Hail in Texas, March 7, 2026

Name: Hail in Texas, March 7, 2026
Start: 2026-03-07T20:00
End: 2026-03-07T20:17
Location: Texas

March 7, 2026 · NWS CRP · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.

On March 7, a cold front approaching South Texas interacted with a warm, moist, and unstable air mass already in place across the region, leading to the development of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. Deep Gulf moisture transported northward by a strengthening low-level jet combined with strong upper-level dynamics and steep mid-level lapse rates to create an environment supportive of organized convection. Daytime heating ahead of the front further destabilized the atmosphere, with moderate to strong instability and strong deep-layer shear promoting storm development by late afternoon.

Storms moved into the region between approximately 4 PM and 6 PM, with conditions supportive of severe thunderstorms. The primary severe hazard was large hail, particularly across the Brush Country where lapse rates were steepest and instability was greatest.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mar 7, 5:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Updated at 522 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026
Medium to high rain chances (50-90%) this weekend. A Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) of Excessive Rainfall is in place for most of South Texas today.
A Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in place for today over the northern to northeastern portions of the area, with a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 2) for the remainder of South Texas. The main hazards will be large hail to very large hail possible and damaging winds.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 7, 5:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
539 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 522 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

- Medium to high rain chances (50-90%) this weekend. A Marginal
Risk (level 1 of 4) of Excessive Rainfall is in place for most of
South Texas today.

- A Slight Risk (level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in place for
  today over the northern to northeastern portions of the area,
  with a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 2) for the remainder of South
  Texas. The main hazards will be large hail to very large hail
  possible and damaging winds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 234 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

Per satellite imagery cloud appear to be breaking to allow for
daytime heating ahead of the impending cold front. The 18Z sounding
has about 2600 J/kg sbcape over the region with no CIN. Surface to
equilibrium level bulk shear (71 knots), steep 700 to 500mb lapse
rates (7.6 degrees C/KM), and moderate to high MUCAPE (2627 J/Kg)
are all pointing to large to very large hail being a definite
threat. The environment does also support a damaging wind threat
with the potential for microbursts. The likely timing of storms
entering the area will be around 4-6 PM. Showers and storms are
expected to persist through the overnight period into tomorrow
morning. Due to these factors SPC maintained our region northern to
northwestern portions of the region in a Slight Risk (2 out of 5),
with the remainder of South Texas in a Marginal Risk(1 out of 5).

Model guidance has trended back on rainfall total amounts
tremendously. This time yesterday, models were forecasting amounts
in the Brush Country mainly around 2-3 inches with locally higher
amounts. This cycle we are now only expecting amounts up to an inch
with locally higher amounts. This is due to model guidance favoring
towards a faster solution for showers and storms to move through the
region. This is likely due to forecasted stronger bulk shear values
around 50-60 knots. Other factors such as DCP of 2 (derecho
composite parameter), Effective bulk shear difference (28 knots),
high MUCAPE (2627 J/Kg), and efficient 0-6km mean wind (19 knots)
supports storms congealing into a line of convection with likely
embedded supercells. This would limit the potential for flooding
rain though it will remain possible. Due to this WPC has
transitioned all of South Texas into a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5)
for Excessive Rainfall. Activity should begin to wind down by Sunday
morning, with rain chances waning throughout the remainder of the
day for majority of the region. Low chances for rain will exist for
the beginning of the week. By midweek we will see another
disturbance swing through the region bringing our next best chance
for rain.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 522 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

Showers and thunderstorms have developed to the north of COT and
VCT. Expect convection will start to develop over South Texas in
the next hour or two and continue through the night. Some storms
could be strong to severe, particularly over the Brush Country.
Large hail, damaging winds, and high rainfall rates are possible.
By late tonight/early Sunday morning, convection will likely have
decreased, with some lingering showers expected into the
afternoon. Low to medium rain chances will continue through Sunday
area wide.

VFR visibility will linger with VFR ceilings becoming MVFR to IFR
between 02Z and 06Z, with IFR to LIFR ceilings and visibility
possible in and around any thunderstorms. Winds will shift from
southeast to the north/northeast.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 234 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

Moderate (BF 4) southeasterly flow is expected today. Winds will
diminish to a gentle to moderate (BF 3-4) tonight through Monday.
Winds will increase once again to a moderate to fresh breeze (BF
4-5) Monday night ahead of another cold front. A medium to high
(40-70%) chance of showers and thunderstorms will develop this
afternoon and tonight and continue through Sunday before
decreasing to a low (<25%) chance Sunday night that will persist
into early next week.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 234 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

Rain chances will increase to medium to high (50-90%) today as a
cold front moves into the area. Strong to severe thunderstorms are
possible, especially over the Brush Country. With expected rainfall,
increased moisture, and a decrease in the winds, elevated fire
weather conditions are not anticipated.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Corpus Christi    66  79  69  84 /  60  60  20  20
Victoria          61  77  65  83 /  70  60  10  20
Laredo            64  75  65  88 /  80  70  70  10
Alice             64  79  67  88 /  80  70  30  20
Rockport          66  79  69  81 /  60  60  10  10
Cotulla           61  73  65  86 /  80  70  50  20
Kingsville        65  81  68  87 /  70  60  30  10
Navy Corpus       68  77  70  78 /  60  50  20  20

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...NP/92
AVIATION...LS/77

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 7, 6:09 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
609 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

TXZ229-230-080100-
McMullen TX-La Salle TX-
609 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN LA SALLE AND CENTRAL
MCMULLEN COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM CST...

At 609 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles northwest of Loma Alta, or 18 miles southwest of Tilden, moving
northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Tilden.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for
south central Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 2810 9876 2814 9884 2853 9863 2837 9835
      2813 9865
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 207DEG 22KT 2823 9871

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

AE

Special weather statement, Mar 7, 7:01 PM CST, 59 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
701 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

TXZ229-230-239-240-080130-
McMullen TX-Webb TX-Duval TX-La Salle TX-
701 PM CST Sat Mar 7 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN DUVAL...EAST
CENTRAL WEBB...SOUTHEASTERN LA SALLE AND SOUTHWESTERN MCMULLEN
COUNTIES THROUGH 730 PM CST...

At 700 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southeast of Fort Ewell Site, or 18 miles northwest of Freer,
moving northeast at 30 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 hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Freer.

This includes US Highway 59 between mile markers 766 and 772.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for
south central Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 2783 9897 2787 9905 2795 9908 2803 9902
      2818 9879 2788 9856
TIME...MOT...LOC 0100Z 224DEG 25KT 2799 9889

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

AE

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, McMullen

When: March 7, 8:00 PM CST
Where: McMullen County, 20.18 mi S of Tilden
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 28.160, -98.510

Loma Alta Co-OP observer estimated hail dime to quarter sized. Time estimated from radar.

Hail, Duval

When: March 7, 8:17 PM CST
Where: Duval County, Freer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 27.880, -98.620

Measured quarter size hail near the intersection of Hahl Street and TX-16 with reports of power outages in the area.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, March 2026

Sources

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: 1314371, 1314372.