
WFUS54 KCRP 210825
TORCRP
TXC131-249-273-210915-
/O.NEW.KCRP.TO.W.0001.260521T0825Z-260521T0915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
325 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Duval County in south central Texas...
  Southwestern Jim Wells County in south central Texas...
  West central Kleberg County in south central Texas...

* Until 415 AM CDT.

* At 325 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near San Jose, or near Benavides, moving east at 35
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  east central Duval, southwestern Jim Wells and west central Kleberg
  Counties.

This includes US Highway 281 between mile markers 686 and 694.
 
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.

&&

LAT...LON 2749 9847 2757 9848 2760 9802 2742 9801
TIME...MOT...LOC 0825Z 271DEG 30KT 2752 9837 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

EMF
2 follow-up statements
151 
WWUS54 KCRP 210842
SVSCRP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
342 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXC273-210852-
/O.CAN.KCRP.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0915Z/
Kleberg TX-
342 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL KLEBERG COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

&&

LAT...LON 2752 9830 2758 9834 2759 9811 2749 9811
TIME...MOT...LOC 0842Z 225DEG 14KT 2755 9821 

$$

TXC131-249-210915-
/O.CON.KCRP.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0915Z/
Duval TX-Jim Wells TX-
342 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 AM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL DUVAL AND WEST CENTRAL JIM WELLS COUNTIES...

At 342 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Palito Blanco, or 12 miles east of Benavides, moving
northeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
east central Duval and west central Jim Wells Counties.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 2752 9830 2758 9834 2759 9811 2749 9811
TIME...MOT...LOC 0842Z 225DEG 14KT 2755 9821 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

EMF
656 
WWUS54 KCRP 210852
SVSCRP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
352 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXC131-249-210901-
/O.CAN.KCRP.TO.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0915Z/
Duval TX-Jim Wells TX-
352 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL DUVAL AND WEST CENTRAL JIM
WELLS COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, 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
Duval and Jim Wells counties.

&&

LAT...LON 2752 9830 2758 9834 2759 9811 2749 9811
TIME...MOT...LOC 0850Z 271DEG 30KT 2755 9812 

$$

EMF

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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 21, 1:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026 -Flood Watch in effect area-wide through Monday as multiple rounds of storms bring a marginal to slight risk of flash flooding each day. -Increasing risk of river flooding by this weekend due to continued rounds of heavy rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 1:48 AM CDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
148 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

-Flood Watch in effect area-wide through Monday as multiple rounds
of storms bring a marginal to slight risk of flash flooding each
day.

-Increasing risk of river flooding by this weekend due to
 continued rounds of heavy rainfall.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

At the time of writing this discussion, yet another nocturnal MCS is
slowly progressing through South Texas (this is the third night
in a row). This morning's MCS is more of the prototypical late
spring eastward propagating system from Mexico, riding just ahead
of a convectively-enhanced shortwave. Instability is less
impressive than last night (MLCAPE around 2000 J/kg, DCAPE 900 to
1000 J/kg), but should be enough to support MCS maintenance as it
treks through the area. If the system is able to form and sustain
a robust cold pool, strong winds would be a convective hazard,
otherwise as mentioned in previous discussions hydro will likely
be the biggest concerns. One hour FFGs are as low as 2-2.5 inches
(and 3 hour FFG < 3 inches) over portions of the Brush Country and
Coastal Plains, so those in particular will be areas to monitor
early this morning.

Although the CAM suite has had a lot of issues timing the
progression of this system, based on current radar trends and
assumed system propagation, would expect precipitation to more or
less have cleared the area by 11-14Z. Similar to the last couple
days, the combination of post MCS low-lvl stabilization and weak
subsidence will somewhat limit precipitation chances during the
daytime hours. However, there is some signal for another trailing
wave during the afternoon hours, so will retain some low-medium
range PoPs (20-40%), but am pretty skeptical of the widespread
coverage some of the CAMs and the GFS depict (the storms would
likely have to initiate north of the area which is less worked
over). We will potentially have to contend with additional
overnight convection tonight into Friday morning as more storms
developing over Mexico and the West Texas dryline and gradually
propagate towards our area. There is a more muted convective
signal compared to the last couple nights, so will retain only
Chc (generally 40-50%) PoPs for now, but any additional convective
rainfall would trigger renewed hydro concerns given antecedent
conditions.

The most-amplified mid-lvl wave is still progged to move over the
area on Saturday, likely bringing fairly widespread rainfall to
the area. Hydro will likely be the greatest concern by that
point, and beyond the localized flash and urban flooding threat,
river flooding will also bear increasing monitoring. The
aforementioned mid-lvl low looks to amplify/close off near the
area on Sunday and then lift slowly to the north/northeast on
Monday/Tuesday. This could provide a setup to give us a brief
respite from the active weather as drier air filters down its
western flank from the north. Any break in precipitation looks to
be short-lived as another mid-lvl system makes it way towards the
area mid to late next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

An ongoing cluster of showers and thunderstorms over the Rio Grande
Plains will continue to slowly shift eastward through the early
morning hours. We'll likely have a mix of VFR/MVFR ceilings through
15-16Z as convection throws a wrench in the forecast. Heavy
thunderstorms directly impacting terminals will cause reduced
visibility and potentially strong variable winds. VFR conditions
prevail by midday with variable winds becoming predominately out of
the southeast at around 10 knots in the afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

Generally gentle to moderate E-SE winds will prevail through the
weekend over the waters. The main exception to this will be brief
periods of erratic and gusty winds (and elevated seas) in the
vicinity of thunderstorms. Thunderstorm chances remain high
(60-80%) today, Saturday and Sunday, with Friday have somewhat
lower rain chances (20-40%).

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

No fire weather concerns through the week as moisture increases
and minimum RHs remain over 50% area-wide. Medium to high rain
chances (50-80%) are expected each day through Saturday. These
should be solid wetting rains with aerial totals in the 2 to 4
inch range through the weekend.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Corpus Christi    84  73  88  76 /  70  40  30  30
Victoria          81  70  86  72 /  70  40  50  20
Laredo            86  71  92  73 /  40  40  10  40
Alice             84  71  89  73 /  50  40  40  30
Rockport          86  77  89  78 /  80  40  30  20
Cotulla           84  69  90  72 /  40  40  10  40
Kingsville        83  72  88  74 /  60  30  40  30
Navy Corpus       84  77  87  79 /  70  40  30  30

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Flood Watch through Monday evening for TXZ229>234-239>247-
     342>347-442-443-447.

GM...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...NC/91
AVIATION...EMF/94

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 20, 11:12 PM CDT, 4 hours 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
1112 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

TXZ239-240-210445-
Webb TX-Duval TX-
1112 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN DUVAL AND
SOUTHEASTERN WEBB COUNTIES THROUGH 1145 PM CDT...

At 1111 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Jim Hogg County Airport, or 7 miles west of Hebbronville, moving
north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny 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...
Oilton, Mirando City, and Bruni.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 2750 9903 2757 9874 2736 9867 2735 9880
      2727 9880 2727 9891
TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 163DEG 18KT 2730 9881

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

EMF
Special weather statement, May 21, 12:20 AM CDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
1220 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXZ229-239-210545-
Webb TX-La Salle TX-
1220 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LA SALLE AND
NORTHEASTERN WEBB COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 AM CDT...

At 1220 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles north of Ranchitos Las Lomas, or 17 miles southeast of Encinal,
moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel 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...
Encinal.

This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 31 and 40.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 2775 9895 2773 9933 2806 9943 2809 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 0520Z 168DEG 26KT 2785 9917

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

EMF
Special weather statement, May 21, 2:39 AM CDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
239 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXZ239>241-210815-
Jim Wells TX-Webb TX-Duval TX-
239 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN DUVAL...SOUTHEASTERN
WEBB AND SOUTHWESTERN JIM WELLS COUNTIES THROUGH 315 AM CDT...

At 239 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 11 miles northeast of
Oilton to 8 miles northeast of Bruni to 6 miles north of Jim Hogg
County Airport to South Fork Estates to 6 miles east of
Thompsonville. Movement was east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Concepcion, Ramirez, Realitos, Rios, Cruz Calle, and Bruni.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

&&

LAT...LON 2726 9851 2727 9852 2734 9852 2734 9855
      2736 9856 2736 9859 2734 9859 2734 9862
      2736 9863 2735 9880 2727 9880 2727 9890
      2743 9886 2754 9889 2768 9900 2762 9849
      2739 9822 2726 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 0739Z 291DEG 42KT 2762 9888 2754 9876 2743 9870 2726
9870 2721 9882

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

EMF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 11:12 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPJim Hogg33 min
May 21, 12:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPWebb25 min
May 21, 1:45 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPWebb2 hr
May 21, 2:39 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPDuval36 min
May 21, 3:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCRPDuval, Jim Wells, Kleberg41 min
May 21, 3:10 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCRPDuval, Webb3 hr
May 21, 3:44 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCRPDuval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces46 min
May 21, 3:59 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPDuval, Jim Wells3 hr
May 21, 4:41 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPDuval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces3 hr
May 21, 4:51 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPKleberg, Nueces54 min
May 21, 5:08 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningCRP97 min
May 21, 5:18 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPJim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio3 hr
May 21, 5:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPNueces44 min
May 21, 5:42 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPKleberg, Nueces, San Patricio3 hr
May 21, 6:06 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningCRP114 min
May 21, 6:10 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCRPAransas, Nueces, San Patricio50 min
May 21, 6:32 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCRPBee, Goliad, Refugio, San Patricio118 min
May 21, 6:53 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementCRPAransas52 min
May 21, 7:05 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPAransas, Calhoun, Refugio, Victoria3 hr
May 21, 7:22 AM CDTSpecial Marine WarningCRP83 min
May 21, 8:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningCRPGoliad, Refugio, Victoria3 hr

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.