Tornado and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 18, 2008

Name: Tornado and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 18, 2008
Start: 2008-03-18T13:40
End: 2008-03-18T14:00
Location: Texas

March 18, 2008 · NWS CRP · 2 events in 1 county or zone

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: $55,000
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 happened

The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.

A strong impulse in the base of a southern branch trough moved into South Texas during the late morning and early afternoon. As this happened an elevated mixed layer will advected north northeastward out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and into the Coastal Bend. On the nose of this air mass a zone of enhanced low-level warm advection near confluence zone just to the west of a 60-70 kt southerly 850 jet streak became the focus for convective development across the Coastal Bend. Mixed layer capes of 1000-2000 J/KG, a large clockwise curved low-level hodograph, and strong deep layer shear combined to produce supercell, with a tornadic storm in the city of Corpus Christi.

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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 18, 11:11 AM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 11:11 AM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
1211 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

.UPDATE...THE UPPER LOW IS SITUATED OVER THE BIG BEND REGION THIS
MID-DAY. THE UPPER LOW WILL PUSH INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE LONE
STAR STATE THIS LATE AFTERNOON. THERE ARE SOME SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN RIO GRANDE PLAINS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE COLD POOL OF THE UPPER LOW. SOME OF THESE SHOWERS MAY
SKIM EXTREME NORTHERN LASALLE AND MCMULLEN COUNTIES. ASSOCIATED
COLD FRONT WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM HAS PUSHED EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY
16 WITH A THIN LINE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS FROM
THREE RIVERS TO ALICE. THIS LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
TRACK FROM WEST TO EAST AND PERHAPS INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND
MAYBE INTENSITY THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY WITH CAP
STARTING TO ERODE AND WITH INSTABILITY INCREASING FURTHER EAST OF
HIGHWAY 37. THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PUSH
OFFSHORE AFTER 2 PM.

A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL SET UP ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS AS THE
LOW PUSHES TO THE EAST AND AS A SURFACE HIGH SETTLES AROUND THE
BIG BEND REGION. AS A RESULT STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS
ARE ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE REGION.
THE TIGHTEST PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL TRANSLATE TO THE MARINE AREAS
DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHERE SUSTAINED GALE WINDS WILL BE QUITE
FEASIBLE. WILL GO AHEAD AND ISSUE WIND ADVISORY FOR AREAS WEST OF
HIGHWAY 281 FROM 1 PM TO 1 AM...PARTICULARLY WITH PRESSURE FALLS OF
5 MB WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE JUST RECENTLY. WILL EXTEND THE WIND ADVISORY
FOR AREAS EAST OF 281 FROM 6 PM TO 1 AM. OTHERWISE...CURRENT
FORECAST IS ON TRACK.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 307 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008/

SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...STRONG CONVECTION FIRING
UPSTREAM AT THIS HOUR...WITH MULTIPLE TORNADO WATCHES JUST NORTH
OF THE CWFA. CIRCULATIONS SUGGEST A SURFACE LOW JUST NORTH OF
KDRT...WITH ANOTHER MESOLOW NEAR KLRD...WHICH TO THIS POINT HAS
SEEN PRECIOUS LITTLE CONVECTION.

MODELS CONTINUE IN FAIR AGREEMENT TO BRING BEST CHANCES FOR
PRECIPITATION ALMOST DUE EASTWARD...KEEPING THE BRUNT OF IT NORTH OF
US. STILL EXPECT A LINE OR CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS TO PROPAGATE
EASTWARD...DROPPING THROUGH THE VICTORIA CROSSROADS AREA ON ITS WAY
TOWARD SOUTHEAST TEXAS. HAVE ORIENTED POPS AND QPF ACCORDINGLY.

DRY AIR TO MOVE IN FAIRLY QUICKLY OVER THE NORTHERN RIO GRANDE
PLAINS AFTER THE TROF PASSAGE...AND HAVE CONVERTED THE FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR THE FOUR WESTERN COUNTIES INTO A RED FLAG WARNING
EFFECTIVE THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE MARGINAL FOR A WARNING...BUT
WITH VERY DRY AIR AND ANTECEDENT CONDITIONS FIRE DANGER IS
HEIGHTENED CONSIDERABLY.

HAVE OPTED AGAINST RENEWING THE WIND ADVISORY TODAY. GRADIENT IS
FORECAST TO BE NOT QUITE AS TIGHT AS YESTERDAY...SO ALTHOUGH SOME
GUSTINESS IS LIKELY ESPECIALLY WEST...FEEL SUSTAINED WINDS WILL
REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA.

FORECAST PICTURE EASES CONSIDERABLY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AS DRY AIR
AND HIGH PRESSURE INHIBIT ANY CHANCE OF CONVECTION...AND DRY AIR
ALLOWS FOR EXPANDED DIURNAL RANGES...ESPECIALLY ON THE MAX SIDE
WHERE NUMERICAL GUIDANCE HAS BEEN MUCH TOO COOL RECENTLY.

MARINE...SCA CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON
BEFORE BEGINNING TO SLACKEN.

LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...WINDS DIMINISH
WEDNESDAY EVENING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA...LEADING
TO A COOL NIGHT WITH TEMPS IN THE 40S. THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST
AND A WEAK TO MODERATE ONSHORE FLOW RESUMES THURSDAY. THE SYNOPTIC
FLOW REMAINS ZONAL THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITH A GRADUAL
WARMING TREND ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL PUSH
THROUGH THE AREA ON SUNDAY. AT THIS TIME MOISTURE APPEARS RATHER
LIMITED...AND WILL LEAVE GHOST 10 POPS IN GRIDS AND EXCLUDE
MENTION OF PRECIP.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI    79  50  79  47  76  /  40   0   0   0   0
VICTORIA          78  48  76  41  73  /  60  10   0   0   0
LAREDO            90  52  85  49  85  /  10   0   0   0   0
ALICE             83  46  81  44  77  /  20   0   0   0   0
ROCKPORT          76  55  77  48  72  /  60  10   0   0   0
COTULLA           78  46  83  42  81  /  10  10   0   0   0
KINGSVILLE        83  47  81  44  76  /  30   0   0   0   0
NAVY CORPUS       76  56  78  53  73  /  40   0   0   0   0

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...WIND ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: ARANSAS...BEE...CALHOUN...GOLIAD...JIM
     WELLS...KLEBERG...LIVE OAK...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN
     PATRICIO...VICTORIA.

     RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: DUVAL...LA SALLE...MCMULLEN...WEBB.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY
     EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: DUVAL...LA SALLE...
     MCMULLEN...WEBB.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     DUVAL...LA SALLE...MCMULLEN...WEBB.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COASTAL WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20
     NM...COASTAL WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL
     OUT 20 NM...WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS 20 TO 60 NM...
     WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 TO 60 NM.

     GALE WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS...
     BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT OCONNOR...
     COASTAL WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM...
     COASTAL WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT
     20 NM...WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS 20 TO 60 NM...
     WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 TO 60 NM.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
     FOLLOWING ZONES: BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT
     ARANSAS...BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT
     OCONNOR.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM CDT
     WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM
     BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS...BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT
     ARANSAS TO PORT OCONNOR.

&&

SC/70...SHORT TERM
MB/80...LONG TERM

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 1:06 PM CST, 34 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
206 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-191030-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS-
BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT OCONNOR-
COASTAL WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 TO 60 NM-
LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL-
JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN-
206 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE
TEXAS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

BEHIND A COLD FRONT...GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE
ANTICIPATED ACROSS SOUTH SOUTH TEXAS. WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
GUSTS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED JUST PAST MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL CONTINUE FOR MARINE AREAS THROUGH
THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO
GALE FORCE OVERNIGHT ACROSS ALL COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTH TEXAS.
HENCE...A GALE WARNING WILL POSTED OVERNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ON WEDNESDAY. LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE WITH THESE GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS...RESULTING
IN NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY. A FIRE WEATHER
WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF LINE FROM
THREE RIVERS TO ALICE TO PREMONT FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL ALSO OCCUR DURING THE DAY
WEDNESDAY...BEFORE WINDS SLOWLY SUBSIDE WEDNESDAY EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

SCC

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 18, 12:58 PM CST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
158 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

TXZ233-234-181945-
GOLIAD-VICTORIA-
158 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS AFFECTING GOLIAD AND VICTORIA
COUNTIES...

AT 156 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GOLIAD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

JM

Special weather statement, Mar 18, 1:23 PM CST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
223 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

TXZ243>246-182030-
ARANSAS-NUECES-REFUGIO-SAN PATRICIO-
223 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING ARANSAS...NUECES...REFUGIO AND
SAN PATRICIO COUNTIES...

AT 221 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WOODSBORO TO THE
SOUTH SIDE OF CORPUS CHRISTI...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

WEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL
CAN BE EXPECTED.

JM

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Tornado, Nueces

When: March 18, 1:40 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Nueces County, 0.86 mi SSW of Gardendale to 1.69 mi W of Texas A and I
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.34 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 27.688, -97.385

A tornado touched down near the east side of the Country Club Estates subdivision at Staples St, and continued east across Wooldridge, through the intersection of Holly and Airline, and to Nile and S.P.I.D. (Hwy 358) where it dissipated. EF-0 damage occurred along the entire path with mainly fences and tree limbs damage. More notable damage was noted at the Saratoga Cove Apartments, Frost Bank, and a deluxe extended stay hotel, where fences were blown down, signs blown out, and minor shingle damage occurred.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nueces

When: March 18, 1:40 PM CST to 1:50 PM CST
Where: Nueces County, 1.21 mi SSW of Gardendale to 1.18 mi S of Gardendale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 27.684, -97.388

The rear flank downdraft of a tornadic supercell produced straight line wind damage around Staples St. and Saratoga Blvd. Primary damage was to fences and signs to a few businesses.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2008 Warnings in Texas, March 2008

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: 86996, 86997.