Strong Wind in Texas, January 23 to 24, 2014

Name: Strong Wind in Texas, January 23 to 24, 2014
Start: 2014-01-23T18:54
End: 2014-01-24T05:48
Location: Texas

January 23 to 24, 2014 · NWS BRO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

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.

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: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

The combination of a sharp surge of cold air and a trough of low pressure across the western Gulf of Mexico brought strong and gusty winds across the Lower and Mid Rio Grande Valley during the evening of January 23rd in Hidalgo County, and during the morning of January 24th close to the Cameron County coast. Up to 17,500 customers were without power across the region, including 8500 in the coastal Cameron County area (Port Isabel, Laguna Vista, Bayview, South Padre Island) area and up to 9000 in the mid Valley (Weslaco, McAllen). Peak wind gusts up to 48 mph were recorded.

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 Jan 23, 5:12 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 23, 5:12 PM CST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
512 PM CST THU JAN 23 2014

.DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.
&&

.AVIATION...RADAR IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT
THE MUCH-ADVERTISED ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS ALONG A SARITA TO FALCON
DAM LINE...AND PLUNGING RAPIDLY TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST. THE
TIMING OF THE FRONT HAS BEEN BUILT INTO THE CURRENT TAFS...WITH A
TEMPO INSERTED UNTIL THE FRONTAL PASSAGE FOR LIGHT RAIN DUE TO
CURRENT RADAR TRENDS. POOR AVIATION CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY LATE
TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW DUE TO LOW CEILINGS AND LIGHT RAINFALL.
FROZEN PRECIPITATION IS NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE THREE MAJOR
AERODROMES OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 209 PM CST THU JAN 23 2014/

..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN RANCHLANDS TONIGHT...

SHORT TERM /NOW THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL
PREVAIL THROUGH THE AFTERNOON SHIFTING NORTHEAST AND INCREASING
THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH THE APPROACH OF THE ARCTIC COLD FRONT
ACROSS THE CWA. EXPECT THIS FRONT TO MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN
RANCH BY 00Z AND TOWARDS THE MIDDLE AND LOWER VALLEY BY 03Z. THE
COLDER AIR BEHIND THIS FRONT WILL QUICKLY LOWER TEMPERATURES
ACROSS THE AREA WITH NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES OVER THE NORTHERN
COUNTIES AND IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE. CLOUD
DECK WILL BEGIN TO LOWER AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH DEVELOPING
STRATIFORM TYPE RAIN ACROSS THE AREA. THE INCREASE IN COVERAGE
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES
NEAR FREEZING OVER THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF ZAPATA...JIM HOGG AND
BROOKS COULD SEE A MIX OF RAIN AND SLEET WHICH COULD CREATE
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS OVER BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE THREE NORTHERN COUNTIES IN
ADDITION TO THE WIND CHILL ADVISORY THAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.
THIS RAINFALL SHOULD DIMINISH BY 15Z OVER THE WESTERN PORTION WITH
TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY INCREASING JUST A FEW DEGREES THROUGH OUT
THE DAY. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD REACH THE MID 30S OVER THE
NORTHERN COUNTIES WHILE THE LOWER VALLEY CAN SEE TEMPERATURES IN
THE 40S. THIS WILL FEEL EVEN COLDER WITH WIND CHILL VALUES OF MID
TO LOW 20S.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...500MB TROUGH ACROSS THE
EASTERN UNITED STATES SATURDAY WILL REMAINED ANCHORED ACROSS THE
NORTHEAST U.S. SUNDAY INTO MONDAY ALLOWING ANOTHER SURGE OF ARCTIC
AIR TO SPILL INTO THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S. MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY. BEFORE THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE CWA MON
AFTERNOON...LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO
SATURDAY WILL MOVE EASTWARD ALLOWING AN ONSHORE FLOW TO RETURN
SUNDAY AND WARMER TEMPERATURES SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE
TEMPERATURES FALL AGAIN MON NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
RAIN WILL LINGER ACROSS THE COASTAL SECTIONS EARLY SATURDAY BEFORE
THE SURFACE LOW ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF MOVES AWAY. WILL HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL MON NIGHT FOR RAIN CHANCES TO RETURN AS OVERRUNNING
DEVELOPS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE MONDAY. WILL MENTION A CHANCE OF
RAIN MON NIGHT INTO TUESDAY AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN TUES NIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE SURFACE RIDGE MOVES EASTWARD ALLOWING AN
ONSHORE FLOW TO RETURN TOWARDS THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.

MARINE...
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...SEAS WILL QUICKLY BUILD BEHIND
THE FRONT WITH GALE FORCE WINDS EXPECTED THROUGH THE FRIDAY. THIS
FRONT WILL BUILD SEAS BETWEEN 6 TO 10 AND UP TO 12 FEET BY THE END
OF THE SHORT TERM. LIGHT RAIN WILL INCREASE AS COASTAL TROUGH
DEVELOPS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TOMORROW WITH REALLY COLD
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THROUGH THE END OF THE SHORT TERM.

SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MODERATE NORTH WINDS WILL PREVAIL
ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS SATURDAY AS LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE
WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A RELATIVELY STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE LOWER TEXAS COAST. WINDS SHOULD
DIMINISH SAT NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AND VEER TO THE SOUTH AS SURFACE
RIDGE ACROSS THE CWA MOVES EASTWARD. LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTH
WINDS WILL DEVELOP SUN NIGHT BEFORE A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES
THROUGH THE COASTAL WATERS MONDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO
THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST AND INCREASE MON NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE OFFSHORE WATERS MON NIGHT
INTO TUESDAY AS A RESULT WITH GUSTS TO NEAR GALE FORCE POSSIBLE.
&&

.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 AM TO NOON CST FRIDAY FOR
     TXZ248>250.

     WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 3 PM CST FRIDAY FOR
     TXZ248>257.

GM...GALE WARNING UNTIL 9 AM CST FRIDAY FOR GMZ130-132-135-150-155-
     170-175.
&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 23, 4:10 PM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
410 PM CST THU JAN 23 2014

TXZ248>257-241200-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-
INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
410 PM CST THU JAN 23 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT UNTIL 3 PM CST FRIDAY.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH
PADRE ISLAND AND AT BOCA CHICA BEACH.

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

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ZAPATA...JIM HOGG...AND
BROOKS COUNTY FROM 3 AM CST TO NOON CST FRIDAY.

AN ELEVATED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS LIKELY AT THE LOCAL BEACHES
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...AND AGAIN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

RESIDENTS IN ZAPATA...JIM HOGG...AND BROOKS COUNTY SHOULD REPORT
ANY OBSERVATIONS OF FREEZING PRECIPITATION TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BROWNSVILLE.

GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-241200-
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-
410 PM CST THU JAN 23 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LAGUNA MADRE AND GULF OF
MEXICO WATERS EAST OF PADRE ISLAND FROM 0 TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES
OFFSHORE FROM 6 PM CST TONIGHT UNTIL 9 AM CST FRIDAY.

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

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR ALL OR PORTIONS
OF THE LOWER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS FROM 9 AM CST FRIDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING...AND AGAIN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Hidalgo

When: January 23, 6:54 PM CST to 7:53 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 43 kt wind gust was measured at the McAllen Miller International Airport ASOS site at 654 PM CST; gusts continued to gale force (39 to 44 mph) for about an hour. Approximately 9000 customers were without power across the mid Valley (Weslaco, McAllen) due to the strong and gusty winds disabling power lines.

Strong Wind, Coastal Cameron

When: January 24, 3:54 AM CST to 5:48 AM CST
Where: Coastal Cameron forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Coast Guard

Several 37 to 42 knots (43 to 48 mph) wind gusts were measured at the South Padre Island Coast Guard station. Peak winds at nearby Bayview/Cameron County Airport peaked at 35 knots (40 mph) at 353 AM CST. Approximately 8500 customers were without power across coastal Cameron County (Port Isabel, Laguna Vista, Bayview, South Padre Island) due to the strong and gusty winds disabling power lines.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2014

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: 498002, 498001.