A strong upper level disturbance moved out of northeast Mexico during the evening of the 23rd and into South Texas on the morning of the 24th. As the system reached northeast Mexico, a line of strong thunderstorms formed during the afternoon hours of the 23rd.
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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.
A strong upper level disturbance moved out of northeast Mexico during the evening of the 23rd and into South Texas on the morning of the 24th. As the system reached northeast Mexico, a line of strong thunderstorms formed during the afternoon hours of the 23rd. The line of storms moved east across Laredo and then through the Brush Country during the evening hours. The storms produced flash flooding in Laredo. The line of thunderstorms intensified during the early morning hours of the 24th when it reached the Coastal Bend. The storms caused damage to trees and power lines across the Coastal Bend.
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 May 23, 5:48 PM CST, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
648 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
.DISCUSSION...THE STORMS PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED THE NORTH
AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF S TX IN A TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 3 AM CDT.
CONVECTION OVER MEX AND THE HILL COUNTRY IS EXPECTED TO PROGRESS
EASTWARD THIS EVENING WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS BEING WIND DAMAGE
FROM STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...AND FLASH
FLOODING WITH A SECONDARY THREAT POSSIBLY BEING HAIL BUT IS LESS
LIKELY. UPDATES HAVE BEEN SENT. ALSO SEE AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW
FOR THE 00Z TAFS.
&&
.AVIATION...CURRENT VFR CONDITIONS ACROSS S TX ARE EXPECTED TO
DETERIORATE LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT IN RESPONSE TO
EXPECTED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS MOVG ACROSS S TX FROM MEX. THESE
STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE COAST TOWARD SUNRISE WITH A LULL
IN THE CONVECTION IN ITS WAKE. HAVE GONE WITH TEMPO GROUPS FOR
TIMING OF BEST CHC FOR STRONGEST STORMS FOLLOWED WITH VCSH BY MID
MORNING SUNDAY AND NO MENTION IN THE AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...ANOTHER
ROUND OF STORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE DURING THE DAY SUNDAY UNLESS THE
ATMOSPHERE STABILIZES BEHIND TONIGHTS CONVECTION. THEREFORE...VFR
THIS EVENING...LOWERING TO MVFR/IFR OVERNIGHT THEN BACK TO VFR BY
MID TO LATE SUNDAY MORNING.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 400 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015/
SHORT TERM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY.
DANGEROUS FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL EXISTS ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE/WESTERN
BRUSH COUNTRY TONIGHT SHIFTING TOWARD THE COASTAL BEND EARLY
SUNDAY. RADAR SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF CONVECTION JUST NORTH OF OUR
AREA ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY THIS AFTERNOON WITH TWO ADDITIONAL
LINES FORMING TO THE WEST IN MX. ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS WILL TRAIN
OVER THE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS AND COULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT FLASH
FLOOD EVENT OVER ALREADY SATURATED GROUNDS AND FLOODED RIVER
BASINS. ATMOS IS ALSO VERY UNSTABLE WITH INCREASING DEEP LAYER
SHEAR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FEW SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY THREAT. HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT
BE RULED OUT. NOT SURE HOW MUCH ACTIVITY WE'LL SEE ON SUNDAY GIVEN
THE ATMOS SHOULD BE WORKED OVER FROM MORNING CONVECTION. HOWEVER
MODELS ALL SHOW STRONG INSTABILITY RE-DEVELOPING BY AFTN. IF
CONVECTION FIRES ALONG ANY LEFT-OVER OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES IT COULD
QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE...WITH FLASH FLOODING A CONTINUING THREAT.
ANOTHER S/W ON MONDAY WILL TRIGGER ADDITIONAL STORMS WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. STRONG INSTABILITY AND MODEST SHEAR
COULD RESULT IN A FEW SEVERE STORMS AS WELL. SPC HAS HIGHLIGHTED
THE AREA IN A SLIGHT RISK ON MONDAY.
LONG TERM...(MEMORIAL DAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...EXTENDED BEGINS WHERE
THE SHORT TERM LEFT OFF...WITH ANOTHER DAY OF POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING
AND SEVERE WEATHER. WITH CONSIDERABLE INSTABILITY AND VERY HIGH
WATER CONTENT...EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.
BEGINNING TUESDAY UPPER SUPPORT SHIFTS EASTWARD...BUT CONTINUING
HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT AND LEFTOVER BOUNDARIES MAY BE ENOUGH FOR
ISOLATED CONVECTION WITH MUCH LOWER RAINFALL AMOUNTS. WILL CONTINUE
LOW POPS THROUGH THE WEEK.
TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WEEK WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMALS FOR LATE
MAY.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI 75 84 76 85 77 / 70 70 60 60 50
VICTORIA 72 82 73 83 73 / 80 80 60 60 60
LAREDO 71 90 74 91 75 / 80 30 30 40 40
ALICE 74 86 74 87 76 / 70 60 50 60 50
ROCKPORT 77 83 77 83 77 / 70 80 60 60 60
COTULLA 70 88 72 87 72 / 90 40 30 50 40
KINGSVILLE 75 86 75 86 77 / 70 60 50 60 50
NAVY CORPUS 76 83 77 83 78 / 70 70 60 60 50
&&
.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARANSAS...BEE...CALHOUN...DUVAL...GOLIAD...JIM
WELLS...KLEBERG...LA SALLE...LIVE OAK...MCMULLEN...NUECES...
REFUGIO...SAN PATRICIO...VICTORIA...WEBB.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: 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.
&&
TE/81...AVIATIONHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 653 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-250000- 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-LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- 653 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR BEE...DUVAL...GOLIAD...LA SALLE...LIVE OAK...MCMULLEN AND WEBB COUNTIES UNTIL 3 AM CDT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH TEXAS. A FEW STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...AND PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT..DUE TO A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT UNTIL 1 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR MARINE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ANTICIPATED SUNDAY AND MONDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY EXCEED FLASH FLOOD THRESHOLDS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY SUNDAY AND MONDAY FOR SEVERE STORMS. RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING REPORTS WILL BE APPRECIATED SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
945 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
TXZ239-240330-
WEBB-
945 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WEBB COUNTY...
AT 944 PM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG THE
RIO GRANDE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAREDO...RIO BRAVO...EL CENIZO...BOTINES...LAREDO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY...COLUMBIA BRIDGE...
ORVIL...UNITED SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL...RANCHOS PENITAS WEST...LAS
TIENDAS...DOCTORS HOSPITAL OF LAREDO...RIO BRAVO--EL CENIZO...UNITEC
INDUSTRIAL PARK...LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE...ST AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL
SOUTH LAREDO AND LAREDO COUNTRY CLUB.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 2727 9949 2730 9949 2731 9954 2741 9949
2749 9948 2750 9953 2757 9951 2760 9958
2764 9960 2763 9964 2767 9971 2787 9990
2791 9990 2792 9946 2760 9929 2733 9922
2727 9925 2727 9933 2732 9937
TIME...MOT...LOC 0244Z 293DEG 8KT 2783 9982 2759 9960 2740 9954 2716
9962
HARTThe Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 198 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:52 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Portions of Sara Road were flooded with vehicles stalled on the north side of Laredo. A motorist was stranded in high water near the intersection of Park Drive and Taylor Street in the central portion of Laredo.
Several trees were blown down in San Diego. One tree was blown down on to power lines. A trampoline was flung across a yard.
Picture submitted through social media of a large tree blown on to power lines and a house in Kingsville.
Portion of a roof was blown off of an apartment building along Carolyn Drive.
The tornado touched down near Cunningham Middle School just north of Golihar Road where trees were snapped and uprooted. A residence just north of the school at the corner of Hudson and Stafford Streets sustained moderate roof damage and a had a fence blown down. The tornado continued to the northeast crossing Horne Road and parallel to Sarita Street. Dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted with many falling on homes or vehicles. Several residences suffered roof and siding damage in this area. Further northeast, the tornado hit a grocery store on Tarlton Street destroying a sign and blowing several windows out. Tree and minor roof damaged was observed northeast of this area as the tornado crossed Baldwin and Morgan Avenues. The last evidence of the tornado was at 16th Street and Crosstown Expressway where a nursery sustained damage and a baseball dugout was destroyed. Maximum winds were estimated around 90 mph.
Damaging winds moved across Portland and Gregory. A light pole fell on a truck on Timberline Drive in Portland. Many big tree limbs were blown down. A power pole was blown down on Memorial Parkway in Portland. Power lines were blown down on 2nd Street in Gregory.
Brawner Parkway from Kostoryz Road to Devon Drive was flooded.
Large tree limbs were snapped from south of Woodsboro to northeast of Woodsboro. Limbs were estimated to be up to a foot in diameter. A few power lines were blown down.
A picture was relayed via social media of a 2 feet diameter tree uprooted in Refugio.
A small wooden building was destroyed near the pharmacy.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2015Warnings in Texas, May 2015
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: 581302, 581313, 581314, 581554, 581315, 581557, 581566, 581561, 581569, 581572.