The approach of a weak late season cold front, strong upper level westerly winds and increasing atmospheric moisture fueled strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of Deep South Texas Saturday May 16. Welcome rains eventually spread across much of Deep South Texas, particularly from western Hidalgo northeast into western Kenedy County, extending out toward the Rio Grande Plains of eastern…
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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 BRO wrote it up.
The approach of a weak late season cold front, strong upper level westerly winds and increasing atmospheric moisture fueled strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of Deep South Texas Saturday May 16. Welcome rains eventually spread across much of Deep South Texas, particularly from western Hidalgo northeast into western Kenedy County, extending out toward the Rio Grande Plains of eastern Zapata County. Localized, nuisance flooding occurred in heavier rain and/or poor drainage locations of Hidalgo and Starr County.
The storms weakened as the moved east during the late afternoon and evening, still dropping relieving rainfall into eastern Hidalgo, Willacy, and western Cameron County. A spark of redevelopment early on May 17th near the Rio Grande dropped more heavy rains between the Brownsville Airport and the Town of South Padre Island.
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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 16, 1:31 PM CST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 231 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 .DISCUSSION...THE MAIN CONCERN IN THE SHORT RANGE WILL BE THE CONV POTENTIAL AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT PUSHING THROUGH CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN TX THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE CURRENT KBRO RADAR TRENDS SHOWS A GOOD CLUSTER OF HVY RAIN PRODUCING CONV CENTERED OVER THE NW PORTION OF THE BRO CWA. THIS ACTIVITY IS BUILDING SLOWLY E-SE. LAPS CAPE VALUES SHOWS A POOL OF >2000 J/KG JUST TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THIS AREA OF CONV AND ACCORDINGLY EXPECT THIS CURRENT CONV TO HOLD TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH TO REACH THE COASTLINE. FURTHER ALOFT...500 MB TROFFING AND DECENT VORTICITY WILL PERSIST ACROSS MUCH OF THE BRO CWA INTO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING HELPING ENHANCE THE CONV POTENTIAL. LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY...THE COLD FRONT WILL THEN APPROACH THE REGION HELPING TO ENHANCE THE UVV AND CONV CHCS THROUGH TOMORROW. THE LIMITING FACTOR OVERNIGHT FOR THE SVR CONV POTENTIAL WILL BE THE LACK OF DAYTIME HEATING AHEAD OF THE FROPA. ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE POTENTIAL IS FAIRLY LIMITED AT THIS TIME...AN ISOLATED SVR T-STORM IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THIS CONV WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE LATEST 5 DAY QPF FROM HPC PLACES A 1 TO 1.5 INCH TOTAL OVER THE EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE BRO CWA WITH OVERALL AMOUNTS LESS THAN ONE INCH OVER THE REST OF THE REGION. ALTHOUGH THIS WILL MAKE A PRETTY GOOD DENT IN THE CURRENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS...DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY WIDESPREAD FLOODING PROBLEMS DUE TO THE EXTREMELY DRY SOIL CONDITIONS. FOR POPS AND TEMPS...THE MAV AND MET NUMBERS SHOW PRETTY DECENT CONSISTENCY THROUGH DAY 3 AND WILL STICK FAIRLY CLOSE TO THESE NUMBERS FOR THE MOST PART. HOWEVER...WILL BRING THE POPS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT IN A BIT EARLIER CONSIDERING THE STRENGTH OF THE CONV CURRENTLY FIRING OVER THE NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES. AFTER THE FRONT CLEARS THE REGION AND MORE STABLE AIR FILTERS IN FROM THE N-NE...EXPECT A QUICK RETURN TO DRY CONDITIONS ONCE AGAIN AS 500 MB RIDGING REBUILDS OVER THE WESTERN GULF COAST REGION. WILL GO NEAR TO SLIGHT BELOW NORMAL TEMPS THROUGH DAY 7 WITH NIL POP VALUES. RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY WITH THE LATEST GFS MEX MOS NUMBERS ARE PRETTY STABLE FROM DAYS 3 THROUGH 7. WILL NOT DEVIATE TOO MUCH FROM THIS OVERALL TREND. ON A FINAL NOTE...THE FIRST SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE TROPICS SHOWS UP IN THE LATEST RUNS OF THE GFS AND ECMWF. BOTH MODELS TRY TO SPIN UP A BROAD SURFACE LOW ACROSS THE EASTERN GULF OF MEX AND THE NW CARIB AFTER TUES AND TRY TO MOVE THIS FEATURE TOWARDS THE FL PANHANDLE LATER THIS WEEK. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST DISCS AND MARINE/TROPICAL FORECASTS FROM NHC CONCERNING THIS POSSIBLE SURFACE FEATURE. && .AVIATION...VFR CIGS CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. TOWERING CU DEVELOPING AS FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH. THUNDERSTORM COMPLEXES TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST WILL DISTURB FLIGHT CORRIDORS AND MAY PROVIDE DELAYS AT LOWER TEXAS AIRPORTS. HAVE ADDED VCSH WITH TEMPO TSRA FOR THE DAY...AND WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDED FOR THE NIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING FOR SECOND MAIN SQUALL LINE NEAR KSAT. && .MARINE...AT 1PM BUOY020 REPORTED SOUTHEAST WINDS AT 14KTS AND SEAS 4.5 FEET. COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH TEXAS...WITH SQUALL LINE PASSING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO ATTM. FEW SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL NOT END UNTIL THE FRONT PASSES SOMETIME TOMORROW MORNING...WHEN WINDS SWITCH TO THE NORTH. WINDS MAY REACH 20 KNOTS BRIEFLY DURING FRONTAL PASSAGE...BUT WILL BE BRIEF. NORTH WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE...REMAINING AROUND 10 KNOTS THROUGH MIDWEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 73 84 68 84 / 60 70 40 10 BROWNSVILLE 72 84 69 86 / 60 70 40 10 HARLINGEN 71 84 67 87 / 60 70 30 10 MCALLEN 72 85 68 91 / 60 70 30 10 RIO GRANDE CITY 72 86 69 92 / 60 60 30 10 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 75 84 70 84 / 60 70 40 10 && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BROWNSVILLE SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...60 MARINE/AVIATION...64 MESO/GRAPHICAST...VEGA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 233 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-TXZ248>257-171100- LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TO THE ARROYO COLORADO- LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE ARROYO COLORADO TO 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TX- LAGUNA MADRE FROM 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BAFFIN BAY TX- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM-ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 233 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS...THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH PORTIONS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS IN ADVANCE OF A WEAK COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. ANY SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS...CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY MAY PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF STRONG GUSTY WINDS...CLOUD TO SURFACE LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL SUNDAY INTO MONDAY MORNING. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE POSSIBLE ON MONDAY IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE THROUGH DEEP SOUTH TEXAS ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. MARTIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 1239 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 TXZ248>250-161815- JIM HOGG-ZAPATA-BROOKS- 1239 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN ZAPATA...JIM HOGG...AND BROOKS COUNTIES... A THUNDERSTORM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH...WILL AFFECT NORTHERN JIM HOGG...NORTHERN ZAPATA AND NORTHWEST BROOKS COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. DUE TO THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS...LOCALIZED ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. && WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN USING WIPERS...TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THAT COULD HIDE POTHOLES OR CAUSE HYDROPLANING. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. REMEMBER: VISIBILITY AND TRACTION LEAVE TIME FOR REACTION 64/JS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 126 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 TXZ248>250-162030- JIM HOGG-ZAPATA-BROOKS- 126 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009 ...TORRENTIAL RAINS CONTINUE FOR ZAPATA...JIM HOGG AND BROOKS COUNTIES... THUNDERSTORMS DRIFT SLOWLY EAST AND SOUTHEAST...WILL AFFECT HEBBRONVILLE...AS WELL AS THE REST OF JIM HOGG...NORTHERN ZAPATA AND NORTHWEST BROOKS COUNTIES...THROUGH 330 PM CDT. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. && WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN USING WIPERS...TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THAT COULD HIDE POTHOLES OR CAUSE HYDROPLANING. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. REMEMBER: VISIBILITY AND TRACTION LEAVE TIME FOR REACTION 64/JS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
430 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0429 PM TSTM WND GST MCCOOK 26.48N 98.38W
05/16/2009 E58 MPH HIDALGO TX CO-OP OBSERVER
NWS CO-0P OBSERVER REPORTS ESTIMATED WIND GUST TO 50
KNOTS
&&
AVEGAThe Brownsville radar (KBRO), 185 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:29 UTC.
3 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS) location at Falcon Lake reported 2.29 inches of rain from two separate thunderstorms, one during the mid afternoon and one during the evening of May 16th.
A cooperative observer reported 3.18 inches of rain in less than an hour near La Joya from a thunderstorm moving quickly through. The public reported localized minor flooding in this area.
A CO-OP observer in McCook reported heavy rainfall from a severe thunderstorms which produced wind gusts a little above 50 mph. A few minutes later, the same observer reported winds estimated near 60 mph, along with very heavy rainfall and frequent lightning.
A cooperative observer in Edinburg reported 2.05 inches of rain in less than an hour with a fast moving strong thunderstorm. The rain caused brief, minor street flooding during the late afternoon but no observable damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2009
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: 159543, 159541, 159544, 159542.