The combination of an approaching late season front, warm humid air, light winds that allowed an afternoon sea breeze to develop, and boundaries from storms moving south from Del Rio and Laredo set the stage for multicell thunderstorm clusters to fire, mainly from northwest Cameron and eastern Hidalgo counties westward to the Rio Grande Plains during the mid to late afternoon, which carried into…
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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 BRO wrote it up.
The combination of an approaching late season front, warm humid air, light winds that allowed an afternoon sea breeze to develop, and boundaries from storms moving south from Del Rio and Laredo set the stage for multicell thunderstorm clusters to fire, mainly from northwest Cameron and eastern Hidalgo counties westward to the Rio Grande Plains during the mid to late afternoon, which carried into the early evening. Stronger cells produced an estimated 3 to 4 inches just north of the Rio Grande in the San Juan/Alamo area, and another measured 4 inches in Rio Grande City. The torrential rain pockets left a combination of urban and more life and property threatening flash flooding, in both the San Juan/Alamo area, where the rain overwhelmed septic systems and flooded streets with known poor drainage with at least 3 feet of water, and near Rio Grande City, where U.S. 83 was flooded near Garceno, and at least one home was evacuated from floodwaters near Escobares around 7 pm. Other heavy rains, estimated up to 4 to 5 inches, fell over open ranchlands of eastern Zapata and central Brooks counties.
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 May 30, 2:31 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 331 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 .SHORT TERM /NOW THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE SHORT TERM WILL BE THE ONGOING MCS/QLCS MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST ALONG THE RIO GRANDE MOVING INTO WEBB COUNTY. LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THE ONGOING THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS INTO NORTHEAST MEXICO AND A PLUME OF PACIFIC MOISTURE STREAMING ACROSS CENTRAL MEXICO INTO DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. AT THE SURFACE...A WEAK COLD FRONT IS LOCATED ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON. CURRENT BRO RADAR SHOWS ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEA BREEZE MOVING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA. THIS MCS/QLCS WITH A STRONG COLD POOL IS EXPECTED TO HOLD TOGETHER AND REACH THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE DEEP SOUTH TEXAS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM THIS FEATURE COMBINED WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE /PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUE OF 1.63 INCHES PER BRO 12Z SOUNDING/...INCREASING INSTABILITY...DAYTIME HEATING AND INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SEA BREEZE AND A BOUNDARY TO THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SOME ADDITIONAL CONVECTION ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TEXAS FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS THE EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS /MAINLY ZAPATA COUNTY/ UNDER A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH MARGINAL RISK ACROSS THE REST OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. WILL MENTION DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FAR WEST AND GUSTY WINDS FOR THE REST OF THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE WEAK COLD FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS WILL DRIFT SOUTH TONIGHT COMBINED WITH SOME UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WILL MAINTAIN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE GROUND REMAINS NEARLY SATURATED ACROSS MOST OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS FROM THE RAINFALL OF THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS...THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING EXISTS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE...ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TEXAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS NOW THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. THE REMNANTS OF THE WEAK COLD FRONT WILL PUSH OUT INTO THE NORTHWEST GULF ON THE EAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CONVECTION UPSTREAM OVER THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS. LINGERING CONVECTION IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT WITH AMPLE MOISTURE AND BOUNDARY IN THE AREA. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S TONIGHT WITH LIGHT ONSHORE WINDS. WILL MAINTAIN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF STALLED FRONT IN THE AREA AND ABUNDANT MOISTURE OVER DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE SOUTH INTO THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT. WILL MENTION A CHANCE OF POPS ACROSS THE WEST SUNDAY EVENING DUE TO CONVECTION OVER MEXICO MOVING INTO THE AREA. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE MID TO UPPER 80S SUNDAY WITH LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE IN THE 70S. && .MARINE...NOW THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...BROAD HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF WILL RESULT IN A WEAK PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG THE LOWER TEXAS COAST. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE LOWER TEXAS COASTAL WATERS LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTHEAST WINDS SUNDAY...BECOMING EAST TO SOUTHEAST SUNDAY NIGHT. LOW TO MODERATE SEAS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR TXZ248>257. GM...NONE. && THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 63/61/65
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 416 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 TXZ248>257-312130- ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 416 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS THROUGH TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ALONG WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...AN ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORM OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY. HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-312130- 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- 416 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 344 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 TXZ250-302115- BROOKS TX- 344 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL BROOKS COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AT 343 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FALFURRIAS...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... FALFURRIAS AND BROOKS COUNTY AIRPORT. LAT...LON 2726 9810 2722 9807 2710 9821 2726 9847 TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 134DEG 13KT 2722 9820 JS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
433 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
TXZ250-252-253-302200-
BROOKS TX-HIDALGO TX-STARR TX-
433 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL HIDALGO...
SOUTHWESTERN BROOKS AND NORTHEASTERN STARR COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM
CDT...
AT 432 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES SOUTH OF EL COYOTE RANCH AIRPORT...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SANTA ELENA...SAN ISIDRO...LA REFORMA AND DELMITA.
LAT...LON 2699 9827 2675 9808 2662 9822 2671 9851
2678 9850 2678 9842 2688 9842
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 135DEG 14KT 2674 9821
JSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 443 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 TXZ248-249-302215- JIM HOGG TX-ZAPATA TX- 443 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL JIM HOGG AND NORTHEASTERN ZAPATA COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... AT 442 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ESCOBAS...OR NEAR BUSTAMANTE. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ESCOBAS. LAT...LON 2715 9895 2692 9881 2687 9910 2716 9909 TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 326DEG 5KT 2701 9900 JS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
458 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
TXZ250-302230-
BROOKS TX-
458 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN JIM HOGG AND CENTRAL
BROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
AT 457 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
EL COYOTE RANCH AIRPORT...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EL COYOTE RANCH AIRPORT...ENCINO AND RACHAL.
LAT...LON 2686 9809 2683 9839 2701 9842 2705 9842
2706 9843 2712 9844 2714 9807
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 176DEG 18KT 2689 9821
JSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
524 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
TXZ250-302315-
BROOKS TX-
524 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN JIM HOGG AND SOUTHERN
BROOKS COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
AT 523 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
RACHAL. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ENCINO AND RACHAL.
LAT...LON 2687 9800 2678 9825 2700 9842 2701 9842
2713 9809
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 153DEG 7KT 2690 9814
JSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
528 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
TXZ248-302315-
ZAPATA TX-
528 PM CDT SAT MAY 30 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ZAPATA UNTIL 615 PM
CDT...
AT 528 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ESCOBAS...OR 7 MILES EAST OF BUSTAMANTE...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MORALES-SANCHEZ.
LAT...LON 2705 9908 2701 9895 2678 9895 2670 9900
2678 9923
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 018DEG 15KT 2701 9899
JSThe Brownsville radar (KBRO), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:58 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported numerous roadways covered in water ranging from 7 inches to 3 feet across San Juan and Alamo, mainly south of Expressway U.S. 83.
Starr County Sheriffs Office reported that a home had to be evacuated due to flooding along Lolo Flores Road in Escobares, as well standing water on roadways.
Starr County Sheriffs Office reported that Garceno Loop near Highway 83 was closed due to high water covering the roadway.
La Joya COOP observer reported 1.30 inches of rainfall and minor street flooding north of La Joya.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 582548, 582545, 582546, 582547.