After weeks of warmer and drier weather in April that followed a dry March - each which caused steady worsening of drought conditions - thunderstorm clusters developed late on April 25th and continue through the early morning of April 26th, leaving widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with pockets of 3 to 5 or more inches in portions of Starr, northern Hidalgo, and southern Brooks County. The…
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 BRO wrote it up.
After weeks of warmer and drier weather in April that followed a dry March - each which caused steady worsening of drought conditions - thunderstorm clusters developed late on April 25th and continue through the early morning of April 26th, leaving widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with pockets of 3 to 5 or more inches in portions of Starr, northern Hidalgo, and southern Brooks County.
The locally heavy rainfall would improve drought conditions in all areas, including ending severe drought mainly along and east of Interstate Highway 69C.
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 Apr 25, 11:37 PM CST, 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Brownsville TX 1237 AM CDT Tue Apr 26 2022 .DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below. && .AVIATION...Light rain is affecting MFE as the earlier stronger convection continues to fade, while HRL and BRO and in better shape. A TEMPO has been included in the TAFs for additional convection on Tuesday, with the timing of the showers and thunderstorms based on the HRRR model. Quieter conditions are anticipated beginning around sunset Tuesday evening. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 657 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022/ DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below. AVIATION...MVFR/VFR conditions will prevail over the RGV airports for the next few hours. Afterwards, short term conv trends will likely place more stronger conv into the RGV area likely degrading the aviation conditions overnight into Tues morning. The big question, as always, will be timing of the worst impacts. The relatively slow progression of the conv will likely be the biggest factor in keeping the RGV airports clear of conv until later tonight. Once the conv starts, expect an increased potential for IFR/LIFR conditions later in the upcoming TAF period. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 328 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022/ .At Long Last Widespread Rains Are Headed to the Brush Country and Rio Grande Plains... SHORT TERM (Tonight through Tuesday Night): The short term forecast will be quite active with the potential for excessive rainfall and strong to severe thunderstorms. A cold front is currently progressing from Central to South Texas this afternoon is helping initiate thunderstorm development along and behind its frontal boundary. As this front approaches the Brush Country and Northern Ranchlands of Deep South Texas this evening, storms that are already firing up along the Sierra Madre will drift eastward towards the Rio Grande in the vicinity of Zapata and Starr Counties. How these two features collide/interact, along with any preceding outflow boundary interaction, will play a big role in determining which locations will be impacted by the resulting storms tonight. Earliest timing of these storms in the Northern Ranchlands or Rio Grande Plains is about 7 PM this evening, but will likely be an hour or two later than that. The environment over Deep South Texas this afternoon is conditionally unstable with MUCAPE in the 1500 to 2000 J/kg range. Even though the shear will be limited, this warm, moist environment will be enough to support the development of severe thunderstorms, with strong, damaging winds and hail being the main severe threats. SPC has maintained a Marginal Risk for severe weather across all of Deep South Texas tonight through Tuesday morning. But this event will more likely be a rain event...with localized flooding possible. Pwats will be 1.6" to 1.9" (which is above the 90th percentile), providing ample available moisture for the storms that develop across our area. With slow storm motion likely with some of these storms, and the potential for storms to merge in a low shear environment, rainfall rates as high as 2" to 3"/hour will be possible. Flash Flood Guidance (FFG) remains high at 2.5" to 5"/hour and with the current drought conditions, the ground can take a lot of water. However, with high rain rates, runoff will still be possible even before FFG is met. Latest model trends have the heaviest rainfall across the Upper Valley/Rio Grande Plains/Brush country tonight with 1" to 3" expected in those areas and generally 0.5" to 1.0" expected elsewhere. However, it's worth noting that some of the convective allowing models are indicating localized 5+ inches in some areas. WPC is maintaining a Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall through Tuesday morning. The front will stall over the area tonight into Tuesday morning and a surface low/trough will likely form along its boundary. Pwats will remain between 1.75 to 2.00 inches on Tuesday, providing plenty of moisture to continue to support heavy rainfall...the limiting factor may be the lifting mechanism as the storms will likely be disorganized. Depending on the storm development and structure tonight, storm motion and outflow boundaries will play a role in the development of showers and storms during the day on Tuesday, along with the position of the stalled frontal boundary and the strength and orientation of the surface trough/low expected to form across the area around the stalled front. Overall rainfall amounts during the day on Tuesday range from 0.5" to 1.00" across all of Deep South Texas...and this is in addition to the rainfall expected tonight. While instability will be less on Tuesday than it is today, thunderstorms will still be possible, but are not expected to be severe. Temperatures will drop behind the front and be below normal through the short term. LONG TERM (Wednesday through Monday): The sensible weather is much more straightforward to end April and begin May. Residual moisture along what's left of the old front will still be around on Wednesday, which combined with a weak short wave moving underneath the broader 500 mb ridge is enough to keep mentionable rains across most of the region. Models have backed off across the normally drier upper Valley-Rio Grande Plains region so removed mentionable chances from there...and lowered values elsewhere especially across the Valley where southeast return flow develops late in the day. Still...wind will be light enough and convective parameters sufficient to support isolated to scattered morning showers and afternoon thunderstorms...and with considerable clouds for one more day, temperatures will warm up a little but still be around 5 degrees below late April averages. From Wednesday night through Saturday...low level southeast flow strengthens as flat 500 mb ridge settles across northern Mexico while at the same time another "bowling ball" 500 mb trough slides through the central and northern Great Plains by the weekend. This pattern aloft ensures similar weather to what we saw late last week and over the past weekend, with temperatures reaching seasonal levels (upper 80s near the coast and 89 to 93 inland) Friday into Saturday before rising above average Sunday and probably Monday as the atmosphere warms further. One possible fly in the ointment is a bit more of a dip in the flow across western and northern Texas Sunday, which could translate into potential for isolated to scattered showers/storms Sunday and perhaps into early Monday. GFS is less bullish on this solution than the ECMWF, and with prior forecasts from blends/consensus not advertising as such and confidence low enough for any changes on Day 6 or 7, have left out for now. Lastly...with the wind machine building up and only a modest marine layer with offshore and nearshore sea surface temperatures rising through the 70s...expect a longshore-dominant current to replace the straight rips heading into what should be another busy late spring beach weekend. Surf will be agitated with waves likely reaching 4 to 5 feet...so the combination may trigger more statements of surf danger by then. As for tides and run-up...no issues through Friday, but predicted (astronomical) tides rise again by Saturday and Sunday which will combine with the increased wave energy to reduce the beach width somewhat. This reduction may be less than the past few days due to limited east to west groundswell. MARINE: Now through Tuesday Night...Although marine conditions are looking good this afternoon as seas slowly subside and winds remain light to moderate, hazardous marine conditions will be possible through Tuesday Night due to the potential for showers and thunderstorms across the waters and moderate east-northeast winds with a cold front approaching this evening. Lightning and localized gusty winds and higher seas will be possible tonight through Tuesday with any thunderstorm activity. Wednesday through Saturday Night...Initial easterly flow Wednesday will quickly veer southeast Thursday and increase Thursday night through Saturday as the gradient tightens between high pressure east of the Georgia/South Carolina coast and the Sierra Madre lee side trough. While marine layer above the slightly cooler Gulf waters will reduce speeds somewhat...a general 17 to 22 knot sustained period is expected across the Gulf, peaking during the evening and dipping during the mid morning through mid afternoon. Winds will be a bit stronger on Laguna Madre by day and evening. Seas will never really settle down...probably 4 feet at their lowest Wednesday into Thursday before a general 5 to 6 feet for the remainder of the period. Once again...wind waves will combine with the swell to make for generally difficult boating conditions for most of the period...and plenty of Exercise Caution with a few Small Craft Advisories for wind and seas especially Friday through Saturday night. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 69 80 69 84 / 40 20 0 10 BROWNSVILLE 70 83 71 86 / 40 20 0 10 HARLINGEN 68 83 68 87 / 40 20 0 10 MCALLEN 68 84 69 89 / 50 20 0 10 RIO GRANDE CITY 66 84 67 90 / 60 20 10 10 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 71 76 72 78 / 40 20 0 10 && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None. && This product is also available on the web at: https://weather.gov/rgv
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Brownsville TX 428 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022 TXZ248>255-351-353>355-451-454-455-262130- Zapata-Jim Hogg-Brooks-Inland Kenedy-Starr-Southern Hidalgo- Inland Willacy-Inland Cameron-Coastal Kenedy-Northern Hidalgo- Coastal Willacy-Coastal Cameron-Kenedy Island-Willacy Island- Cameron Island- 428 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Deep South Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms for most of the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas tonight. Thunderstorms that develop will be capable of strong, wind gusty winds and large hail. There is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for all of the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas tonight. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing heavy to very heavy rainfall later tonight, with localized flooding of poor drainage and low-lying areas. There is a moderate risk of rip currents along area beaches tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Localized nuisance flooding is possible Tuesday with some heavy rainfall from lingering thunderstorms Tuesday morning and rainfall totals adding up over 2 inches. An elevated risk of rip currents is possible Tuesday and again this upcoming weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-262130- 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- Gulf waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande out 20 nm- Gulf waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield out 20 nm- Gulf waters from Port Mansfield to the Rio Grande extending from 20 to 60 nm- Gulf waters from Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield extending from 20 to 60 nm- 428 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of The Gulf of Mexico and The Laguna Madre. .DAY ONE...Tonight Heavy and strong thunderstorms may occur over the lower Texas coastal waters tonight and into Tuesday morning. Cloud-to-water lightning, heavy rainfall, and strong wind gusts to gale-force are the three main hazards associated with thunderstorms that develop, though hail is also a possibility. Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms will reduce visibilities and cause waves to become very rough. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Strong thunderstorms, with the potential for wind gusts up to 34 knots, small hail, heavy rainfall, and cloud-to-water lightning may linger into Tuesday morning as a cold front moves across the Laguna Madre and the lower Texas Gulf waters out to 60 nautical miles offshore. Small Craft Advisories may be necessary this upcoming weekend for all or portions of the lower Texas coastal waters. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
729 PM CDT MON APR 25 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0724 PM TSTM WND DMG FALFURRIAS 27.23N 98.14W
04/25/2022 BROOKS TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
BROOKS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED ROOF DAMAGE AT
SEVERAL HOUSES IN FALFURRIAS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER BRO2200002
TRSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
745 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
TXZ250-260115-
Brooks TX-
745 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Brooks
County through 815 PM CDT...
At 744 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Falfurrias Junior High School, or 9 miles west of
Falfurrias. This storm was nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Brooks
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized 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.
&&
LAT...LON 2726 9819 2715 9817 2716 9847 2727 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 053DEG 4KT 2721 9830
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MejiaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
748 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
TXZ252-260130-
Starr TX-
748 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Starr
County through 830 PM CDT...
At 747 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Santa Elena, or 12 miles southeast of Agua Nueva. This storm was
nearly stationary.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
La Gloria, La Reforma, San Isidro, Santa Elena, Diamond O Ranch
Airport and Delmita.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized 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.
&&
LAT...LON 2673 9835 2667 9838 2673 9861 2678 9853
2678 9832
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 053DEG 4KT 2676 9847
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
MejiaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
820 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
TXZ248-249-252-260200-
Jim Hogg TX-Zapata TX-Starr TX-
820 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
...A cluster of strong thunderstorms will impact portions of
southwestern Jim Hogg, northwestern Starr and southeastern Zapata
Counties through 900 PM CDT...
At 819 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Guerra, or 8 miles northwest of Viboras, moving
south or southwest at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Viboras, Lopeno, Agua Nueva, New Falcon, Guerra, Falcon Dam,
Morales-Sanchez, Falcon Heights and Falcon State Park.
This includes US Highway 83 between mile markers 772 and 794.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized 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.
&&
LAT...LON 2700 9898 2701 9858 2677 9860 2659 9867
2655 9917 2657 9917 2662 9918 2666 9920
2669 9921 2672 9921 2675 9924 2679 9924
2682 9926
TIME...MOT...LOC 0119Z 029DEG 14KT 2683 9889
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MejiaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
913 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
TXZ252-353-260300-
Northern Hidalgo TX-Starr TX-
913 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Hidalgo
and northeastern Starr Counties through 1000 PM CDT...
At 913 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Santa Catarina, or 10 miles northwest of Mccook, moving south
around 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Puerto Rico, La Reforma, San Isidro, Santa Catarina and Delmita.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 2661 9876 2675 9840 2655 9828 2649 9842
2649 9847 2645 9849 2638 9864
TIME...MOT...LOC 0213Z 017DEG 18KT 2657 9853
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MejiaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1012 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
TXZ252-260400-
Starr TX-
1012 PM CDT Mon Apr 25 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Hidalgo
and south central Starr Counties through 1100 PM CDT...
At 1011 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
La Grulla, or near Garciasville, moving south at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Sullivan City, Garciasville, La Grulla, Cuevitas, La Puerta, Alto
Bonito, Las Lomas, La Victoria, Grulla Middle School and Santa Cruz.
This includes US Highway 83 between mile markers 824 and 836.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 2624 9867 2626 9868 2627 9872 2628 9870
2629 9871 2630 9873 2630 9875 2631 9875
2631 9874 2633 9875 2632 9878 2633 9879
2637 9880 2640 9878 2640 9869 2633 9855
2626 9858 2625 9862 2626 9862 2624 9864
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 350DEG 17KT 2623 9870
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
MejiaThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Rainfall ranging from 2 to more than 5 inches in most of Brooks County from late April 25th through early April 26th improved drought conditions. Severe (D2) Drought remained only across the northwest quarter of the county following the rain.
Rainfall of generally 1 to 2 inches late on April 25th through early April 26th across Jim Hogg County reduced drought levels in response, with the northwest corner improving from D4 (Exceptional) to D3 (Extreme) and most of the remainder of the county improving from D3 to D2 (Severe).
Locally heavy rainfall of 0.5 to nearly 2 inches across Zapata County from late April 25th through early April 26th was enough to improve drought conditions by one category, from Exceptional (D4) and Extreme (D3) to Extreme (D3) and Severe (D2). By the 26th, most of Zapata had reverted to D3, with the southern fifth of the county improved to D2.
Torrential rains of generally 2 to more than 4 inches from late April 25th through early April 26th across Starr County helped improve drought conditions by one category. Extreme (D3) to Severe (D2) conditions improved to Severe (D2) across the western half of the county, and Moderate (D1) across the eastern half of the county, to close out the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2022
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: 1024770, 1024771, 1024772, 1024773.