Strong daytime heating ahead of a weak cold front led to an unstable atmosphere over South Central Texas. When the cold front moved into the area it caused isolated severe thunderstorms in the central part of the area.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 EWX wrote it up.
Strong daytime heating ahead of a weak cold front led to an unstable atmosphere over South Central Texas. When the cold front moved into the area it caused isolated severe thunderstorms in the central part of the area.
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 24, 11:34 AM CST, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1234 PM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010 .DISCUSSION... SEE AVIATION SECTION BELOW FOR THE 18Z AVIATION FORECAST. .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THIS AFTERNOON. CURRENTLY CU FIELD DEVELOPING ACROSS THE WESTERN HILL COUNTRY THEN EST TO AUS. A WEAK COLD FRONT LOCATED FROM WEST OF DFW TO EAST OF SJT TO NORTH OF DRYDEN WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. EXPECT WIDELY SCATTERED TO SCATTERED SHRA/TSRA TO DEVELOP ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT MAINLY FROM 00Z-09Z. WITH THE SHRA/TSRA MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED. THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING CONVECTIVE WIND GUST OF 40 TO 50 KTS. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS WILL BECOME E-NE AT 5 TO 10 KTS BETWEEN 20-23Z. N/NE WINDS WILL INCREASE TO NEAR 10 KTS AFTER 14Z WED AS SFC HIGH BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION. COULD SEE LINGERING SHRA THROUGH 18Z WED ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE REGION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1048 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010/ DISCUSSION... HAVE DONE A QUICK UPDATE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LATEST TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS. TEMPS ARE TRENDING A BIT WARMER THIS MORNING...AND DEWPOINTS ARE A FEW DEGREES LOWER THAN EXPECTED. STILL EXPECTING A HOT AFTERNOON WITH TRIPLE DIGITS EXPECTED. UPPER WAVE TO THE NORTH OVER THE PANHANDLES OF TX/OK AND THE WEAK FRONT SAGGING SOUTH OVER NORTHWEST TX STILL POSE A THREAT FOR SH/TS TO FORM LATE THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING OVER THE NORTHWEST HILL COUNTRY. SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE CAPE TO WORK WITH THIS AFTERNOON AS A RESULT OF THE DRY LOWER ATMOSPHERE...BUT CAPES INCREASE AS THE SUN GOES DOWN AND MOISTURE STARTS TO REBOUND. ALL MODELS IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT ON BRINGING DOWN CONVECTION DURING THE LATE EVENING/OVERNIGHT WITH PRIMARY THREAT AREA BEING ALONG AND WEST OF I-35. WITH INVERTED V SOUNDINGS AND THE INTENSE HEAT...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE GOING TO BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING THROUGH ABOUT 4AM. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 652 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010/ AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE DAY WITH A COLD FRONT CURRENTLY EXTENDING FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO WINK EDGING SOUTHWARD INTO THE HILL COUNTRY THIS EVENING. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WITH PATCHY MVFR CIGS IN SHOWERS AND STORMS. KDRT TAF SITE WINDS LIGHT SOUTHEAST BECOMING LIGHT NORTHEAST TO NORTH LATE THIS EVENING. I-35 CORRIDOR TAF SITE WINDS LIGHT SOUTHWEST OR LIGHT AND VARIABLE BECOMING EAST TO NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 KTS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. DISCUSSION... ANOTHER HOT DAY IS ON THE WAY AS MID LEVEL HIGH CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE LOCAL WEATHER. HOWEVER...BY LATE TONIGHT...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT EXTENDS FROM NEW MEXICO EAST NORTHEAST CONTINUING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL COME ACROSS AND AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA AND OVER PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND ALONG THE I 35 CORRIDOR. THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS ESPECIALLY DEL RIO AREA IS ANTICIPATED TO OBSERVE THE HEAVIEST SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. EXPECT SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH. ACROSS THE SAN ANTONIO AREA...SHOWERS AND FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE BUT DIMINISHING BY LATE MORNING. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BRING NEAR NORMAL VALUES TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY (94-96)AS A DRIER AND COOLER AIR MASS BEHIND THE FRONT PUSHES OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...THERE IS A CHANGE THAT MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES REBOUND A FEW DEGREES FROM NORMAL VALUES FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. ALTHOUGH...SATURDAY IS QUESTIONABLE AS CLOUDINESS AND CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS TROPICAL WAVE MOVE ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND PUSHES NORTHWARD. THIS WILL GIVE THE SOUTHERN COAST AREAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A RELATIVELY WET PERIOD FROM LATE SATURDAY INTO MONDAY. SO FAR THE MOST AFFECTED AREA ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE COASTAL ZONES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 105 74 96 72 95 / 10 30 20 10 10 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 104 73 96 70 96 / 20 30 10 10 10 NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 103 74 96 70 96 / 10 30 20 10 10 BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 101 72 91 70 91 / 20 40 20 10 10 DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 105 75 89 72 93 / - 50 30 20 10 GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 103 74 94 71 93 / 20 30 10 10 10 HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 103 73 94 71 94 / - 50 20 10 10 SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 103 74 96 70 97 / 10 30 20 10 10 LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 100 74 95 71 95 / 20 20 10 10 10 SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 102 76 94 73 95 / 10 40 20 10 10 STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 103 76 96 73 96 / 10 30 20 10 10 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 09/10/PM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1004 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010 TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-251200- LLANO-BURNET-WILLIAMSON-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA- GILLESPIE-KENDALL-BLANCO-HAYS-TRAVIS-BASTROP-LEE-KINNEY-UVALDE- MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA- FRIO-ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT- 1004 AM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ANOTHER HOT DAY IS EXPECTED WITH TEMPERATURES FROM THE UPPER 90S TO 105. HEAT INDEX VALES WILL RANGE FROM 105 TO 107 DURING THE AFTERNOON ALONG THE I-35 CORRIDOR AND ACROSS THE MID RIO GRANDE PLAINS. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT. LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY INTO THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR WIDELY SCATTERED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND BRIEF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. THE GREATEST THREAT AREA FOR STRONG STORMS WILL BE ALONG AND TO THE WEST OF I-35. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING...MAINLY WEST OF I-35.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 252 PM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010 TXZ205>207-242045- BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE- 252 PM CDT TUE AUG 24 2010 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS AFFECTING BEXAR...COMAL AND GUADALUPE COUNTIES... AT 252 PM CDT...NWS METEOROLOGISTS ARE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 30 TO 40 MPH WIND GUSTS NEAR LIVE OAK...OR 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF UNIVERSAL CITY...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH. PEOPLE IN BEXAR...SOUTHERN COMAL AND WESTERN GUADALUPE COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...SELMA...LIVE OAK...WINDCREST...KIRBY...TERRELL HILLS...ALAMO HEIGHTS...OLMOS PARK AND SAN ANTONIO...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN.
The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 58 mph which knocked a tree onto a car, twisted traffic light, and knocked large tree limbs at the intersection of Wetmore and Bitters Roads in San Antonio.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 mph which knocked down numerous tree limbs, peeled back the roof on a shed, and blew the skirting off a trailer home.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 mph which blew the roof off a shed, and blew part of the roof off a house east of Red Rock.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph which knocked down a tree that struck and injured a woman at Incarnate Word University.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 58 mph which knocked down numerous trees and damaged some roofs near Hunter Road and FM3407.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 58 mph at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. These winds bent a metal post which supported a wind sock, knocked down a couple of trees and tree limbs, knocked down temporary fencing, and broke a 4 x 4 wooden post holding a satellite dish.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 58 mph which blew down a tree across Harwood Road one mile east of FM1386.
Strong thunderstorm winds, estimated at 50 mph, blew down several trees, large limbs, and produced roof damage on several buildings and homes. The damage was mainly found a few blocks either side of Highway 90 and east of Highway 97 near Waelder.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2010
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: 256820, 256821, 256822, 256823, 256824, 256920, 256916, 256917.