A slow moving thunderstorm dumped a radar-estimated 4 to 5 inches in extreme western Hidalgo County on March 20th, producing minor flooding near McCook late on March 20th, 2020.
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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.
A slow moving thunderstorm dumped a radar-estimated 4 to 5 inches in extreme western Hidalgo County on March 20th, producing minor flooding near McCook late on March 20th, 2020.
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 20, 5:19 PM CST, 4 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Brownsville TX 619 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020 .DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below. && .AVIATION...A stationary front currently bisects Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley from north to south, with scattered showers along the front. This front is liable to wax and wane within the area during the next 24 hours, producing less than ideal aviation conditions. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 258 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020/ SHORT TERM (Now through Saturday night): Widely scattered showers have begun to develop this afternoon across the region. Showers are expected to continue to increase into and through tonight as a cold front advances across the region. An isolated thunderstorm or two will be possible at times as well. The latest surface observations as of 2 pm CDT indicate that the front has moved through the Zapata and Hebbronville areas, where temperatures have dropped into the lower to mid 70s. The latest model guidance, especially the hourly higher resolution models, indicate that the front will be able to advance across the majority of the valley before stalling in the lower valley near the coast and just offshore. Elected to drop the overnight temperatures for some of the inland areas by a couple of degrees tonight as a result of the progression of the cold front. Saturday will trend cloudy with continued opportunities for some scattered showers across the region. Based on the location of the stalling front, quite a temperature gradient is expected across the CWA. Close to the front, like around Brownsville, temperatures may reach near 80 degrees while the northwestern ranchlands struggle to make 60 degrees. For the mid-valley near Mcallen, have elected to trend near 70 degrees. Shower chances will gradually diminish with progression through Saturday night as the front begins to lift back northward as a warm front. Saturday night temperatures will range from the mid 50s in the northwestern ranchlands into the mid 60s across the lower valley. LONG TERM (Sunday through Friday):12Z model suite remain in good agreement and consensus build a mid-level ridge over Northern Mexico and South Texas much of the Long-term. The subtropical ridge begins expanding over Mexico Sunday becoming centered and strengthening to 594mb over Northcentral Mexico Tuesday. The ridge center slowly moves east through Thursday before getting shunted over the Eastern Gulf and weakening as a large trough moves into the Southern Rockies. Sunday...old frontal boundary lifts back to the north with southerly flow replacing a light northerly wind early Sunday. Took out any mention of rain Sunday with a few sprinkles or drizzle in the morning low clouds with partial clearing by noon and clearing skies and warmer temperatures for the afternoon. Highs to reach the mid 80s which is just the beginning of the warming trend. The trends for rest of the forecast period remain on track...warm to hot temperatures and breezy to potentially windy daytime conditions Monday-Thursday. No rain is expected as atmosphere dries out as ridge strengthens and subsidence increases. Earlier 00Z discussion mentioned an increase in fire weather concerns Tue-Thu and this still looks like the case as mean column RH dips below 40 percent and Southerly winds increase. Temperature profiles still trending well above normal daytime anomalies reach a whopping 12-18+ degrees and minimums 8-12 above mid-March normals. GFS and ECMWF peaking 850mb temps at 25-27.5C Wed/Thu which should push several locations over the century mark. MARINE:(Now through Saturday night): Light to moderate southeast winds this afternoon will turn out of the northeast to east- northeast tonight with progression of a cold front moving into and across portions of the lower Texas coastal waters. The front is expected to stall over the southern coastal waters and will be a catalyst for scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms. A region of patchy sea fog may develop tonight into Saturday morning near where the front is expected to stall. Otherwise, anticipate moderate wave heights to continue on the gulf waters in the short term. Sunday through Wednesday...Pressure gradient will be strengthening through much of the period as high pressure builds over the Gulf and a series of low pressure areas move across the Plains. The strongest low pressure is expected Monday night into Tuesday with Small Craft Advisories are possible for the Laguna and the Gulf waters. Weaker low pressure form over NE Mexico Wednesday with locally stronger winds on the Laguna for another round of daytime SCAs. && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && This product is also available on the web at: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Brownsville TX 520 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020 TXZ248>257-351-353-210015- Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo- Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Coastal Willacy-Coastal Cameron- Coastal Kenedy-Northern Hidalgo- 520 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Deep South Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a moderate risk of rip currents at the beaches of South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach. Isolated thunderstorms may become strong to severe today across northern and western portions of Deep South Texas with hail up to quarter-size and damaging winds being the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday An elevated risk of rip currents is possible at the beaches of South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach Saturday into Sunday, and again on Tuesday. Heat Index values above 100 degrees are possible across the mid to upper RGV Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of severe weather today to the National Weather Service in Brownsville or local law enforcement. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-210015- 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- 520 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of The Gulf of Mexico and The Laguna Madre. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight An isolated strong thunderstorm will be possible later Today and Tonight producing some brief wind gusts up to 35 knots, lightning and brief periods of heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Small Craft Advisories may be needed along lower Texas Gulf of Mexico waters on Tuesday. Small Craft Advisories may be needed for the Laguna Madre for both Tuesday through Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. Speece
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Three inches of rain fell in about 2 hours from a slow moving thunderstorm in McCook. Radar estimated 3 to 5 inches in the area from McCook northwest to the Hidalgo/Starr County line.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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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: 883564.