Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, January 24 to 25, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, January 24 to 25, 2012
Start: 2012-01-24T10:45
End: 2012-01-25T07:30
Location: Texas

January 24 to 25, 2012 · NWS EWX · 20 events in 10 counties and zones

A deep upper level low pressure center brought a frontal system through Texas which caused thunderstorms across South Central Texas. These storms formed into a mesoscale convective system and produced several tornadoes, wind damage, large hail, and heavy rain that resulted in flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $85,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS EWX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 24, 10:35 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 10:35 AM CST, 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1035 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

.UPDATE...
UPDATED FORECAST TO INCLUDE THUNDERSTORMS FOR THIS MORNING GIVEN
A FEW LIGHTNING ALREADY OBSERVED. THE WARM FRONT IS CURRENTLY SOUTH
OF THE CWFA...CLOSER TO THE COAST...BUT IS MAKING NORTHWARD
PROGRESS AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO OUR AREA LATER THIS
AFTERNOON...ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO APPROACH OUR FORECAST HIGHS.
THE 12Z NAM AND GFS MODEL SOLUTIONS SHOW CONVECTION DEVELOPING
LATER THIS EVENING OVER THE EDWARDS PLATEAU...VAL VERDE COUNTY AND
THE WESTERN HILL COUNTRY...THEN PROGRESSING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT AS
PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. NO MAJOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE
ONGOING FORECAST WITH THIS UPDATE.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 705 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012/

AVIATION...
A MIX OF MAINLY IFR/MVFR CIGS WILL PREVAIL TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING. SHRA/TSRA WILL INCREASE IN AREAL COVERAGE AND INTENSITY
THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...THEN MOVE EAST OVERNIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING. LOCAL LIFR CIGS AND IFR/MVFR VSBYS CAN BE
EXPECTED IN SHRA/TSRA. DOWNDRAFT WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 55 KTS AND
GS/GR ARE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR TSRA. SEE MAIN DISCUSSION FOR
OTHER SHRA/TSRA DETAILS. WINDS WILL BECOME SELY 5 TO 15 KTS BY
THIS AFTERNOON...THEN SHIFT TO NWLY ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND A COLD
FRONT.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 437 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012/

DISCUSSION...
THE STORM SYSTEM THAT WE ARE TRACKING AND EXPECTED TO BRING
BENEFICIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER THREATS SUCH AS LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS TO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS IS ON TRACK PER
LATEST WV/IR PHOTOS. MODELS ARE IN FAIR TO GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THIS
SYSTEM AS IT MOVES SOUTHEASTWARD EARLY THIS MORNING AND THEN BECOME
AN UPPER CLOSE-LOW SYSTEM LATER THIS MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON WHILE
MOVING TOWARD WEST TEXAS/BIG BEND AREA.

AT THE SURFACE...RICH GULF MOISTURE(DEWPOINTS IN THE 50 TO 65
RANGE) WILL  RETURN TO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING CONTINUING OVERNIGHT AS A CONVERGENCE ZONE FORMS OVER
NORTHEAST MEXICO/RIO GRANDE AREA. ALSO...A SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST
TO DEVELOP AT THE TAIL END OF A DRY-LINE THAT EXTENDS FROM
SOUTHWEST TEXAS INTO NORTHEAST MEXICO. THIS SURFACE LOW IS
FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS THE LOWER RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND INTO SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS BY DAY BREAK ON WEDNESDAY.

SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SHOULD BEGIN TO AFFECT SOUTH
CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND INCREASE ON AREA COVERAGE THIS
EVENING AS THE UPPER SYSTEM APPROACHES OUR REGION. THE TIME FRAME
FOR THE HEAVIEST RAINS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER
TYPE TO AFFECT OUR REGION WILL BE FROM AROUND MIDNIGHT TO ABOUT
4 AM WEDNESDAY ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS AREA/WESTERN HILL
COUNTRY...FROM 4 AM TO ABOUT 8 AM ACROSS EASTERN HILL
COUNTRY...AREAS ALONG 281...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 35 AND BOTH SAN
ANTONIO AND AUSTIN METRO AREAS...AND FROM 8 AM TO NOON TIME...FROM
GEORGETOWN TO LULING TO YORKTOWN LINE.

ESTIMATED STORM RAINFALL TOTALS RANGES FROM ONE QUARTER INCH ACROSS
THE WESTERN ONE THIRD OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TO THREE QUARTER INCH
TO TWO INCHES...EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 TO WEST OF HIGHWAY 183 AND TWO
INCHES PLUS EAST OF HIGHWAY 183.

THE UPPER LOW WILL TRACK EAST NORTHEAST DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY
WHILE EXITING SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS LATE WEDNESDAY/EARLY THURSDAY. AS
THE SYSTEM MOVES AWAY...SOME WRAP-AROUND RAINS WILL AFFECT THE HILL
COUNTRY LATE WEDNESDAY. CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO LINGER AROUND
OVERNIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY BUT CLEARING IS ANTICIPATED IN THE
AFTERNOON HOURS FROM WEST TO EAST.

LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...A DRY PACIFIC COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO
MOVE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS BRINGING SOME CLOUDS BUT OVERALL
GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK. HOWEVER...A COLD
AIRMASS IS GOING TO FILTER DOWN TO BRING COOL/COLD MORNING
TEMPERATURES AND HIGHS IN THE MID 60S BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AUSTIN CAMP MABRY              67  59  64  47  60 /  60  90  80  30  20
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT  67  59  65  46  60 /  60  90  80  20  20
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT     69  61  65  47  61 /  60  90  70  20  10
BURNET MUNI AIRPORT            64  53  57  43  57 /  60  90  70  30  10
DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT           69  47  64  44  65 /  20  50  20  10  -
GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT        65  56  61  44  58 /  60  90  80  30  20
HONDO MUNI AIRPORT             71  58  63  46  66 /  50  90  40  20  -
SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT        68  60  64  46  61 /  60  90  70  20  10
LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL   69  65  69  48  59 /  60  90  80  20  20
SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT       70  60  65  47  66 /  60  90  50  20  10
STINSON MUNI AIRPORT           71  61  66  47  65 /  60  90  50  20  10

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

MESOSCALE/AVIATION...13
SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...11
PUBLIC SERVICE/DATA COLLECTION...32

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 24, 6:10 AM CST, 4 hours 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
610 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-251130-
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-
610 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINS TONIGHT AS A POTENT UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT
APPROACH SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE MAIN SEVERE THREAT ACROSS
WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA WILL BE LARGE HAIL...WITH DAMAGING
WINDS MORE LIKELY ACROSS EASTERN SECTIONS. THE STRONGEST STORMS
AND HEAVIEST RAINS WILL BE FROM AROUND MIDNIGHT TO 4 AM ACROSS
THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS INTO THE WESTERN HILL COUNTRY...AND FROM
AROUND 4 AM TO 8 AM ACROSS THE EASTERN HILL COUNTRY TO ALONG
HIGHWAY 281 AND INTERSTATE 35...INCLUDING AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO
METRO AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINS ACROSS EASTERN PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WEDNESDAY
MORNING AS A POTENT UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT MOVE
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE MAIN SEVERE THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING
WINDS. THE STRONGEST STORMS AND HEAVIEST RAINS WILL BE FROM AROUND
4 AM TO 8 AM ACROSS THE EASTERN HILL COUNTRY TO ALONG HIGHWAY 281
AND INTERSTATE 35...INCLUDING THE AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO METRO
AREAS...AND FROM 8 AM TO NOON ALONG AND EAST OF A GEORGETOWN TO
LULING TO YORKTOWN LINE.

FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS
EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

The radar

The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood, 6 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 3 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Travis

When: January 24, 10:45 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 2.48 mi WNW of Austin Mabry
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.330, -97.810

Hail, Travis

When: January 24, 11:05 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 2.74 mi SW of Waters Rock
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.390, -97.730

A thunderstorm produced golf ball size hail near MOPAC Expressway and West Braker Lane in Austin.

Hail, Hays

When: January 24, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Hays County, 4.97 mi WNW of Fitzhugh
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.270, -98.110

Tornado, Edwards

When: January 24, 11:30 PM CST to 11:32 PM CST
Where: Edwards County, 11.14 mi WNW of Rocks Spgs to 9.36 mi WNW of Rocks Spgs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.01 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.067, -100.398

A thunderstorm produced a tornado rated EF0 which tore up a few trees on a ranch 10 miles north of Rocksprings. Peak winds were estimated at 65 mph.

Funnel Cloud, Guadalupe

When: January 25, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Guadalupe County, 2.27 mi NW of Schertz
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.590, -98.300

A thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud near Selma.

Flash Flood, Bexar

When: January 25, 2:12 AM CST
Where: Bexar County, 0.61 mi W of (Sat)san Antonio Int to 3.21 mi SSE of Fratt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 29.531, -98.480

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which led to flooding in San Antonio. The public works department reported multiple streets closed due to flooding across the city. The San Antonio International Airport reported a daily record 2.94 inches of rain from these storms.

Flash Flood, Travis

When: January 25, 2:58 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 0.91 mi SE of Vinson to 0.85 mi NE of Pleasant Hill
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.210, -97.770

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused flooding and closed the low water crossing on Wasson Road along Williamson Creek in Austin. Both Camp Mabry (3.14 inches) and Bergstrom International Airport (5.66 inches) reported record daily rainfall from these storms.

Tornado, Travis

When: January 25, 2:58 AM CST to 3:05 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 2.01 mi W of Daffan to 1.71 mi WSW of Sprinkle
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.11 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.322, -97.654

The tornado path began near the intersection of Commercial Park Drive and Old Manor Road with radar indicating a touchdown time near 2:58 am. Damage continued north through an industrial park where a business was destroyed and several others had roof damage. The tornado then crossed U.S. Highway 290 before entering the Walnut Place subdivision. Further damage to trees and homes occurred along Springdale Road and Happy Trail. One home on Happy Trail had most of its roof lifted off. Debris was noted in a large field just south of Ferguson Lane with the tornado path ending just west of the intersection of Ferguson Lane and Sansom Road. Peak winds were estimated at 100 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Travis

When: January 25, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 0.4 mi NNE of Dessau
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.406, -97.628

The NWS investigated the damage to several businesses and warehouse buildings near the Pflugerville Independent School District bus barn. This is near Crystal Bend Drive and Immanuel Road in Pflugerville. It was concluded that this damage was due to strong straight line thunderstorm wind gusts estimated in excess of 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Medina

When: January 25, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Medina County, 1.21 mi W of Devine
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 29.150, -98.940

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 mph which caused damage to several buildings and knocked over some trees in Devine.

Thunderstorm Wind, Williamson

When: January 25, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Williamson County, 2.76 mi N of Siloam
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.470, -97.280

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 mph. The winds caused minor roof damage and moved a chicken coop 150 yards and then destroyed it.

Tornado, Bexar

When: January 25, 4:15 AM CST to 4:16 AM CST
Where: Bexar County, 2.11 mi W of Alamo Downs to 1.85 mi W of Alamo Downs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.26 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.456, -98.665

The tornado path likely began at the intersection of Deer Park and Richland Hills Drive and continued along Deer Park to the intersection of Deer Park and Leander. The primary damage was a carport being thrown into a home and causing substantial damage. Other damage consisted of shingles being blown off roofs, tree damage, and loose items being thrown. Peak winds were estimated at 70 mph.

Flash Flood, Bastrop

When: January 25, 4:20 AM CST
Where: Bastrop County, 1.79 mi W of Cedar Creek to 1.92 mi SSW of Cedar Creek
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.080, -97.530

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused flooding in several subdivisions in and near Cedar Creek. A CoCoRAHS observer west-northwest of Bastrop reported 9.35 inches of rain from these storms.

Flash Flood, Bastrop

When: January 25, 5:24 AM CST
Where: Bastrop County, 0.83 mi SE of Bastrop to 1.78 mi SW of Bastrop
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.110, -97.312

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused flooding in Bastrop. People were rescued from a submerged car on Highway 71. A CoCoRAHS observer west-northwest of Bastrop reported 9.35 inches of rain from these storms.

Flash Flood, Bastrop

When: January 25, 5:29 AM CST
Where: Bastrop County, 2.38 mi W of Elgin to 2.29 mi WSW of Elgin
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.350, -97.410

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused flooding near Elgin. People were rescued from flood waters along Highway 290. A CoCoRAHS observer southwest of Elgin reported 5.58 inches of rain from these storms.

Tornado, Bastrop

When: January 25, 5:30 AM CST to 5:35 AM CST
Where: Bastrop County, 1.85 mi SSE of String Prairie to 2.35 mi ENE of String Prairie
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.86 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.854, -97.341

A damage survey estimates that a tornado touched down near Peach Creek Road and then moved northeast. Minor damage was done to a residence near Peach Creek Road. Widespread tree damage was found throughout the Double D Ranch. Max winds are estimated at 80 mph.

Flash Flood, Travis

When: January 25, 5:35 AM CST
Where: Travis County, 2.12 mi E of Bluff Spgs to 1.73 mi ENE of Bluff Spgs
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.168, -97.735

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain which caused flooding. There was two to three feet of water over William Cannon Drive in Austin. Both Camp Mabry (3.14 inches) and Bergstrom International Airport (5.66 inches) reported record daily rainfall from these storms.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: January 25, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Lee County, 1.54 mi N of Lincoln
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.302, -96.953

Thunderstorms produced wind gusts estimated at 50 mph which blew down several trees and destroyed some buildings. A church gym was heavily damaged. Several trees were blown down along Highway 21 and throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: January 25, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Lee County, 1.15 mi N of Northrup
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.117, -96.971

A mobile home was rolled over and destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Witt

When: January 25, 7:30 AM CST
Where: De Witt County, 4.77 mi ESE of Petersville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 29.288, -97.150

In downtown Yoakum, an apparent microburst caused wind damage to several homes on the southeast side of Yoakum near the intersection of Highways 77 and 111. Tree damage, shingles off roofs, and some metal buildings were heavily damaged.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2012 Warnings in Texas, January 2012

Sources

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: 355160, 355161, 355162, 355179, 355163, 355164, 355165, 355177, 355178, 355169, 355170, 355176, 355171, 355172, 355173, 363533, 355174, 355175, 363531, 363532.