Hail in Texas, May 31, 2012

Name: Hail in Texas, May 31, 2012
Start: 2012-05-31T13:00
End: 2012-05-31T13:00
Location: Texas

May 31, 2012 · NWS HGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A east-to-west cluster of early afternoon thunderstorms formed along a near coastal stationary boundary. These storms produced large hail.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 HGX wrote it up.

A east-to-west cluster of early afternoon thunderstorms formed along a near coastal stationary boundary. These storms produced large hail.

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 Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 11:32 AM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 11:32 AM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1232 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

.DISCUSSION...
CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL LOOKS TO HAVE SHIFTED WEST OF THE HOUSTON
TERMINALS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTN. OUTFLOW PUSHING SOUTHWEST
WILL BRING A BRIEF WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST BEFORE WINDS BECOME
LIGHT AND VARIABLE. WILL MAINTAIN VCSH THROUGH 00Z. 43

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1021 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012/

UPDATE...
RAGGED LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS HEADING MORE EAST THAN SOUTH
ACROSS THE EAST-CENTRAL CWA. THIS LINE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ITS
MORE EASTWARD TREK OUT OF THE CWA. THE EASTERN FLANK OF THE UPSTREAM
LINE OF CONVECTION (ALONG A STEPHENVILLE TO WACO TO CENTERVILLE
LINE) WILL LIKELY CLIP/AFFECT OUR MORE NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL FA
OVER THE NEXT 3-6 HOURS. THE HIGHEST POP IS TARGETED OVER THESE
AREAS...OR OVER COUNTIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED OVER FROM THIS
MORNING'S ACTIVITY. IN SHORT...THE DOWNSTREAM ENVIRONMENT IS STILL
VERY CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF MID TO LATE SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS...POSSIBLY REACHING SEVERE LIMITS. THE UPPER
LEVELS WILL BECOME LESS DIFFULENT THROUGH THE DAY...BUT THE VICINITY
OF THE LF QUAD OF A SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS JET STREAK AND A MID-LEVEL
TROUGH MAY BE ALL OF THE UPPER SUPPORT NEEDED FOR CONTINUED LATTER
DAY CONVECTION. THE MAIN COLD FRONT (CURRENTLY JUST SOUTH OF THE RED
RIVER VALLEY) IS FORECAST TO SAG SLOWLY DOWN NEAR THE COAST BY
MIDNIGHT AND BECOME NEAR-STATIONARY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. HIGHER
POPS WILL BE FOCUSED ABOUT THIS FEATURE AND WHERE HIGHER MOISTURE IS
FORECAST TO POOL...OR ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-10 CORRIDOR (SE
FORECAST AREA) DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. 31

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 507 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012/

DISCUSSION...
WHILE IT HAS BEEN GETTING BETTER ORGANIZED THIS MORNING...STORMS
MOVING DOWN FROM NORTH CENTRAL TX WILL LIKELY JUST CLIP OUR MORE
NRN COUNTIES THESE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. OTHERWISE THE MAIN FCST
ISSUES FOR SE TX TODAY WILL NOT BE UNTIL LATER THIS AFTN/EVENING
WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT.

STILL LOOKING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TO SEVERE TSRA ALONG
TO JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT LATE TODAY. GIVEN THE PROGGED TIME OF
THIS POSSIBLE EVENT...COMBINED WITH FAVORABLE JET LOCATION/STEEP
LAPSE RATES WE COULD SEE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS AS THREATS WITH THE
STORMS THAT FORM. THIS SYSTEM TO EXIT EAST OF THE AREA EARLY FRI
MORNING. SLIGHTLY DRIER/COOLER AIRMASS TO SETTLE OVER THE REGION
FRI/SAT BUT THE RESPITE TO BE BRIEF. WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGING TO
SET UP OVER THE WEEKEND WITH ONSHORE WINDS/MOISTURE RETURNING IN
EARNEST NEXT WEEK. A MORE ACTIVE SEABREEZE STILL ON TAP FOR NEXT
WEEK. 41

MARINE...
SCEC CONDITIONS THIS MORNING WILL GIVE WAY WITH A SLOW LOWERING OF
SEAS AS WINDS RELAX THIS AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT SHOULD MOVE
INTO SETX LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND THEN STALL NEAR OR
JUST OFF THE COAST EARLY FRIDAY. THE FRONT SHOULD LINGER NEAR THE
COAST FOR AROUND 12 HOURS THEN LIFT NORTH WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE
SOUTHERLY FLOW REDEVELOPING SATURDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH MID
WEEK. TREND APPEARS TO FAVOR INCREASING MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHERN
GULF AND CARIBBEAN BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND POSSIBLY INCREASING
RAIN CHANCES.
45

AVIATION...
STORMS MOVED BY JUST TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE UTS AREA AND WERE
WEAKENING BUT MORE STORMS DEVELOPING NEAR DFW AREA. MODELS DID A
POOR JOB RESOLVING THE LEAD MCS BUT WERE INDICATING CONTINUED
DEVELOPMENT LIKELY FOR THE FTW CLUSTER. EXPECT DEVELOPMENT OF
SHRA/TSRA AS THIS FEATURE TRACKS SOUTHEAST AND THROUGH THE AREA
TERMINALS...ESPECIALLY THE CLL-IAH AND NORTHWARD TERMINALS. CLL/UTS
AREA BY 15-18Z AND IAH 18-22Z. S/W DEPARTS SETX BY 03Z AND SHOULD
HAVE MVFR CIGS DEVELOPING WITH LIGHT WINDS. CF MAY BE OVER THE
COASTAL AREAS OR NEARING THE IAH/HOU AREA AROUND 15Z FRIDAY...MODELS
HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH PLACEMENT OF FRONTAL BOUNDARY AS IT
STALLS. AT PRESENT AM LEANING TOWARD A LITTLE FASTER AND FARTHER
SOUTH GIVEN THE TRACK OF THE S/W.
45

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
COLLEGE STATION (CLL)      66  87  69  93  72 /  30  10  10  10  10
HOUSTON (IAH)              72  89  71  93  73 /  60  20  10  10  10
GALVESTON (GLS)            76  86  77  87  78 /  60  20  10  10  10

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS
     AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO
     THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM
     FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM.

&&

DISCUSSION...31

Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 5:42 AM CST, 7 hours 18 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
642 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-
227-235>238-011145-
AUSTIN-BRAZORIA-BRAZOS-BURLESON-CHAMBERS-COLORADO-FORT BEND-
GALVESTON-GALVESTON BAY-GRIMES-HARRIS-HOUSTON-JACKSON-LIBERTY-
MADISON-MATAGORDA-MATAGORDA BAY-MONTGOMERY-POLK-SAN JACINTO-
TRINITY-WALKER-WALLER-WASHINGTON-
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-WHARTON-
642 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.

AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD
BECOME SEVERE. A LINE OF STORMS IS EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG TO JUST
AHEAD OF THE FRONT OVER NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS MORNING. AS THIS
LINE MOVES SOUTH INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON...PEAK DAYTIME
HEATING COMBINED WITH AN INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND
FAVORABLE JET DYNAMICS ALOFT WILL HELP TO INTENSIFY THESE STORMS.
LARGE HAIL AND STRONG DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.

THE FRONT IS ESTIMATED TO REACH COLLEGE STATION BETWEEN 9 AM AND
NOON...THE HOUSTON METRO AREA BETWEEN NOON AND 4 PM...AND THEN AT
THE COAST BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM. HOWEVER THERE IS STILL A LOT OF
UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS TIMING AS THERE COULD BE A COUPLE OF ROUNDS
OF STORMS HEADING THIS WAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 8:41 AM CST, 4 hours 19 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
941 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

TXZ178-179-200-311515-
SAN JANCINTO TX-POLK TX-LIBERTY TX-
941 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SAN JACINTO...SOUTH CENTRAL POLK
AND LIBERTY COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 AM CDT...

AT 939 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF SHEPHERD...OR 12
MILES NORTH OF CLEVELAND...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. PEA SIZED
HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED NEAR GOODRICH EARLIER THIS MORNING.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLEVELAND...SHEPHERD...HARDIN...KENEFICK...NORTH CLEVELAND AND
DAYTON LAKES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3007 9491 3050 9529 3061 9500 3053 9474
      3019 9463
TIME...MOT...LOC 1439Z 297DEG 12KT 3051 9513

Special weather statement, May 31, 10:27 AM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1127 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

TXZ214-238-311715-
GALVESTON TX-CHAMBERS TX-
1127 AM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN GALVESTON AND
CHAMBERS COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 PM CDT...

AT 1118 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF ANAHUAC...OR
14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NOME...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF DIMES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
INTERSTATE 10 BETWEEN WALLISVILLE AND WINNIE...WINNIE...ANAHUAC AND
STOWELL.

LAT...LON 2952 9447 2954 9448 2954 9452 2957 9454
      2958 9459 2974 9470 2973 9471 2976 9471
      2982 9475 2989 9466 2988 9436 2956 9435
TIME...MOT...LOC 1618Z 308DEG 9KT 2988 9458

Special weather statement, May 31, 12:10 PM CST, 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
110 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

TXZ210-211-226-227-311900-
FORT BEND TX-AUSTIN TX-WHARTON TX-COLORADO TX-
110 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FORT BEND...
SOUTHEASTERN AUSTIN...NORTH CENTRAL WHARTON AND EAST CENTRAL
COLORADO COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 109 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTH OF EAGLE LAKE...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM
IS ALSO SHOWING SOME WEAK UPPER LEVEL ROTATION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO
BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE TORNADO WARNING.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EAGLE LAKE AND WALLIS.

LAT...LON 2981 9632 2970 9600 2942 9621 2966 9643
TIME...MOT...LOC 1809Z 301DEG 15KT 2970 9630

47

Special weather statement, May 31, 12:19 PM CST, 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
119 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

TXZ238-311900-
GALVESTON TX-
119 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN GALVESTON COUNTY
UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

AT 114 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF GALVESTON...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN GALVESTON COUNTY AND THE ISLAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 2923 9487 2925 9491 2927 9489 2927 9487
      2928 9488 2930 9486 2931 9482 2935 9481
      2932 9478 2933 9477 2934 9473
TIME...MOT...LOC 1814Z 305DEG 9KT 2930 9480

47

Special weather statement, May 31, 12:47 PM CST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
147 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

TXZ210-226-227-235>238-312015-
JACKSON TX-FORT BEND TX-WHARTON TX-GALVESTON TX-MATAGORDA TX-
BRAZORIA TX-COLORADO TX-
147 PM CDT THU MAY 31 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR JACKSON...SOUTH CENTRAL FORT
BEND...WHARTON...GALVESTON...MATAGORDA...BRAZORIA AND SOUTH
CENTRAL COLORADO COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

AT 142 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS
TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
FROM BAYOU VISTA TO 8 MILES SOUTH OF GONZALES...OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM GALVESTON TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF SHERIDAN...AND MOVING
SOUTH AT 30 MPH.  WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND PENNY SIZE HAIL WILL
BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STORNGER STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAKE JACKSON...BAY CITY...ANGLETON...FREEPORT...EL CAMPO...CLUTE...
WHARTON...EDNA...WEST COLUMBIA...SWEENY...RICHWOOD...SPEAKS...
BRAZORIA...WILD PEACH VILLAGE...JONES CREEK...GANADO...INEZ...
DANBURY...VAN VLECK AND OYSTER CREEK.

LAT...LON 2940 9661 2930 9480 2910 9511 2924 9501
      2921 9514 2907 9512 2886 9539 2871 9593
      2863 9596 2872 9570 2842 9634 2842 9636
      2859 9599 2865 9598 2858 9622 2872 9619
      2871 9665 2906 9693
TIME...MOT...LOC 1842Z 350DEG 26KT 2929 9489 2939 9747

47

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Fort Bend

When: May 31, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, 1.8 mi W of Rosenberg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.550, -95.830

Quarter-size hail was reported on the west side of Rosenberg.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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 Warnings in Texas, May 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: 386144.