Windy, mild, and extremely dry weather during the first week of March allowed drought to deteriorate one level in Starr County between March 5th and 11th, 2013.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 BRO wrote it up.
Windy, mild, and extremely dry weather during the first week of March allowed drought to deteriorate one level in Starr County between March 5th and 11th, 2013.
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 4, 10:56 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1056 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013
.DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.
&&
.AVIATION...VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD. CURRENTLY...KBRO VWP SHOWS
SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 40 KTS AT 1K FEET WHICH IS A TICK HIGHER THAN
MODELS ARE SHOWING. THEREFORE...SINCE THE TAF SITES ARE GUSTY
CURRENTLY AND MODELS SUGGEST WINDS MAINTAINING THROUGH THE
NIGHT...WILL KEEP GUSTS IN THROUGH THE NIGHT. COLD FRONT STILL ON
TRACK TO MOVE THROUGH THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY MID TO LATE
MORNING WITH STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS IN ITS WAKE. WINDS WILL
DECREASE AFTER SUNSET.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 638 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013/
DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.
AVIATION...THE STRONG SURFACE WINDS WILL DECOUPLE SOME LATER
TONIGHT FROM THE WINDS ALOFT ALLOWING THE WINDS TO DECREASE
SLOWLY. HOWEVER A FAIRLY STIFF SOUTHERLY WIND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE LOWER RGV
LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY TOMORROW PUSHING THROUGH THE AREA DURING
THE LATE MORNING TO MIDDAY HOURS. MOISTURE LEVELS WITH THIS FRONT
REMAIN VERY LIMITED SO DO NOT EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF CLDS OR
RAINFALL OVER THE LOWER RGV AIRPORTS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS
FRONT. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE ENTIRITY OF
THE UPCOMING TAF PERIOD.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 157 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013/
SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE TODAY IS TIMING OF COLD FRONT TOMORROW AND
STRENGTH OF POST FRONTAL WINDS.
SFC LOW CURRENTLY ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA WILL GET FORCED SOUTHEAST
AND ELONGATE OVERNIGHT AS THE NEXT MIDLEVEL SHORTWAVE RACES THROUGH.
THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL RACE THROUGH TEXAS...ARRIVING IN
SOUTH TEXAS JUST AFTER SUNRISE TOMORROW. MODELS ARE IN FAIR
AGREEMENT WITH JUST AFTER SUNRISE FOR KHBV TO KBKS AND AROUND
MIDMORNING FOR CITIES ALONG THE RIVER.
WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS
REACHING 30 KNOTS. WHILE DRIEST RH VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO LAG
SOMEWHAT AND REALLY LOWER DURING THE EVENING...THE TINDER DRY FUEL
CONDITIONS FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY MAKE ANY WINDY DAY A
SIGNIFICANT THREAT FOR ERRATIC WILDFIRE BEHAVIOR. WILL BE UPGRADING
THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH TOMORROW TO A RED FLAG WARNING. DRIER
CONDITIONS AND CLEAR SKIES WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO PLUNGE INTO THE 40S
FOR MOST AREAS TOMORROW NIGHT.
LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
WEDNESDAY WEAK SURFACE RIDGING MOVES IN BEHIND THE CLEARING COLD
FRONT AND NORTH WINDS CONTINUE TO DIMINISH AND SHIFT MORE TO THE
EAST AS THE RIDGE MOVES INTO THE NORTHWESTERN GULF. TEMPERATURES
WILL START OUT A LITTLE CHILLY NOT GIVING THEM MUCH OF A HEAD START
DESPITE PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES...DID BUMP UP MAXES A BIT
THOUGH...ESPECIALLY OUT WEST. ANOTHER COOL NIGHT EXPECTED WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AMID LIGHT WINDS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE SURFACE RIDGE WITH
LOW DEWPOINTS STILL HANGING OVER THE AREA.
FRIDAY A STRONG TROUGH DROPS INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN US AMPLIFYING
UPPER RIDGING OVER THE CENTER PART OF THE COUNTRY. IN TURN THE MID
GULF SURFACE RIDGE INTENSIFIES AND SHUFFLES EASTWARD. FLOW ALOFT
OVER SOUTH TEXAS AND NORTHERN MEXICO WILL BE WEST SOUTHWESTERLY BUT
INCREASE TO AROUND 120 KNOTS. LEE TROUGHING DEVELOPS AHEAD OF THE
UPPER TROUGH OVER THE PLAINS AND DOWN TO THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS.
AS 700 TO 925MB FLOW INCREASES IN RESPONSE EXPECT WINDS TO PICK
UP...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS AND WEAK WARM ADVECTION IN
THIS LAYER SHOULD PRODUCE A MARKED INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER. HIGHS
WILL BE IN THE MID TO LOWER 80S.
SATURDAY THE NOSE OF ABOUT A 160KT SPEED MAX PUSHES INTO WESTERN
TEXAS QUICKLY DEEPENING THE PLAINS TROUGHING/LOW AND FURTHER
INTENSIFYING LEE TROUGHING CLOSER TO HOME. EXPECTING WINDY
CONDITIONS STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT LASTING THROUGH THE DAY AND
SATURDAY EVENING WITH ACCOMPANYING MOSTLY CLOUDY TO OVERCAST SKIES
DUE TO THE LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION. STRONG SOUTHWESTERLIES AT 700
TO 850MB INCREASE KEEP A STRONG CAPPING INVERSION GOING...SO DESPITE
ROBUST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE RETURN DO NOT EXPECT SIGNIFICANT
CONVECTION OR PRECIP DURING THIS TIME.
SUNDAY WE WILL BE IN A BIT OF A RELATIVE LULL AS THE PLAINS LOW
LEVEL CYCLONE STARTS MOVING NORTHEAST AND THE SOUTHWESTERLY UPPER
LEVEL FLOW LETS UP JUST A BIT. STILL EXPECT A BREEZY DAY BUT
PROBABLY SLIGHTLY WEAKER LOW WARM ADVECTION AND MOISTURE RETURN
LEADING TO MORE OF A PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY AND WARMER
TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO PERHAPS UPPER 80S BEFORE ALL
IS SAID AND DONE.
MONDAY THE PARENT UPPER TROUGH AND RIGHT EXIT REGION OF THE LEADING
JET MAXIMUM APPROACH THE AREA...BY THIS TIME THOUGH MOST OF THE JET
MOMENTUM IS BEGINNING TO GET AHEAD OF THE TROUGH AND IT STARTS TO
SLOW. THIS HAS MADE THE FRONTAL TIMING IN THE LAST 2 TO 3 RUNS OF
BOTH THE GFS/ECMWF MORE PROBLEMATIC. 12Z SUITE IS PRETTY SOLD ON
MONDAY AFTERNOON FROPA WITH STRONG WINDS BEHIND IT. THE SIGNAL FOR
AT LEAST SOME PRECIP RIGHT ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT REMAINS INTACT
BUT DID TRIM THE PRECIP CHANCES DOWN JUST A BIT IN TERMS OF
VALUE...TIME AND SPACE WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE UPPER DIVERGENCE/DCVA
TO THE NORTH OF THE CWA...WARM ADVECTION AND FRONTAL
CONVERGENCE/FRONTOGENETIC FORCING HOWEVER MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
SOME LIGHT PRECIP. OVERALL GFS/ECMWF AND ENSEMBLE GUIDANCE IS IN
VERY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE MAIN SYNOPTIC FEATURES ONLY DEPARTING BY
MONDAY ON THE ACTUAL FRONTAL TIMING...WHICH SEEMS REASONABLE
CONSIDERING THE JET STRUCTURE INVOLVED BY MONDAY. CONFIDENCE IS
ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE LONG RANGE FORECAST.
MARINE...
TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE CURRENTLY
IN EFFECT FOR THE LAGUNA MADRE THROUGH MIDNIGHT AND FOR THE GULF
WATERS THROUGH TONIGHT FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS RUNNING 20 TO 25 KNOTS.
SEAS OFFSHORE ARE CURRENTLY FLUCTUATING AROUND 7 FEET...WHICH WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. A VERY BRIEF RESPITE EXPECTED JUST AFTER
DAWN BEFORE THE NEXT FRONT ARRIVES MID MORNING. WINDS BEHIND THE
FRONT WILL SURGE FROM THE NORTH 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS AROUND 30.
THIS WILL CREATE SIGNIFICANT CHURN ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS AND
PUSH SEAS HIGHER THROUGH THE DAY TUESDAY...REACHING NEAR 10 FEET
LATE AFTERNOON. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL CONTINUE FOR THE GULF
WATERS AND THE LAGUNA MADRE TOMORROW THROUGH AT LEAST DAWN WEDNESDAY
WITH SLOW RELAXING LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
IMPROVING MARINE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAY ON
WEDNESDAY. ROUGH SEAS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE EARLY WEDNESDAY DUE TO
STRONG NORTH WINDS ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT BUT WINDS SHOULD BE
MODERATE OUT OF THE NORTHEAST AND EVENTUALLY EAST. FAVORABLE MARINE
CONDITIONS WITH MODERATE EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AND LOW TO MODERATE
SEAS LOOK TO REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH
SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE ONCE AGAIN.
&&
.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY FOR TXZ248>257.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR
GMZ130-132-135.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST TUESDAY FOR
GMZ130-132-135.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST TUESDAY FOR GMZ150-155-170-
175.
&&
THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV
55/54HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 850 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013 TXZ248>257-051100- ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 850 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXISTS ACROSS AREA BEACHES TONIGHT...INCLUDING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND BOCA CHICA BEACH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS TOMORROW DUE TO STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND FALLING RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OCCURRING IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. AN ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK WILL EXIST TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY AND ONCE AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-051100- 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- 850 PM CST MON MAR 4 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE LAGUNA MADRE THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS FOR TONIGHT. THESE ADVISORIES ARE DUE TO INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS AND ELEVATED SEAS OCCURRING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LAGUNA MADRE FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS. THESE ADVISORIES ARE DUE TO THE EXPECTED STRONG NORTHERLY MARINE WINDS OCCURRING IN THE WAKE OF A FRONTAL PASSAGE TOMORROW. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY NIGHT DUE TO INCREASING SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Breezy to windy, mild, and extremely dry conditions during the first week of March worsened drought conditions by one category in the central portion of the county, from Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) between March 5th and 11th.
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, March 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: 443435.