Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, October 18, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, October 18, 2012
Start: 2012-10-18T17:10
End: 2012-10-18T18:25
Location: Texas

October 18, 2012 · NWS BRO · 7 events in 1 county or zone

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: $14,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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 BRO wrote it up.

Outflow boundaries from an earlier supercell on October 18th in Willacy and Kenedy Counties triggered another supercell storm which cycled through eastern Hidalgo County between 6 and 7 pm CDT. Unrelated cells produced additional damage and heavy rainfall farther west, including in Donna, Edinburg, and McAllen. The supercell storm dropped quarter to golfball size hail and lifted a metal roof from a cinderblock shed at one residence 3 miles north of Elsa. Preliminary wind speed estimate from this storm was 65 to 70 mph.

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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 18, 12:57 PM CST, 4 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 18, 12:57 PM CST, 4 hours 13 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
157 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

.SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...VISIBLE SATELLITE
IMAGES AND MSAS SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATE A WEAK COLD FRONT DRAPED
ACROSS THE COASTAL BEND AND OFFSHORE THE UPPER TEXAS COAST THIS
AFTERNOON. NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF CONVECTION ALONG THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY AND WHILE THE SURFACE INSTABILITIES HAVE INCREASED ACROSS
THE LOWER TX COAST...MOISTURE APPEARS LIMITED ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY EVEN WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NEAR 1.7 INCHES. WILL
HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FRONT TO MOVE SOUTHWARD TONIGHT FOR MOISTURE TO
POOL ACROSS THE AREA AND WILL NOT MENTION RAIN CHANCES UNTIL LATE
TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY FOR SOME LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE TO PROVIDE A
SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE OF SHOWERS MOSTLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN AND
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. WITH THE INCREASE IN CLOUDS TONIGHT
INTO FRIDAY...HIGH TEMPERATURES FRIDAY WILL NOT BE AS HOT AS THEY
HAVE BEEN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

.LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
BY THE BEGINNING OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD...RIDGE SHIFTS EASTWARD AS
A MID LEVEL TROUGH ENTERS THE PACIFIC COAST MEANWHILE A SURFACE HIGH
WHICH IS CENTER OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF STRENGTHENS AND INTERACTS
WITH LEE SIDE TROUGH PROVIDING THE LOWER VALLEY WITH A STRONG SOUTH/
SOUTHEAST FLOW ALONG THE COAST OF TEXAS. THIS S/SE WINDS WILL
INCREASE IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS SUNDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY WITH
STRONG GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH ON SUNDAY. IN ADDITION...A DECENT INCREASE
IN WAA IS NOTICEABLE ON THE GFS AND ECMWF MODELS WITH THIS SOUTHERLY
FLOW. THIS WILL KEEP THE RGV DRY WHILE RIDGE MIGRATES EAST.
TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE INTO THE MID 90S ACROSS THE VALLEY WITH
THE HOTTEST LOCATION RIGHT ALONG THE TEXAS BORDER LINE.

BY MONDAY INTO TUESDAY MID LEVEL TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE CENTRAL
PLAINS WITH PERSISTENT SE FLOW ACROSS THE CWA ALLOWING FOR DEEPER
GULF MOISTURE TO INFILTRATE ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA. A FEW
ISOLATED SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST. SE WINDS WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK WITH RIDGE BUILDING BACK
FROM MEXICO AND CONTINUING TO DOMINATE THE REGION THROUGH THE END OF
THE WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM RANGING FROM THE MID TO
UPPER 90S AND LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 70S.

&&

.MARINE...TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...SEAS WERE NEAR 4 FEET
WITH SOUTH WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS AT BUOY020 EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
LIGHT TO MODERATE EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS TONIGHT AS WINDS INCREASE SLIGHTLY FROM
THE EAST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS AS A WEAK COLD
FRONT ACROSS THE COASTAL BEND THIS AFTERNOON MOVES OFFSHORE THE
MIDDLE TEXAS COAST TONIGHT. WINDS SHOULD REMAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE
FROM THE EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO FRIDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE MOVES SETTLES ACROSS CENTRAL TX FRI AFTERNOON. AS THE
SURFACE RIDGE TO THE NORTH MOVES EASTWARD FRI NIGHT...WINDS WILL
VEER TO THE SOUTHEAST.

SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD FROM
SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS AN UPPER TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE CENTRAL
PLAINS STRENGTHENING SURFACE GRADIENT. THIS IN RETURN WILL KEEP THE
GULF WATERS UNDER SE WINDS THROUGH THE DAY WITH GUSTS UP TO 35
KNOTS POSSIBLE. EXPECT SEAS TO BUILD BETWEEN 4 TO 6 FEET INTO SUNDAY
AND SCA CRITERIA WILL BE REACH. THIS SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK GRADIENT RELAXING. RIDGE BUILDS FROM
THE WEST WITH A FEW SHOWERS POSSIBLE OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL  75  87  76  89 /  20  30  10  10
BROWNSVILLE          74  88  73  92 /  20  30  10  10
HARLINGEN            73  89  72  93 /  20  30  10  10
MCALLEN              74  90  74  93 /  20  40  10  10
RIO GRANDE CITY      73  88  73  94 /  20  30  20  10
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND   77  85  78  87 /  20  30  20  10

&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV

61/67

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 18, 3:23 AM CST, 13 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
423 AM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

TXZ248>250-252>255-190930-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-
INLAND CAMERON-
423 AM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-190930-
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-
423 AM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE
LAGUNA MADRE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

MARINE CONDITIONS WILL WORSEN SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT
DUE TO STRONGER WINDS AND ROUGHER SEAS. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION
CONDITIONS PROBABLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

TXZ251-256-257-190930-
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
423 AM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 18, 3:21 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
421 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

TXZ251-182215-
KENEDY-
421 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THUNDERSTORMS IN KENEDY COUNTY...

THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT NORIAS...UNTIL
515 PM CDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A
LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE PEA SIZE
HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND
MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE
DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN USING WIPERS...TURN ON
HEADLIGHTS. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THAT COULD HIDE POTHOLES OR
CAUSE HYDROPLANING. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE
IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A
FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS.

SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS
EACH YEAR...MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS.

REMEMBER: VISIBILITY AND TRACTION LEAVE TIME FOR REACTION!

TOMASELLI

Local storm report, Oct 18, 4:55 PM CST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
555 PM CDT THU OCT 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0550 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     7 S SAN PERLITA         26.40N  97.64W
10/18/2012                   WILLACY            TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            GAME WARDEN REPORTED A LARGE FUNNEL CLOUD POSSIBLY
            TOUCHING THE GROUND AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 498 AND FM
            1420.

&&

EVENT NUMBER BRO1200143

JMS

The radar

The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:08 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:10 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 0.25 mi NNW of Monte Alto to 2.48 mi SSE of Monte Alto
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 26.373, -97.972

A supercell thunderstorm dropped hail the size of golfballs across a several mile swath of rural eastern Hidalgo County. The initial reports from the public indicated golf ball sized hail fell in Monte Alto at 615 pm CDT; radar reconcilation suggested the hail core drifted southward from Monte Alto for about 2.5 miles (north of Edcouch/Elsa) between 610 PM and 625 PM.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 1.98 mi N of Elsa
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 26.328, -97.985

Estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 65 to 70 mph, lifted a metal roof from a cinderblock shed at the residence of the brother of the Hidalgo County Emergency Manager, 3 miles north of Elsa. Debris from roof and building also injured livestock.

Hail, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:30 PM CST to 5:40 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 2.26 mi WNW of Elsa to 1.22 mi SSE of Edcouch
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 26.316, -98.012

Public reported quarter to golf ball size hail at Monte Cristo and Filegonia Road in Elsa. Hail fell at approximately 630 PM, according to the report and radar reconciliation, and appears to have continued at quarter to golf-ball sized as the updraft redeveloped over and just south of Edcouch between 630 and 640 PM CDT.

Hail, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:45 PM CST to 5:50 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 4.83 mi NNW of Mercedes Old Reb Arp
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 26.229, -97.911

Public reported quarter size hail at the intersection of Mile 12 and FM 491.

Heavy Rain, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:45 PM CST to 6:25 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 2.72 mi S of Edinburg to 2.74 mi S of Edinburg
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 26.261, -98.165

Public reported water over the curbs in Edinburg, near the intersection of Trenton and 281, on either side of 7 PM CDT. Estimated two inches of rain fell in a short period of time in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 2.59 mi NE of Donna
Measured: 48 kt (55 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 26.200, -98.025

Internet report of a large-diameter tree blown down by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of North Victoria and Mile 10 Road, just north of Donna. Radar reconciliation suggest the winds fell just below severe limits.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hidalgo

When: October 18, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo County, 0.39 mi SE of Mc Allen
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 26.195, -98.226

An amateur radio operator in McAllen reported a carport had blown into adjacent building by thunderstorm winds. A nearby carport also damaged, all around the intersection of at Houston Street and 6th Avenue.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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, October 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: 416350, 416592, 416349, 416352, 416591, 418127, 416594.