A deep upper level low and a surface frontal boundary combined to produce severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain. The thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 EWX wrote it up.
A deep upper level low and a surface frontal boundary combined to produce severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain. The thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds. Flash flooding was reported in Austin.
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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 8, 7:27 AM CST, 13 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 727 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 37 FOR OUR NORTHEASTERN COUNTIES. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 548 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016/ UPDATE...12Z AVIATION UPDATE BELOW. AVIATION...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND PATCHY DRIZZLE WILL IMPACT THE I-35 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING. A BROKEN LINE OF TSRA WILL IMPACT AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF A T82-BMQ LINE THIS MORNING. MVFR CEILINGS GENERALLY PREVAILED AT 12Z...WITH SOME POTENTIAL TO LOWER INTO IFR AT SAT/AUS THROUGH 16Z DURING PERIODS OF DRIZZLE/-SHRA AS WELL AS OUT NEAR DRT WHERE PATCHY BR HAS FORMED. VFR CONDITIONS DEVELOPING 16Z-18Z...WITH A TEMPORARY LULL IN PRECIP DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE NEXT AND STRONGER DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH THE REGION TONIGHT...WITH SHRAS/TSTMS DEVELOPING SW TO NE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. CONDITIONS WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR SOME STORMS TO BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50KTS. THE THREAT WILL CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 410 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016/ SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE/SPEED MAX MOVING INTO CENTRAL TEXAS WITH STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY. STREAMER SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED STORMS WILL CONTINUE ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 281 THIS MORNING. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL TAPER OFF MID TO LATE MORNING AS UPWARD MOTION WANES IN THE WAKE OF THE SHORTWAVE/SPEED MAX. PARTIAL CLEARING WILL ALLOW FOR WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER SONORA STATE OF NORTHWESTERN MEXICO DRIFTS TO THE EAST ANOTHER SPEED MAX ROTATES AROUND IT INTO TEXAS TONIGHT. A SURFACE LOW FORMS ALONG THE SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE AND MOVES TO THE TEXAS COASTAL AREAS. STRONG UPWARD FORCING DEVELOPS THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE SERRANIAS DEL BURRO MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO AND RIO GRANDE AREAS. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL DEVELOP THERE THIS AFTERNOON. THE STRONG UPWARD FORCING SPREADS EAST THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT ALLOWING THE SHOWERS AND STORMS TO SPREAD ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THESE STORMS WILL FORM INTO CLUSTERS...PERHAPS AN MCS. CAPES OF 1500 TO 2500 J/KG...STEEP LAPSE RATES...STRONG SHEAR AND VEERING WINDS AS WELL AS OTHER CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS ALL INDICATE A SLIGHT TO ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. STEERING FLOW AND PWS OF 1.4 TO 1.7 INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR STORMS TO TRAIN WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS POSSIBLE. THIS RAIN MAY CAUSE SOME FLOODING MAINLY IN URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE FASTER RUNOFF. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED WITH ISOLATED 5 INCHES POSSIBLE. STORMS MAY LINGER NEAR THE HIGHWAY 77 CORRIDOR AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING...THEN PUSH OFF TO THE EAST. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS MAY REDEVELOP WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON IF THE AIRMASS CAN RECOVER FROM THE OVERNIGHT STORMS. LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)... THE UPPER LEVEL LOW CONTINUES ITS DRIFT TO THE EAST ACROSS NORTHERN/CENTRAL MEXICO WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. THE SURFACE LOW REDEVELOPS GENERALLY OVER CENTRAL TEXAS. UPWARD FORCING WILL ACT ON A MOIST AIRMASS TO GENERATE PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE GREATEST COVERAGE WILL BE ALONG AND WEST OF I-35 THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEN ALONG AND NORTHEAST OF I-10 FRIDAY AS THE SURFACE LOW DRIFTS TO THE EAST. SMALL HAIL IS POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGER STORMS DUE TO ELEVATED INSTABILITY. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES OFF TO THE EAST WITH SHOWERS AND STORMS ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST FRIDAY. SOME SHOWERS MAY LINGER IN OUR FAR EASTERN AREAS SATURDAY. A MORE COMPACT UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES ACROSS TEXAS SUNDAY. HOWEVER...LIMITED MOISTURE PRECLUDES ANY RAIN. NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL DAYTIME TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED MID TO LATE WEEK DUE TO CLOUDS AND RAIN. TEMPERATURES WARM TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL THIS WEEKEND AS SKIES CLEAR AND THEN TO WELL ABOVE NORMAL NEXT WEEK AS WESTERLY LOWER TO MID LEVEL FLOW PREVAILS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 83 62 73 58 70 / 40 100 60 40 50 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 82 61 74 56 71 / 40 100 60 40 50 NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 85 61 75 55 71 / 30 100 50 40 50 BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 81 58 71 55 66 / 50 100 50 40 60 DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 84 56 72 52 69 / 40 80 40 30 60 GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 80 60 71 57 69 / 50 100 60 40 50 HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 86 58 74 52 72 / 20 100 40 30 60 SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 83 61 74 56 71 / 30 100 60 40 50 LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 80 64 74 58 73 / 40 100 80 60 50 SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 85 60 75 55 71 / 20 100 40 30 50 STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 87 62 76 56 73 / 20 100 40 30 50 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && MESOSCALE/AVIATION...RUNYEN SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...04
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 542 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-091145- LLANO-BURNET-WILLIAMSON-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA- GILLESPIE-KENDALL-BLANCO-HAYS-TRAVIS-BASTROP-LEE-KINNEY-UVALDE- MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA- FRIO-ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT- 542 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A LINE OF STRONG STORMS MAY CLIP PORTIONS OF LLANO AND NORTHERN BURNET COUNTY THIS MORNING. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE BIG BEND AND MEXICO BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THEN MOVE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREATS ARE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...BUT ONE OR TWO TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL AS LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS SHOULD AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH AN ISOLATED POCKET OR TWO OF UP TO 5 INCHES EAST OF I-35. THIS COULD CAUSE SOME FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS THAT NORMALLY HAVE FASTER RUNOFF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ADDITIONAL SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...BUT THESE SHOULD POSE NO SEVERE OR HEAVY RAIN THREAT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
147 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016
TXZ183-080830-
VAL VERDE TX-
147 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN VAL
VERDE COUNTY UNTIL 230 AM CST...
AT 146 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR SHUMLA...OR 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF COMSTOCK...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 40 TO 45 MPH.
DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
JUNO...SEMINOLE CANYON STATE PARK...SHUMLA AND BAKERS CROSSING.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
LAT...LON 3029 10113 3029 10096 3018 10078 2959 10131
2965 10130 2966 10135 2965 10136 2970 10137
2971 10140 2973 10139 2975 10142 2977 10140
2975 10144 2977 10146
TIME...MOT...LOC 0746Z 210DEG 36KT 2984 10130
ALLENSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 222 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 TXZ183-184-080900- EDWARDS TX-VAL VERDE TX- 222 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN VAL VERDE AND NORTHWESTERN EDWARDS COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM CST... AT 221 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LOMA ALTA...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LOMA ALTA...FLOUR MILLS...CARTA VALLEY...VINEGARONE AND US- 277 NEAR THE SUTTON-EDWARDS COUNTY LINE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. LAT...LON 3029 10058 2978 10068 2979 10089 3029 10087 TIME...MOT...LOC 0821Z 185DEG 34KT 2986 10078 ALLEN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 232 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 TXZ183-080900- VAL VERDE TX- 232 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN VAL VERDE COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM CST... AT 232 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES NORTHEAST OF JUNO TO 19 MILES WEST OF LOMA ALTA...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LOMA ALTA...VINEGARONE AND DEVILS RIVER STATE NATURAL AREA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. LAT...LON 3029 10102 3029 10070 2990 10070 2987 10111 TIME...MOT...LOC 0832Z 220DEG 34KT 3031 10102 2996 10109 RUNYEN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 237 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 TXZ184-080915- EDWARDS TX- 237 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL EDWARDS COUNTY UNTIL 315 AM CST... AT 237 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES WEST OF ROCKSPRINGS...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTH CENTRAL EDWARDS COUNTY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM CST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. LAT...LON 3029 10012 2995 10025 2997 10046 3029 10046 TIME...MOT...LOC 0837Z 185DEG 29KT 3004 10035 RUNYEN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 628 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 TXZ171-188-081300- GILLESPIE TX-LLANO TX- 628 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN GILLESPIE AND LLANO COUNTIES UNTIL 700 AM CST... AT 628 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CRABAPPLE...OR 11 MILES NORTH OF FREDERICKSBURG...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LLANO...GAINESVILLE...PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN...OXFORD...ECKERT...ENCHANTED ROCK STATION AND CRABAPPLE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3033 9878 3041 9897 3084 9876 3071 9849 TIME...MOT...LOC 1228Z 208DEG 34KT 3044 9884 RUNYEN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
656 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016
TXZ171-081330-
LLANO TX-
656 AM CST TUE MAR 8 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LLANO COUNTY UNTIL 730 AM
CST...
AT 655 AM CST...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
LLANO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LLANO...BUCHANAN DAM...GAINESVILLE...BLUFFTON...STOLZ...TOW...LONE GROVE
AND BABY HEAD.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3090 9845 3088 9846 3086 9842 3084 9842
3084 9839 3083 9838 3082 9841 3080 9841
3079 9843 3076 9843 3057 9863 3067 9880
3092 9865 3092 9848
TIME...MOT...LOC 1255Z 214DEG 23KT 3068 9867
RUNYENThe Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:38 UTC.
9 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that knocked down large tree branches and damaged a carport on Lakeshore Loop near Lake Buchanan.
Thunderstorms produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that caused damage to a private marina on Lake Buchanan.
A storm survey by the Williamson County emergency manager and the National Weather Service determined that a small EF0 tornado caused damage a few miles southeast of Andice. As a cluster of storms approached the area, the small tornado formed and caused minor damage to trees, outbuildings, and a few residences near the intersection of County Road 248 and Ranch Road 2338. The small tornado appears to have formed about one mile south of 2338 and then crossed CR248 near the CR248 and RR2338 intersection. The tornado then dissipated as it crossed and moved north of RR2338. Maximum winds in the tornado were estimated at 80 mph.
A thunderstorm produced one inch hail around the Rancho Encino subdivision in Uvalde.
A thunderstorm produced golf ball size hail at the J4 Farm.
A thunderstorm produced a funnel cloud near the intersection of FM1049 and CR127.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that downed power lines.
A thunderstorm produced golf ball size hail at the Fort Sam Houston golf course.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. ATXFloods reported low water crossings closed in Oak Hill near Hwy290.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. ATXFloods reported low water crossings closed on Spicewood Springs Rd. along Bull Creek.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing Riverside Dr. near 1st St.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2016Warnings in Texas, March 2016
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: 616145, 616188, 616146, 616147, 616148, 616149, 616150, 616151, 616152, 616153, 616154, 616155, 616156, 616157, 616160, 616164, 616163.