Texas, 2003

Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, August 11, 2003

August 11, 2003 · NWS EWX · 2 events in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$700,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 11, 5:42 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 5:42 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
642 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

WILL REMOVE SOME COUNTIES FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH PER
SPCS LATEST DISCUSSION....MAINLY ALL COUNTIES WEST OF I-35.

06/04/DC

320 PM DISCUSSION..........
NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT BRINGING DISTURBANCES TO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.  GOOD CAPES AND DAYTIME HEATING PRODUCING
NICE THUNDERSTORMS WITH SOME ISOLATED DOWNBURSTS...THIS CONDITION
LIKELY TO PERSIST THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AND SPC HAS ISSUED
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #857 AS A RESULT.  CONTINUED NORTHERLY
FLOW AND WEAK IMPULSES WILL RESULT IN CHANCES THROUGH TONIGHT AND
TUESDAY.

TROPICAL WAVE WILL MOVE WEST INTO THE AREA TOMORROW NIGHT AND
WEDNESDAY WITH MODERATING DAYTIME TEMPERATURES AND A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THURSDAY AS MOISTURE PLUME WILL BE
FAVORABLE.  LATE IN THE WEEK RIDGING BUILDS IN FROM THE MIDWEST AND
LOW MIGRATING INTO MEXICO...SW U.S. THIS SHOULD LOWER RAIN CHANCES
FOR US SOMEWHAT BY NEXT WEEKEND.

.EWX...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 857 FOR EASTERN TWO-THIRDS
OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TIL 8 PM CDT...

02/18/KW

PRELIMS...
AUS BE 072/089 070/087 070 02344 0000/0000/0000
    EBBBB 093/071 096/073 095/071 096/075 097 44332222222
DRT BE 077/094 071/092 069 02333 0000/0000/0000
    EBBBB 089/072 093/074 095/076 097/078 098 34442222222
SAT BE 073/092 071/088 072 02344 0000/0000/0000
    EBBBB 091/073 095/075 093/077 094/077 097 44332222222
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 5:00 AM CST, 14 hours 5 minutes before
TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-121100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
600 AM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE HILL COUNTRY.  ANOTHER
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE IN THE NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL APPROACH
THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL COMBINE WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO
TRIGGER ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
WEEK AND EXTEND INTO THE WEEKEND.  THE BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEK WILL BE ON THURSDAY WHEN DEEP TROPICAL
MOISTURE OVERSPREADS THE REGION.  HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE THE PRIMARY
THREAT FOR THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 11, 3:19 PM CST, 3 hours 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
419 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0340 PM    SAN MARCOS                TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   HAYS                           POWER LINE DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT

0340 PM    LA GRANGE                 TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   FAYETTE                        TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0340 PM    AIRPORT CASTROVILLE       TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   MEDINA                         AIRPLANES FLIPPED OVER,
                                          TELEPHONE POLES
                                          DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

DC
Local storm report, Aug 11, 3:58 PM CST, 3 hours 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
458 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0354 PM    CASTROVILLE               TX   TORNADO
08/11/03   MEDINA                         TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0440 PM    YOAKUM                    TX   80 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
08/11/03   LAVACA                         REPORTED BY RAINFALL
                                          OBSEERVER

0440 PM    YOAKUM                    TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   LAVACA                         TREES DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

DC
Local storm report, Aug 11, 4:42 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
542 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    RIVER ROAD NEW BRAUNFELS  TEXAS   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   COMAL                          TREES DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0300 PM    FAYETTEVILLE              TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   FAYETTE                        POWER LINES DOWN
                                          REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0423 PM    SHINER                    TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   LAVACA                         TREES DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0428 PM    FM 794/I10 HARWOOD        TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   GONZALES                       TREE DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0445 PM    CUERO                     TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   DEWITT                         POWER LINES
                                          DISCONNECTED
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

DC
Local storm report, Aug 11, 5:05 PM CST, 2 hours before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
605 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM    RIVER ROAD NEW BRAUNFELS  TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   COMAL                          TREES DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0300 PM    FAYETTEVILLE              TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   FAYETTE                        POWER LINES DOWN
                                          REPORTED
                                          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

0423 PM    SHINER                    TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   LAVACA                         TREES DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0428 PM    FM 794/I10 HARWOOD        TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   GONZALES                       TREE DOWN
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

0445 PM    CUERO                     TX   WIND DAMAGE
08/11/03   DEWITT                         POWER LINES
                                          DISCONNECTED
                                          REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT

DC
Special weather statement, Aug 11, 6:48 PM CST, 17 minutes before
TXZ171>173-186>194-204>209-219>225-120100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
748 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS UNTIL 8 PM...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CANCELLED FOR PARTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY
AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER FOR MOST OF SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR
ALL BUT THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.  THE WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR

ATASCOSA...BLANCO...BANDERA...BURNET...FRIO...GILLESPIE...
KENDALL...KERR...LLANO AND MEDINA COUNTIES.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED OVER THIS AREA.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR

WILLIAMSON...TRAVIS...HAYS...COMAL...BEXAR...WILSON...KARNES...
GONZALES...GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...BASTROP...LEE...FAYETTE...LAVACA
AND DEWITT COUNTIES UNTIL 8 PM CDT.

ADDITIONAL STORMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND
WILL BE MOVING SOUTH ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS EARLY THIS EVENING.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Travis

When
August 11, 7:05 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where
Travis County, Austin
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$600,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
30.283, -97.750

Severe thunderstorm winds, estimated as high as 80 miles per hour, struck Austin, causing extensive damage along the Walnut Creek Greenway and in an area bounded by Parmer Lane, Dessau Lane, Metric Lane and IH-35. Large trees were damaged, with several falling on automobiles and windows in three large apartment complexes. Over 130 residents were displaced by the storm in one complex alone. A few older homes were more extensively damaged just west of I-35 near Walnut Creek. Tree damage to shingles, roofs, and vehicles was widespread through this area. One house had a two by six embedded in an upper story wall. The house sustained three strikes from lumber in a neighboring shed. One strike penetrated about a foot into the upper story bedroom. A manufactured home park on Dessau Road suffered the greatest damage. The storms cut power to 30,000 persons, with power restored to half of them by the next morning. IH-35 was shut down near Yeager Lane due to downed wires and debris.

Hail, Travis

When
August 11, 7:10 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where
Travis County, Austin
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
30.283, -97.750

In addition to the extensive damage by the widespread downburst, golfball-sized hail fell in the area bounded by Parmer Lane, Dessau Lane, Metric Lane and IH-35. It broke windows, damaged roofs, and shredded leaves across the area. Hail up to one-half inch in diameter fell across much of northern Austin

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5369191, 5369192.