During the late evening of April 1st, 2012 and the early morning hours of April 2nd, a strong to severe squall line developed across Mexico and then later moved through South Texas. An area of low pressure aloft located both over the Rockies and East Texas helped set the stage for isolated severe storms embedded within the line.
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 CRP wrote it up.
During the late evening of April 1st, 2012 and the early morning hours of April 2nd, a strong to severe squall line developed across Mexico and then later moved through South Texas. An area of low pressure aloft located both over the Rockies and East Texas helped set the stage for isolated severe storms embedded within the line. The upper level forcing from these two areas of low pressure along with very unstable conditions helped to maintain the squall line as it moved eastward overnight. Straight-line winds averaged between 45 and 55 mph behind the squall line with isolated gusts over 60 mph.
However, as the squall line neared the town of Port Lavaca, a downburst embedded within the squall line produced winds up to 80 mph along a narrow 1/2 mile wide path that extended for nearly 2 miles in length. Radar images indicated winds over 70 mph at an elevation of nearly 6500 feet as the squall line entered Port Lavaca. Several telephone poles were snapped along with numerous large tree limbs down and a few uprooted trees. Minor roof damage also occurred at a business in Port Lavaca.
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 1, 10:54 PM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1154 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012 .DISCUSSION...SEE AVIATION SECTION FOR 06Z TAFS. && .AVIATION...CONVECTION NEAR COTULLA TO NORTHWEST OF LAREDO WILL LIKELY REACH LAREDO BEFORE 6Z WITH LINGERING MVFR CEILINGS/VSBYS IN THE HEAVIER SHOWERS UNTIL 08Z. OTHERWISE...LOW LEVEL FLOW IS A BIT STRONGER TONIGHT WITH SOUTHERLY JET AT 30-35 KNOTS. THIS SHOULD KEEP CEILINGS FROM LOWERING INTO VLIFR RANGE LIKE LAST NIGHT. EXPECT LOW END MVFR CEILINGS PREVALENT OVER MUCH OF THE REGION WILL LOWER TO IFR BY 09Z AND CONTINUE UNTIL 15Z. ISOLATED STREAMER SHOWERS MAY ALSO AFFECT THE MID COAST REGION OVERNIGHT. SLOW IMPROVEMENT THROUGH MVFR TO VFR BY 18-19Z EXCEPT FOR THE VICTORIA CROSSROADS WHERE CEILINGS WILL PERSIST INTO AFTERNOON. EXPECT STRATUS/MVFR CEILINGS WILL MOVE BACK INTO THE AREA IN THE EVENING/02-03Z TUESDAY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 924 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012/ DISCUSSION...STORMS THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN IN NORTHERN COAHUILA CONTINUE TO HOLD TOGETHER AS THEY MOVE SOUTHEAST. STEERING FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN FROM THE NORTHWEST AS THE WEAK MID/UPPER LEVEL LOW NORTH OF MATAGORDA BAY LIFTS NORTH-NORTHEAST INTO EAST TEXAS OVERNIGHT. THE STORMS WILL PROPAGATE INTO 85H THETA-E RIDGE AXIS AND STRONG 850-925 MB SOUTHERLY FLOW OF 25-30 KNOTS. THIS SHOULD SUSTAIN CONVECTION INTO THE WESTERN BRUSH COUNTRY. CAPE VALUES REMAIN FAIRLY HIGH THIS EVENING AROUND 2500 J/KG AND LIFTED INDEX VALUES AROUND -9 DEGREES. COULD SEE THE STORMS REMAIN STRONG TO SEVERE INTO THE WESTERN BRUSH COUNTRY THIS EVENING. A COUPLE OF THE WRF MODELS INDICATE A POSSIBLE CONVECTIVE CLUSTER DEVELOPING OVER THE GULF WATERS FROM THE LOWER TEXAS COAST OVERNIGHT...LIKELY FOCUSING ON THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF THE UPPER JET STREAK PASSING BY TO THE SOUTH OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. WILL INSERT A CONDITIONAL SLIGHT CHANCE FOR STORMS OVER THE WATERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. STILL LOOKS LIKE STREAMER SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE MID COAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... CORPUS CHRISTI 71 87 73 84 69 / 10 10 20 40 20 VICTORIA 70 85 71 82 65 / 20 20 20 50 20 LAREDO 71 97 73 90 65 / 30 10 20 20 10 ALICE 70 90 72 86 67 / 10 10 20 40 10 ROCKPORT 73 83 74 82 71 / 20 20 20 40 20 COTULLA 68 93 69 87 60 / 30 20 40 30 10 KINGSVILLE 71 88 72 86 68 / 10 10 20 40 20 NAVY CORPUS 73 83 74 81 71 / 10 10 20 40 20 && .CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && TMT/89...SHORT TERM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 932 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012 GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-021100- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT O'CONNOR- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- 932 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE WESTERN BRUSH COUNTRY LATER TONIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS LATE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED. TMT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1136 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012 TXZ229-239-020530- LA SALLE-WEBB- 1136 PM CDT SUN APR 1 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING LA SALLE AND WEBB COUNTIES... AT 1131 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF MILLET TO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CATARINA TO 14 MILES SOUTH OF CHUPADERA RANCH AIRPORT...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... WOODWARD BY 1140 PM CDT. MILLETT BY 1145 PM CDT. GARDENDALE BY 1150 PM CDT. ARTESIA WELLS BY 1155 PM CDT. LA ESPERANZA RANCH AIRPORT BY MIDNIGHT CDT. LOS ANGELES BY 1210 AM CDT. WINDS AROUND 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLY SMALL HAIL ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. TMT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1225 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 TXZ229-230-239-240-020630- DUVAL-LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-WEBB- 1225 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING DUVAL...LA SALLE...MCMULLEN AND WEBB COUNTIES... AT 1223 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOS ANGELES TO 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF ENCINAL TO LAS TIENDAS TO 27 MILES WEST OF COLUMBIA BRIDGE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... FOWLERTON BY 1240 AM CDT. FORT EWELL SITE BY 1245 AM CDT. RANCHOS PENITAS WEST BY 1255 AM CDT. ORVIL BY 100 AM CDT. DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF LAREDO BY 105 AM CDT. TEXAS AM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BY 110 AM CDT. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. 87
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 119 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 TXZ229>231-239-240-020700- DUVAL-LA SALLE-LIVE OAK-MCMULLEN-WEBB- 119 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING DUVAL...LA SALLE...LIVE OAK... MCMULLEN AND WEBB COUNTIES... AT 114 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TILDEN TO 17 MILES NORTHEAST OF RANCHITOS LAS LOMAS TO RANCHOS PENITAS WEST...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TILDEN TO 24 MILES WEST OF FREER TO 11 MILES NORTH OF LAREDO...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CALLIHAM BY 125 AM CDT. SIMMONS BY 135 AM CDT. RANCHITOS LAS LOMAS BY 140 AM CDT. GEORGE WEST BY 150 AM CDT. CLEGG BY 155 AM CDT. ANNAROSE BY 200 AM CDT. DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. 87
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 318 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 TXZ232>234-242>246-020915- ARANSAS-BEE-GOLIAD-KLEBERG-NUECES-REFUGIO-SAN PATRICIO-VICTORIA- 318 AM CDT MON APR 2 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE AFFECTING ARANSAS...BEE...GOLIAD... KLEBERG...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN PATRICIO AND VICTORIA COUNTIES... AT 314 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SCHROEDER TO 8 MILES EAST OF RIVIERA BEACH...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES WEST OF VICTORIA TO 16 MILES EAST OF SARITA...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... BAY AREA MEDICAL CENTER BY 325 AM CDT. VICTORIA DETAR HOSPITAL NORTH BY 330 AM CDT. INGLESIDE ON THE BAY BY 335 AM CDT. VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT BY 340 AM CDT. GUADALUPE BY 345 AM CDT. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. CB
The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:44 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Power outages due to power lines being blown down occurred near Oso Bay to the south of Texas A&M University Corpus Christi campus.
Nickel to quarter sized hail was reported in Seadrift.
A NWS storm survey concluded that a downburst occurred in the city of Port Lavaca with estimated winds between up to 80 mph. Several homes in the path of the downburst sustained minor roof damage. Two telephone poles were snapped at their base. Numerous large tree limbs were down along with a few uprooted trees. The damage path was approximately a half mile wide and 2 miles in length, beginning near Alcoa Drive and extending northeast to near Travis Street to the south of Highway 35.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2012
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: 377341, 377340, 377343.