Temperatures were near or slightly below normal for the month of April. A couple of cold fronts were strong enough for minimum temperatures to fall into the 30s and provide spotty areas of frost.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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 CRP wrote it up.
Temperatures were near or slightly below normal for the month of April. A couple of cold fronts were strong enough for minimum temperatures to fall into the 30s and provide spotty areas of frost. Several beneficial rain events occurred across portions of South Texas during the month of April. Significant rainfall was received in the Victoria Crossroads, inland portions of the Coastal Bend, and southern portions of the Brush Country. There were isolated spots that did not receive much rainfall over the northern Brush Country and near the coast in Kleberg and northeast Aransas Counties. Isolated areas received rainfall amounts over 6 inches during the month in northeast Victoria, northeast Refugio, southeast McMullen, and south-central Webb Counties.
Exceptional drought continued over the southern Coastal Bend and over the southeastern Brush Country. The severe to extreme drought persisted over the rest of the Brush Country eastward into the northern Coastal Bend with severe drought developing over Victoria County by the end of the month.
Mandatory water restrictions continued during the month for the city of Corpus Christi as the combined lake capacity levels remained below 40 percent. The city of Portland continued under mandatory water restrictions. The cities of Victoria and Laredo remained under voluntary water restrictions. Different stages of water restrictions continued for Beeville, Point Comfort, Alice, Kingsville, Taft, and Odem during the month.
Ranchers were forced to continue supplemental feeding of livestock. Livestock producers continued to reduce their herd. In Webb County, ranchers were burning prickly pear for supplemental feed. In Jim Wells County, most row crops failed to establish a stand. Corn, grain sorghum, and cotton were all expected to be declared a total loss. Dry-land cotton and grain crops planted were devastated by the drought. But some of the irrigated crops looked good, although unseasonably cool temperatures slowed plant growth in some areas.
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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 11:45 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 1245 AM CDT MON APR 1 2013 .DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR 06Z AVIATION && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS PREVAIL AT CRP/VCT/LRD WITH MVFR CEILINGS AT ALI. ANTICIPATE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT WITH STRATUS AND POSSIBLY FOG...LEADING TO IFR/LIFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS. IMPROVING CIGS/VSBYS ARE EXPECTED BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH GUSTY SE WINDS AT ALI/CRP DURING THE AFTERNOON. LOW CLOUDS WILL RETURN AFTER 00Z AT ALI/VCT/CRP BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE AT LRD ATTM. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1005 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/ DISCUSSION...VERY IMPRESSIVE SUPERCELL THAT PRODUCED HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GRAPEFRUIT OVER DUVAL COUNTY HAS MOVED INTO THE REGION OF STRONG INHIBITION AS EVIDENT ON 00Z CRP SOUNDING AND HAS QUICKLY DIMINISHED. HAVE CANCELLED THE WATCH FOR THE AREA. COULD SEE SOME ISOLATED CONVECTION LINGER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS...THEN PREVIOUS FORECAST OF FOG FOR OVERNIGHT LOOKS ON TRACK. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 631 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/ DISCUSSION...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF THE BRUSH COUNTRY ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE MOVING TO THE EAST-SOUTHEAST INTO THE INSTABILITY AXIS THAT EXTENDS TOWARD THE COASTAL BEND. 0-6 KM SHEAR AROUND 50 KNOTS AND MEAN LAYER CAPE VALUES UP TO 2000 J/KG EXIST OVER THE BRUSH COUNTRY AT THIS TIME. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BRUSH COUNTRY TO THE COASTAL BEND UNTIL 06Z. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 625 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013/ DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. AVIATION...LOW CONFIDENCE FCST FOR THIS EVENING. CONVECTION TO NW OF THE REGION MAY MOVE SE INTO S TX THIS EVENING. CONFIDENCE AT ANY ONE TERMINAL IS TOO LOW TO MENTION IN TAFS AT THIS TIME. SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS TO TAFS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE...BECOMING MVFR/IFR CIGS/VSBYS OVERNIGHT WITH LIFR POSSIBLE...WORST FLIGHT RULES AT KVCT/KCRP AND BEST AT KLRD. TRANSITIONING TO VFR DURING DAY MON ALL TERMINALS. LIGHT SE WINDS TONIGHT BECOMING MODERATE DURING DAY MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... CORPUS CHRISTI 84 68 83 68 82 / 10 10 40 60 60 VICTORIA 83 66 80 62 75 / 10 10 50 80 70 LAREDO 91 69 87 66 82 / 10 20 40 40 40 ALICE 88 67 85 67 82 / 10 10 40 50 60 ROCKPORT 78 68 76 66 77 / 10 10 40 70 70 COTULLA 88 67 84 64 77 / 10 20 50 50 50 KINGSVILLE 87 68 83 69 82 / 10 10 40 50 60 NAVY CORPUS 77 69 79 69 79 / 10 10 40 60 60 && .CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && TB/78...AVIATION
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 508 AM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013 TXZ229>234-239>247-011000- LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- 508 AM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM JUST NORTH OF LAREDO TO ALICE TO VICTORIA...FOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. SHOULD STORMS DEVELOP THEY WILL HAVE THE RISK OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES AND MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. A FEW STRONGER STORMS ARE POSSIBLE...WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS THE BRUSH COUNTRY AND VICTORIA REGION. GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-011000- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT O'CONNOR- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 508 AM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES AND MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. A FEW STRONGER STORMS ARE POSSIBLE...WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL. STRONG NORTH TO NORTHEAST WIND IS EXPECTED BEHIND A COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NECESSARY WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
819 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0811 PM HAIL FREER 27.88N 98.62W
03/31/2013 E2.75 INCH DUVAL TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN FREER FROM FIRE CHIEF.
WINDSHIELDS BROKEN OUT OF FIRE TRUCK.
&&
HARTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
843 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0801 PM HAIL FREER 27.88N 98.62W
03/31/2013 E4.25 INCH DUVAL TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN FREER FROM FIRE CHIEF.
WINDSHIELDS BROKEN OUT OF FIRE TRUCK. UPDATE IS TO
INCREASE SIZE FROM BASEBALL TO SOFTBALL PER FIRE CHIEF.
SEVERAL CARS DAMAGED FROM HAIL IN FREER.
&&
HARTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
853 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0838 PM HAIL BENAVIDES 27.60N 98.41W
03/31/2013 E2.75 INCH DUVAL TX COCORAHS
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS IN BENAVIDES WITH
MANY WINDOWS BROKEN IN TOWN.
&&
HARTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
914 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0836 PM HAIL 2 W BENAVIDES 27.60N 98.44W
03/31/2013 E4.00 INCH DUVAL TX TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL BUSTED WINDOWS OF VEHICLES AND DESTROYED SOLAR
PANELS.
&&
HARTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
1008 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0801 PM HAIL FREER 27.88N 98.62W
03/31/2013 E4.25 INCH DUVAL TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN FREER FROM FIRE CHIEF.
WINDSHIELDS BROKEN OUT OF FIRE TRUCK. UPDATE IS TO
INCREASE SIZE FROM BASEBALL TO SOFTBALL PER FIRE CHIEF.
SEVERAL CARS DAMAGED FROM HAIL IN FREER.
0817 PM HAIL ALICE 27.76N 98.07W
03/31/2013 E2.75 INCH JIM WELLS TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY FIRE CHIEF JUST NORTH OF
ALICE.
0836 PM HAIL 2 W BENAVIDES 27.60N 98.44W
03/31/2013 E4.00 INCH DUVAL TX TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL BUSTED WINDOWS OF VEHICLES AND DESTROYED SOLAR
PANELS.
0838 PM HAIL BENAVIDES 27.60N 98.41W
03/31/2013 E2.75 INCH DUVAL TX COCORAHS
BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS IN BENAVIDES WITH
MANY WINDOWS BROKEN IN TOWN.
&&
HARTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
1014 PM CDT SUN MAR 31 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0733 PM TSTM WND GST 16 NW LOMA ALTA 28.23N 98.72W
03/31/2013 M51 MPH MCMULLEN TX ASOS
AT SITE KMNT.
&&
HARTThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Exceptional drought continued over the entire county.
Exceptional drought continued over the southern portion of the county.
Exceptional drought continued over the central portion of the county.
Exceptional drought continued over the southeastern portion of the county.
Extreme drought continued over all but the northeastern portion of the county.
Extreme drought continued over the southern portion of the county.
Extreme drought continued over the southern portion of the county.
Severe drought continued over the western portion of the county.
Severe drought continued over the extreme western portion of the county.
Severe drought continued over the entire county.
Severe drought develop over the entire county during the first half of the month.
Severe drought develop over the western portion of the county.
Severe drought develop over the eastern portion of the county.
Exceptional drought continued over the western portion of the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2013
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: 448557, 448558, 448559, 448560, 448561, 448562, 448563, 448565, 448566, 448567, 448568, 448569, 448570, 448571.