On Christmas Day strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a warm front that was lifting north through the area. One of those storms produced an EF-3 tornado near Pennington, TX.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 HGX wrote it up.
On Christmas Day strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a warm front that was lifting north through the area. One of those storms produced an EF-3 tornado near Pennington, TX.
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 Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 25, 4:33 AM CST, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
433 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
.DISCUSSION...
LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF A BREAK IN THE ACTIVITY FOR SE TX ATTM AS THE
FIRST BATCH OF (ELEVATED) STORMS CONTINUES TO RACE OFF TO THE NE.
HOWEVER WE ARE STILL EXPECTING TSRA REDEVELOPMENT LATER THIS MORN-
ING ON/NEAR THE COLD FRONT...ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS. PER LATEST WV IMAGERY...PRONOUNCED DIFFLUENCE A-
LOFT NOTED OVER SE TX THIS MORNING AS DEWPTS CLIMB IN THE WAKE OF
THE WARM FRONT. SEVERE TSRA WATCH ALREADY POSTED FOR THE NRN PART
OF THE CWA BUT AS PER THE SPC DAY 1 OUTLOOK...THE THREAT EXPECTED
TO EVOLVE TO SUPERCELLS/POSSIBLE TORNADIC CELLS FOR MOST OF SE TX
FROM MID MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTN TODAY.
THE OTHER MAIN STORYLINE FOR TODAY/TONIGHT WILL THE VERY COLD AIR-
MASS THAT IS FCST TO SETTLE OVER THE REGION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.
OVERNIGHT LOWS TO FALL INTO THE MID 20S/MID 30S INLAND (UPPER 30S
COAST) BY WEDS MORNING.
A VERY PROGRESSIVE UPPER PATTERN SETTING UP THROUGH THIS FORECAST
CYCLE WITH THE NEXT COLD FRONT PROGGED FOR SE TX ON FRI. SCT POPS
WITH THIS FROPA AS LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE RETURNS QUICKLY. LONG-RANGE
GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AS GFS SEEMS
TO LIKE THE IDEA OF A SLOWER TRACK OF THE STRONG CLOSED UPPER LOW
ACROSS NRN MEXICO (WHEN COMPARED TO ECMWF). THE MAIN TAKEAWAY FOR
THIS MIGHT BE THE INCREASINGLY SW FLOW ALOFT/POSSIBLE OVERRUNNING
CLOUDS WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. HAVE TWEAKED
GRIDS ACCORDINGLY. 41
&&
.MARINE...
SCA CONDITIONS OFFSHORE AND WILL BE EXPANDING NORTHWARD THIS MORNING
SO WILL CARRY AN SCA FOR ALL WATERS. SEAS SHOULD QUICKLY BUILD TO 4-
7 FEET NEARSHORE AND 6-8 FEET OFFSHORE AS WINDS INCREASE THIS
MORNING. SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS TRACKS THROUGH THE WESTERN AND
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS WHICH WILL VEER WINDS THIS
MORNING TO THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON WITH WINDS 15-25 KNOTS. THIS
SHOULD LOWER TIDE LEVELS TO .5-1.0 FOOT BELOW NORMAL AND NOT AS LOW
THE LAST FRONT. A SHORT WINDOW FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
10AM AND 1PM. RIDGING OVER SETX WED/THU SLIDES EAST AND WITH A WARM
FRONT MOVING BACK INTO THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS BEFORE ANOTHER
COLD FRONT RACES THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 30
KNOTS A GOOD BET.
45
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW THIS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY TO DRY WEST AND
NORTHWEST FLOW THIS AFTERNOON. RAINFALL THIS MORNING SHOULD LIMIT
FIRE WEATHER THREAT. NW-NNW FLOW WEDNESDAY OF 5 TO 12 MPH AND
COOLER WEATHER WILL LIMIT THE FALL OF THE HUMIDITY IN THE
AFTERNOON TO 30- 40 PERCENT FOR MOST OF THE REGION. 45
&&
.AVIATION...
WARM FRONT NEAR CXO AND LIFTING SLOWLY NORTHWARD. THIS SHOULD
LEAD TO MVFR TO VFR CIGS EARLY THIS MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH
THE MORNING HOURS. BUT THE CAVEAT IS THE APPROACHING UPPER JETMAX
WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE LOADS OF LIFT AND GIVEN AN MARGINALLY
UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE WITH AN ELEVATED LAYER OF STEEP LAPSE RATES
ALOFT EXPECT TO TAP INTO THE INCREASINGLY MORE AVAILABLE CAPE
ENVIRONMENT AFTER 12Z THROUGH 17Z. VERY STRONG WIND PROFILE WITH
HELICITY OF 200-325 WILL BRING A TORNADO AND WIND THREAT FOR AREAS
CXO SOUTHWARD DURING THIS TIME FRAME. AFTERWARDS EXPECT THE WINDS
TO SWING TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST INCREASING TO 15-20 KTS
SUSTAINED ALONG WITH HIGHER GUSTS. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL
TONIGHT. 45
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL) 66 28 45 28 55 / 70 10 0 10 10
HOUSTON (IAH) 74 34 47 31 56 / 80 10 0 10 10
GALVESTON (GLS) 73 38 48 39 58 / 60 10 0 10 20
&&
.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY...WATERS FROM FREEPORT
TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH
ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL 6 AM CST EARLY THIS
MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA
BAY...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL
OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL
20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO
60 NM.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX 747 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012 TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-261400- AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND- GALVESTON-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MADISON-MATAGORDA- MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON- WHARTON- 747 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THIS MORNING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO AREA. THOUGH SEVERE STORMS CANNOT BE RULED OUT ANYWHERE...AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THE MORE FAVORABLE LOCATIONS WILL BE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 AM AND 12 PM. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF WIND SHEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE...THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE TORNADOES. DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL WILL BE SECONDARY THREATS. WARM AIR ALOFT MAY KEEP WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FROM DEVELOPING SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT OR SOUTH OF THE HOUSTON AREA. MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND TORNADO THREAT WILL BE CONFINED TO NEAR AND JUST SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT OR NORTH OF INTERSTATE 10. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS INLAND LOCATIONS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS. OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS MORNING. GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-261400- GALVESTON BAY-MATAGORDA BAY- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM- 747 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG ONSHORE WINDS THIS MORNING EXPECTED TO SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WITH THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A STRONG GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS ON WEDNESDAY SHOULD DECREASE LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS MORNING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
254 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
TXZ163-250915-
HOUSTON TX-
254 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HOUSTON COUNTY
UNTIL 315 AM CST...
AT 252 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES EAST OF GRAPELAND...OR 13 MILES
NORTHEAST OF CROCKETT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN
HOUSTON COUNTY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3158 9526 3157 9520 3159 9517 3156 9514
3155 9515 3154 9513 3136 9525 3144 9544
3156 9540 3158 9537 3159 9527
TIME...MOT...LOC 0852Z 204DEG 44KT 3147 9531
DRSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
813 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
TXZ163-164-251500-
TRINITY TX-HOUSTON TX-
813 AM CST TUE DEC 25 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN TRINITY AND HOUSTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 900 AM CST...
AT 807 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES EAST OF CENTERVILLE...OR 18 MILES
WEST OF CROCKETT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PEAS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CROCKETT...GRAPELAND...LOVELADY...KENNARD AND LATEXO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
&&
LAT...LON 3157 9522 3159 9517 3152 9510 3147 9510
3145 9501 3139 9495 3136 9497 3106 9551
3111 9575 3116 9573 3120 9575 3127 9573
3132 9566 3146 9571 3146 9575 3147 9572
3150 9574 3152 9565 3155 9564 3159 9529
TIME...MOT...LOC 1407Z 258DEG 46KT 3130 9576The Houston radar (KHGX), 177 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:51 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Damage to roof of manufactured home and to a liquor store across the street.
Strong winds moved through Lovelady damaging a bank.
There were multiple reports of trees down. Roofs were lost on some metal and wood buildings off of Highway 21.
The worst of the tornado damage, rated EF3, was along Highway 287, or one mile north of the town of Pennington. An agricultural feed store and restaurant were completely destroyed with the debris scattered off toward the east in a field. There was severe damage to several homes and trailers along the path of the tornado that was indicative of either EF1 or EF2 scale damage.
A man who was clearing downed tree branches was struck and killed by a falling tree branch.
The brief EF-0 was observed by law enforcement near the scene of the earlier EF-3 tornado along Highway 287. Some debris was lofted but there was little to no structural damage.
A tree downed onto a residential home caused roof and window damage.
Storm winds downed a large pine tree.
There were tree limbs and power lines downed in the Kings Mill subdivision.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Harris | 2012-12-25 | 25 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2012Warnings in Texas, December 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: 426583, 426581, 426569, 426570, 426571, 426572, 426574, 426575, 426573.