A series of upper level disturbances, an unstable atmosphere and an approaching cold front produced showers and thunderstorms across portions of Deep South Texas throughout the day May 24th. During the early morning hours, a small thunderstorm complex intensified over the western portion of the Lower RGV before accelerating through Weslaco, La Feria, Brownsville, and South Padre Island then…
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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.
A series of upper level disturbances, an unstable atmosphere and an approaching cold front produced showers and thunderstorms across portions of Deep South Texas throughout the day May 24th. During the early morning hours, a small thunderstorm complex intensified over the western portion of the Lower RGV before accelerating through Weslaco, La Feria, Brownsville, and South Padre Island then raced into the Gulf. Wind gusts to 50 mph or higher along with brief but frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes caused damage around daybreak. After a hot and sunny day, another round of storms crossed the Lower Valley during the mid evening, producing more hail and severe wind gusts.
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 24, 2:54 AM CST, 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 354 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 .DISCUSSION...MAIN CONCERN FOR THIS MORNING IS THE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX TRAVERSING THE CWA. THIS COMPLEX STARTED WEST OF ZAPATA AT THE BEGINNING OF SHIFT...10 PM...AND IS NOW OVER MUCH OF HIDALGO COUNTY. HOW MUCH WILL PERSIST BY 6 AM WHICH IS VALID TIME FOR THE FORECAST PACKAGE. STRONGEST PORTION OF COMPLEX MOVING SOUTHEAST WELL SOUTH OF THE BORDER WHILE THE NORTHERN EDGE IS SLOWLY DISSIPATING. IR SATELLITE SUGGEST WARMING OF THE TOPS IN THE NORTH WITH MUCH COLDER TOPS IN THE SOUTH. WILL ADDED CHANCE POPS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE MORNING BUT WILL MONITOR UNTIL SHIFT ENDS AROUND 6 AM. OTHERWISE...WEATHER PATTERN STILL RESEMBLES AN ACTIVE SEA BREEZE SCENARIO WITH LIGHT EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS MODERATE HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AND PLENTY OF HEATING TO HELP INITIATE THE STORMS. LOW LEVEL WINDS ALSO SUGGEST SOME LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON MAYBE ENHANCING THE AREAL COVERAGE. AT THIS TIME THINKING THAT DEBRIS CLOUDS FROM MORNING COMPLEX MAY KEEP AFTERNOON ACTIVITY AT BAY SO WILL MAINTAIN THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR NOW. TRENDED WITH THE WARMER MAV TEMPS BUT THIS MAY NOT OCCUR IF CLOUDS HOLD ON THROUGH THE DAY. BEYOND TODAY RAIN CHANCES DIMINISH AND TEMPERATURES RISE MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS LOW PRESSURE TROUGH DEVELOPS OVER THE ARKLATEX REGION WITH AN UPPER HIGH BUILDING OVER SOUTHWEST TEXAS. THIS PRODUCES A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS WHICH SHOULD HELP LOWER THE MOISTURE CONTENT AND REDUCE THE RAIN CHANCES FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. DOWNSLOPING AFFECT INCREASES TEMPERATURES WITH THE CENTURY MARK BEING BROKEN OUT WEST AND MID TO UPPER 90S FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER VALLEY. OVERNIGHT LOWS ALSO STAYING QUITE WARM AS WELL. MODELS SUGGEST AN UPTICK IN RAIN CHANCES FOR MIDDLE TO END OF THE WEEK. CONFIDENCE NOT HIGH AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO INCREASE POPS BEYOND SLIGHT CHANCE. A SURFACE BOUNDARY TO PUSH SOUTH FROM DEPARTING UPPER TROUGH. CONVERGENCE AND INTERACTION WITH SEABREEZE MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION. SLIGHT CHANCES WERE ADDED FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY WITH DAY TO DAY CHANGES LIKELY. TEMPERATURES SHOULD MODERATE WITH THE POSSIBLE INCREASE OF CLOUDS DUE TO THE POSSIBLE RAIN. && .AVIATION...WINDS WILL CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTH AROUND 10KTS TO START THE DAY. THE SEA BREEZE IS EXPECTED TO PROGRESS INLAND DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON...SWITCHING WINDS TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE SEA BREEZE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO SPARK A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS WILL BE ISOLATED...BUT WILL BRING LOCALIZED DOWNPOURS WITH REDUCED VIS AND VARIABLY GUSTY WINDS. && .MARINE...AT 3AM BUOY020 REPORTED SOUTH WINDS AT 12KTS AND SEAS 3 FEET WITH AN 8 SECOND PERIOD FROM THE ENE. WAVE HEIGHTS HAVE BEGUN TO LOWER...WHILE PERIOD LENGTH IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DECREASE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS THE EFFECTS FROM THE BROAD LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF HAVE MOVED WELL INLAND. SOUTHERLY FLOW HAS BEGUN OVER THE COASTAL WATERS AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF THE UPCOMING WEEK. WINDS WILL REMAIN IN THE 10 TO 15 KNOT RANGE...SO ADVISORIES ARE NOT EXPECTED. A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS WEEK...MAINLY EARLY WEEK BEFORE RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE CURRENTLY MOVING TOWARD THE COAST...AND MAY BRING BREEZY CONDITIONS AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING IN THE REGION AFTER SUNRISE POSSIBLY LASTING THROUGH NOON. EXPECT SLIGHTLY HIGHER WATER AT THE BEACHES AROUND HIGH TIDE AT 614 AM SUNDAY MORNING AS THE TIDES HAVE BEEN RUNNING ABOUT A FOOT ABOVE PREDICTED. HIGH TIDE WILL BE 2.5 TO 3 FEET...WHICH MAY RESULT IN RUN UP ALONG THE BEACHES. RIP CURRENT RISK IS MODERATE AND MAY DECREASE FURTHER IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AS THE SWELL COMPONENT DIMINISHES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 92 75 94 78 / 40 10 20 10 BROWNSVILLE 95 75 96 78 / 40 10 20 10 HARLINGEN 97 74 97 76 / 40 10 20 10 MCALLEN 98 74 99 76 / 40 20 10 10 RIO GRANDE CITY 98 74 102 76 / 10 20 10 10 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 87 76 88 77 / 20 10 20 10 && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BROWNSVILLE 59/64
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 233 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2009 TXZ248>257-241945- ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 233 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-241945- 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- 233 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 125 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 TXZ248-249-252-240800- JIM HOGG-ZAPATA-STARR- 125 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT WESTERN ZAPATA COUNTY... THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH...WILL AFFECT BUSTAMANTE...ZAPATA...FALCON AND FALCON DAM...UNTIL 300 AM CDT. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. MOTORISTS MAY WANT TO DELAY TRAVEL. BRIEFLY GUSTY WINDS CAN ALSO BE EXPERIENCED AHEAD OF THE THUNDERSTORM. && 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
The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 62 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:46 UTC.
4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
An emergency manager reported that lightning struck a home in Weslaco during an early morning thunderstorm. A fire engulfed the home which was completed destroyed. There were no injuries reported.
A trained spotter reported they had estimated a wind gust up to approximately 60 miles per hour during a thunderstorm approximately 5 miles southwest of the Harlingen Airport.
Measured winds of 53 mph were recorded at the Isla Grande Resort on the south side of the Town of South Padre Island as a strong thunderstorm swept through. Awnings blew down nearby at Isla Blanca park, where winds may have been a bit higher in the exposed area.
A trained spotter reported nickel size hail fell in Donna during a thunderstorm that moved through Hidalgo County.
Quarter size hail fell along Milagros Road between Donna and Weslaco during a thunderstorm that moved through Hidalgo County. A news reporter from KRGV-TV-5 reported nickel size hail in the vicinity at around the same time.
A trained spotter reported that half-dollar size hail fell in Weslaco during a thunderstorm that moved through Hidalgo County.
A Raymondville Volunteer Fire Department employee reported penny size hail fell in the city of Raymondville during a thunderstorm that moved through Willacy County. The Willacy County Emergency Manager also reported penny size hail had fallen in the city of Raymondville during this thunderstorm.
A microburst from a cluster of thunderstorms moving through Raymondville toward Lyford rolled a new but unsecured mobile home just west of Raymondville. Nearby, several fences were blown down, and the door to an industrial building was blown in. Farther south, at about the same time, an amateur radio operator reported |estimated wind gusts of 50 mph or higher occurred just north of Lyford.
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: 163938, 163937, 163939, 173998, 173999, 163941, 163942, 163943.