Intense thunderstorms raked the highly populated McAllen/Edinburg/Mission area of Hidalgo County during the mid-evening of March 29th. The storms dumped hail up to the size of baseballs for more than half an hour, drove that hail with 70 to 75 mph winds, added 4 to 6 inches of torrential rains, and produced frequent cloud to ground lightning.
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 BRO wrote it up.
Intense thunderstorms raked the highly populated McAllen/Edinburg/Mission area of Hidalgo County during the mid-evening of March 29th. The storms dumped hail up to the size of baseballs for more than half an hour, drove that hail with 70 to 75 mph winds, added 4 to 6 inches of torrential rains, and produced frequent cloud to ground lightning. Initial storms developed across the King Ranch during the mid afternoon of March 29th, and spread west into northern Hidalgo and Starr County by early evening. The storms, fed by warm, humid air near the surface, colder air aloft, and boundaries (providing lift) from earlier storms which moved across the Coastal Bend, appeared to have intensified further as they approached the highly populated Edinburg/McAllen/Mission area. One possibility why the storms intensified is the interaction with an upper level disturbance moving across northeast Mexico. This disturbance spawned dangerous storms in Nuevo L on and Tamaulipas, and boundaries from these cells may have been the ultimate trigger to a night hundreds of thousands will not forget.
Damage totals have reached an estimated $200 million in property and crop damage. Updated tallies will be provided as information is received.
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 Mar 29, 12:49 PM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 149 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...WEAK TROUGH IN THE UPPER FLOW CONTINUES TO DRIFT EASTWARD ACROSS TEXAS. THIS HAD SPARKED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS AND SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS THE PAST COUPLE EVENINGS...WITH MOST ACTIVITY STAYING TO THE NORTH. WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS TONIGHT...EXPECT THAT PATTERN TO CONTINUE TONIGHT AS WELL. UPPER FLOW TONIGHT WILL BE A LITTLE MORE WEST TO EAST THAN PREVIOUS DAYS...SO THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE INTO THE WESTERN VALLEY ARE A TOUCH HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS DAYS. THICKER CU FIELD TODAY HAS INHIBITED SOME DAYTIME HEATING...BUT BREAKS ARE ALREADY FORMING AND TEMPS ARE JUMPING QUICKLY IN THE WESTERN VALLEY. WENT AHEAD AND UPPED POPS FOR THE WESTERN THREE COUNTIES...BUT ENTIRE AREA HAS A SHOT AT SEEING SOME CONVECTION OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD GET STRONG MAINLY WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SOME SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE. HIGHS TOMORROW AGAIN WILL REACH THE MID TO UPPER 80S... ONCE THE CLOUD COVER BURNS OFF. WINDS CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTHEAST 15G20KTS. .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...BROAD HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL REMAIN A PERSISTENT THEME IN THE LONG TERM. ON FRIDAY NIGHT...A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE OVERHEAD...KICKING OFF POTENTIALLY STRONGER TSTMS THAT WILL MOVE IN FROM THE WEST. THE GFS QPF DEPICTION HINTS AT POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINERS THAT WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING. AFTER THAT A SLIGHTLY MORE ZONAL PATTERN WILL EMERGE ALOFT...THOUGH NOTHING THAT WILL PUT A COMPLETE KIBOSH ON RESIDUAL INSTABILITY. AN ENERGETIC SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL DIG SOUTH FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTO THE FOUR CORNERS BY SUNDAY...CAUSING PRESSURE FALLS EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS SOUTH INTO WEST TEXAS AND KEEPING THE WIND MACHINE TURNED ON AT THE BREEZY SETTING DURING THE AFTERNOONS. THE TROUGH WILL SUBSEQUENTLY DIG SOUTH ON MONDAY AND ACROSS NORTH TEXAS...PUSHING A SQUALL LINE MORE OR LESS FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THE FOLLOW ON COLD FRONT WILL TRAVERSE MORE SOUTHEAST IN DIRECTION...PUSHING THROUGH DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY MONDAY NIGHT. THE FRONT WILL BRING JUST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH WAS ADDED TO THE FORECAST. DRY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH ENHANCED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. COOLER AND SUNNIER LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT && .MARINE... TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...SEAS CONTINUE TO FLUCTUATE RIGHT AROUND 3 FEET ACROSS THE GULF WATERS WITH MODEST SOUTHEAST FLOW. THIS PATTERN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 36 HOURS...WITH LITTLE CHANGE TO WIND AND SEA CONDITIONS. SOME THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY COULD MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS LATE TONIGHT OR TOMORROW WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALIZED LIGHTNING. SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...BROAD HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL REMAIN A PERSISTENT THEME FOR THE MARINE AREAS IN THE LONG TERM. WINDS AND SEAS WILL REMAIN WELL BEHAVED ON THE LOW TO MODERATE SIDE THROUGH SUNDAY...BUT SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO SCEC STRENGTH...15 TO 20 KTS...SUNDAY NIGHT WITH SEAS BUILDING A FOOT OR TWO INTO THE MODERATE RANGE. THIS WILL BE THE RESULT OF AN APPROACHING MID LEVEL SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS...AND A COLD FRONT WILL DEVELOP AND PUSH THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS MONDAY...REACHING THE LOWER TEXAS COAST MONDAY NIGHT. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT ON TUESDAY...BUT THE UNFAVORABLE FETCH WILL NOT INCREASE WAVE HEIGHTS SUBSTANTIALLY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 71 83 70 77 / 30 20 20 20 BROWNSVILLE 71 86 71 82 / 30 20 20 20 HARLINGEN 70 88 70 82 / 30 20 20 20 MCALLEN 72 90 70 87 / 30 20 20 20 RIO GRANDE CITY 73 91 70 88 / 40 20 20 20 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 72 79 71 75 / 30 20 20 20 && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 64/54/MARTINEZ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 342 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-302045- 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- 342 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY ON THE NORTHERN LAGUNA MADRE. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...BUT LESS LIKELY TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH BRIEF GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... FORMAL SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT HAIL OR GUSTY WINDS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. TXZ248>257-302045- ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 342 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY ACROSS KENEDY COUNTY. GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST THIS EVENING. IF THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR A FEW MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY...MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. IF STORMS OCCUR THEY MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... FORMAL SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED...BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT WIND AND HAIL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GIBBS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 315 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 TXZ251-292100- KENEDY- 315 PM CDT THU MAR 29 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IMPACTING EASTERN KENEDY COUNTY... AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING SLOWLY EAST AT AROUND 5 MPH WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EASTERN KENEDY COUNTY...ABOUT 6 MILES EAST OF HIGHWAY 77 THROUGH 400 PM. GUSTY WINDS TO AROUND 45 MPH AND HAIL TO DIME SIZE WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. JGG/MC
The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:34 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS office in Brownsville witnessed a downburst/microburst about one mile east of U.S. Highway 77 approximately 10 miles south of Sarita. The microburst produced a tremendous amount of dust; winds were estimated the winds to be near 60 mph.
Dime to nickel sized hail on Highway 77 was reported by the Border Patrol.
Willacy County emergency manager relayed a report of a tornado on the Yturria Ranch, just east of Highway 77 in the northern portion of the county. There was a brief touch down and debris seen, but no damage reported.
Hidalgo S.O. relayed report from the general republic of 1.5 inch hail west of San Isidro.
Frequent wind gusts, estimated at 70 to 75 mph, drove hail, some up to the size of baseballs, for more than an hour across portions of North McAllen, Mission, and Edinburg in Hidalgo County. Wind combined with hail resulted in numerous tree limbs blown down, defoliated trees, homes with roof damage and broken windows, knocked down fences and damage to vehicles. See Hail event for damage estimates.
Up to an hour of continuous hail, driven by frequent winds estimated at 70 to 75 mph, knocked at least one window out of every north facing home, defoliated nearly every tree, left up to a half foot of accumulated hail on the ground, and produced hail drifts up to 4 feet high. Numerous tree limbs were blown down, many homes had roof damage, and broken glass and water littered the north facing rooms and apartments. Hundreds of vehicles left outdoors were severely damaged by golf ball to baseball size hail dents, including many shattered windows.
Preliminary data estimate that 1100 homes and more than 60s businesses were affected by the wind and hail in McAllen, according to preliminary numbers released by the city commission. Included in these damage estimates are 26 city facilities, including McAllen’s new public library and civic center. The City of McAllen’s early estimates of cost to the city include: $187,000 to remove debris from neighborhood streets; $90,000 on repairing dozens of traffic signals; $13,000 on McAllen police overtime; $24,000 on McAllen Civic Center Auditorium’s roof due to roof damage that allowed water to pour into the theater. During the first week after the storm, more than 40,000 cubic yards of debris was removed. That is 4 times the normal monthly amount for the city. The Urban Forestry Department of McAllen was forced to saw through more than 130 trees that line the city streets. McAllen Fire Department had two fire engines, two ladder trucks and one command vehicle damaged by hail. Strong winds peeled the roof off of part of a Hidalgo Police Department building, leading to minor flooding inside. Many school districts in the area were forced to close the following day/s due to flooding, these included: McAllen ISD, Sharyland ISD, and Mission ISD. |Insured and uninsured damages may tally $200 million or more; thousands of auto and home insurance claims had been made by the 1st of April. At Bert Ogden BMW dealership in McAllen, nearly 100% of the dealerships inventory was destroyed (77 cars), with the average vehicle cost of $50,000. The dealership building also suffered nearly $200,000 in damage. An estimated 2000 to 3000 acres of watermelons were wiped out.
McAllen Miller Airport (KMFE) ASOS reported peak wind gusts at minimal hurricane force, 74 mph.
Torrential rain accompanied the hail; 4 to more than 6 inches fell in less than two hours, creating ice and water rivers with the height of the water as high as 4 to 6 feet in poor drainage locations. More than 100 vehicles were submerged and numerous others were abandoned during the peak of the storm. At one point,most of the city roads were under water and the city’s interconnected system of pipes, sewers, and drainage pools reached more than 90 percent of capacity.
Runoff from storms in Hidalgo County was moving so swiftly that it caused the collapse of a weir in Willacy County. Estimates for repair of the structure are around $2 million.
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, March 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: 379841, 379513, 379842, 379514, 373681, 373680, 373682, 373683, 379522.