A strong upper level disturbance moved out of Northern Mexico and into to South Texas during the morning of the 6th. Low level winds ahead of the system backed to the east as winds increased in the mid levels resulting in strong deep layer shear.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.
A strong upper level disturbance moved out of Northern Mexico and into to South Texas during the morning of the 6th. Low level winds ahead of the system backed to the east as winds increased in the mid levels resulting in strong deep layer shear. Several supercell thunderstorms developed inland over the Coastal Bend. An HP supercell moved from near Beeville into south-central Goliad county and through northern Refugio, southern Victoria and Calhoun counties. NWS radar estimated a wide swath of 2-3 inches of rainfall across this area, with localized amounts of 3 to 4 inches, producing flash flooding. In addition, this storm produced three F0 tornadoes along it's path through Southern Victoria and Calhoun counties. Additional rotating storms across Kleberg and Nueces county produced flash flooding in Nueces county as well as one confirmed F0 tornado along the coast in Northeast Kleberg county.
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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 6, 3:25 AM CST, 5 hours 20 minutes earlier.
SOUTH TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
425 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2004
.SHORT-TERM (TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...THE UPPER LOW OVER SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO WILL MOVE INTO OKLAHOMA BY THIS EVENING. WATER VAPOR
IMAGERY SHOWS SHORT WAVE TROUGH SWINGING THROUGH THE BIG BEND WITH A
FLARE UP OF CONVECTION FROM THE HILL COUNTRY SOUTHWEST TO WEST OF
EAGLE PASS. UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN THIS
AREA AS THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF 70 KNOT 250 MB JET STREAK MOVES
THROUGH. GOOD LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION/CONVERGENCE SUSTAINING
THE ACTIVITY WITH KCRP VAD WIND PROFILE SHOWING 35 TO 40 KNOTS AT
850 MB. EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE MORE EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD AS
MODELS SHOW STRONG THERMAL ADVECTION ZONE SETTING UP OVER THE
NORTHERN COUNTIES THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. WITH CAPE VALUES
EXPECTED TO BE FROM 1000-1500 J/KG AND 0-6 KM SHEAR 50-60
KNOTS...THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS WILL EXIST AS THIS LINE OF CONVECTION MOVES EASTWARD. WITH
ANTECEDENT WET CONDITIONS FROM PRIOR RAINFALL...FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE
VALUES ARE LOW OVER MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. WILL RETAIN CURRENT
FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONFIGURATION FOR NORTHERN COUNTIES BUT EXTEND THE
TIME INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON(20Z).
CONVECTION WILL QUICKLY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
WITH MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER CONDITIONS AND LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS OVER
NIGHT...EXPECT AREAS OF FOG TO DEVELOP. A WARMER DAY IS IN STORE FOR
WEDNESDAY WITH READINGS AROUND 90 DEGREES OUT WEST. CAN NOT RULE OUT
AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING ON THE SEABREEZE WEDNESDAY BUT
FOR NOW WILL NOT MENTION IN THE ZONES.
&&
.LONG-TERM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE
FOR COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL ACROSS CENTRAL/SOUTH TEXAS WILL
FINALLY MOVE TO THE EAST OF THE AREA BY LATE WEDNESDAY RESULTING IN
DRYING CONDITIONS AND FAIR SKIES ON THU/FRI. RESIDUAL MOISTURE IN
THE LOWEST LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT SURFACE
HEATING WILL RESULT IN INCREASING INSTABILITY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS BY
THURSDAY. BOTH ETA/GFS SHOW LIS RUNNING IN THE -8 TO -11 RANGE
DURING THE PEAK HEATING OF THE AFTERNOON ON BOTH THU AND FRI.
GUIDANCE ALSO CONSISTENT WITH SHOWING NEXT DISTURBANCE MOVING INTO
WEST TEXAS AT THIS TIME. SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE FROM THIS
FEATURE TO INITIATE SOME AFTN CONVECTION ALONG SEA BREEZE BOTH THU
AND FRI AFTERNOONS SO WILL CONTINUE WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER
THE INTERIOR COUNTIES FOR THOSE DAYS. GFS/EURO MODELS CONTINUE TO
BE VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH BRINING COLD FRONT DOWN INTO DEEP SOUTH
TEXAS ON SUNDAY. CANADIAN MODEL CONTINUES WITH A LESS AMPLIFIED
SOLUTION AND HENCE DOES NOT SHOW NEAR THE COOL TEMPS OR PRECIP THAT
IS INDICATED BY THE GFS. GIVEN THE AMPLIFYING PATTERN OVER THE PAC
NW...DOESNT SEEM UNREASONABLE THAT A SHOT OF COOLER AIR COULD MAKE
ITS WAY DOWN OVER THE WEEKEND...HOWEVER WILL NOT GO QUITE AS COOL AS
MOS NUMBERS WHICH ARE IN THE 60S FOR HIGHS ACROSS THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES ON SUNDAY. PRECIP CHANCES WILL ALSO INCREASE AHEAD OF THIS
SYSTEM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. HAVE PUSHED BACK THE TIMING OF THE
HEAVIEST PRECIP UNTIL SUNDAY.
&&
MARINE...WINDS REMAIN MARGINAL FOR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE
OFFSHORE WATERS BUT SEAS REMAIN AROUND 7 FEET SO WILL CONTINUE SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE OFFSHORE WATERS TODAY. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
OF WINDS INCREASING AS THE LOW LEVEL JET AXIS TRANSLATES TO THE EAST.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI 81 66 86 66 83 / 40 10 10 00 10
VICTORIA 77 64 85 64 83 / 80 10 10 00 10
LAREDO 86 66 90 67 87 / 30 10 05 10 05
&&
.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 20Z
TXZ229>234-245>247
SCA FOR OFFSHORE WATERS.
89/TMT..SHORT-TERM
91/JD....LONG-TERMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 810 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2004 GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-071100- ARANSAS-BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT OCONNOR-BEE-CALHOUN- COASTAL WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM- DUVAL-GOLIAD-JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-LASALLE-LIVE OAK-MCMULLEN-NUECES- REFUGIO-SAN PATRICIO-VICTORIA- WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 TO 60 NM-WEBB- 810 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS TODAY. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CDT FOR THE COUNTIES OF ARANSAS...BEE...CALHOUN... GOLIAD...LIVE OAK...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN PATRICIO AND VICTORIA. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS NORTH OF AN ENCINAL TO TYNAN TO ROCKPORT LINE. RAIN AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES COULD OCCUR WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR THE OFFSHORE WATERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE SEABREEZE DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY. TMT/TR/WC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 800 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2004 TXZ231>234-243>247-061800- ARANSAS-BEE-CALHOUN-GOLIAD-LIVE OAK-NUECES-REFUGIO-SAN PATRICIO- VICTORIA- 800 AM CDT TUE APR 6 2004 ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH VALID UNTIL 100 PM CDT TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE WATCH INCLUDES THE COUNTIES OF ARANSAS...BEE...CALHOUN...GOLIAD...LIVE OAK...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN PATRICIO AND VICTORIA. SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE WATCH ARE ARANSAS PASS...BEEVILLE...CORPUS CHRISTI...GEORGE WEST...GOLIAD... INGLESIDE...MATHIS...PORT ARANSAS...PORT LAVACA...PORT OCONNOR... PORTLAND...REFUGIO...ROBSTOWN...ROCKPORT...SEADRIFT...SINTON... SKIDMORE...THREE RIVERS AND VICTORIA. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO OCCUR IN OR NEAR THE WATCH AREA. IF TORNADOES DO IN FACT DEVELOP OR ARE SPOTTED...THEN A TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION. RESIDENTS ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE READY TO QUICKLY ACT IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA. IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS YOUR AREA...THEN MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM AND LAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...LAY FLAT DOWN ON THE GROUND...PREFERABLY IN A DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT. NEVER TRY TO OUTRUN SEVERE WEATHER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS AND WARNINGS...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/CRP TE
The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:37 UTC.
6 flash flood, 4 hail, 4 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Water was reported over U.S. 59 east of Beeville by law enforcement. (see episode narrative below for estimated rainfall)
Water was reported over U.S. 59 at Berclair by law enforcement. Highway 183, 10 miles south of Goliad, was also reported flooded by law enforcement. (see episode narrative below for estimated rainfall)
Video shot by public showed tornado over open country on the King Ranch in extreme northeast Kleberg county. Tornado crossed northeast into the Laguna Madre as a waterspout and dissipated.
A tornado briefly touched down over open county. No damage was reported.
Trained spotter reported flooding at Highway 239 and U.S. 77 in northern Refugio county. Flooding also occured on many streets in Tivoli with water reaching into a few homes. (see episode narrative below for estimated rainfall)
Flooding reported along many secondary roads around in extreme southern Victoria county. Kay Creek also reported out of banks near McFaddin. (see episode narrative below for estimated rainfall)
Flooding reported by NWS employee along Highway 44 in Robstown. Numerous Farm to Market roads througout Nueces county also had water over them.
Trained spotter reported large tree limbs down and power lines blown over.
Trained spotter reported a tornado briefly touching down over open country near Highway 185, northwest of Green Lake.
Recorded at the Dow Chemical Plant. Office trailer was blown on it's side.
NWS storm survey concluded tornado touched down in Long Mott and crossed Highway 185. Tornado damaged a home and adjacent barn as well as uprooted several large trees. Eleven power poles along Highway 185 were downed. An ultra-light aircraft also sustained damage.
Law enforcement reported flooding along Highway 35 near 185. (see episode narrative below for estimated rainfall)
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2004Warnings in Texas, April 2004
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: 5394352, 5394353, 5394281, 5394280, 5394277, 5394282, 5394283, 5394286, 5394354, 5394355, 5394357, 5394284, 5394285, 5394278, 5394287, 5394279, 5394356.