Damaging Winds in Texas, May 1, 2026

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
114 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, HYDROLOGY...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Flood Watch in effect through tonight. Showers and thunderstorms
  expected through this evening. Rainfall heavy at times. A few
  stronger thunderstorms capable of hail. Thunderstorms capable of
  strong winds and possible waterspouts near the coast/offshore.

- Gale Warning in effect for the Bays and Gulf through midday
  Saturday. Winds and seas to become very hazardous for mariners.

- After a significant cool down this weekend, expect a gradual
  warm-up during the first half of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Waves of precipitation, and some embedded strong storms, will
continue moving west-to-east across the region into the late
evening hours. Highest rain totals so far have been just north of
a Columbus-Kingwood line where a corridor of 3-5" has been
observed. This will be the highlighted region to look out for
additional heavy rain as it'll be more prone to runoff and cause
some potential street flooding issues and watershed rises (see
hydro section below). Southern parts of the area will also be
prone to some isolated embedded strong-severe cells. Hail will be
the primary threat, though some strong winds and waterspouts are
possible closer to the coast/offshore. This system should
eventually push off to our east into La after about 10pm-midnight
CDT. Rain will taper off and be replaced by cool and breezy
conditions.

Rest of the weekend looks great with lows in the 50s, highs in
the 70s, and low RH's. Onshore flow resumes early next week and
we'll see a gradual warming/moistening trend. By Wednesday, we
should see enough available moisture for some shra/tstm
development ahead of our next front which should be pushing into
the area in the afternoon and nighttime period.  47

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 615 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

A messy day is expected across SE Texas with persistent IFR to
MVFR CIGs (600-1200ft) and periods of showers and thunderstorms
throughout this evening. Main coverage of the showers and storms
will be north of I-10 through the morning, but expect the area to
grow down to the coast by the early afternoon and persist through
this evening. There will be west to east propagating rounds of
heavier rainfall/storms every couple of hours through the day, so
have predominately -SHRA VCTS with TEMPOs of TSRA for most TAF
sites. Expect visibility reductions to 1-2mi in heavier storms.
Activity will end from west to east between 01-04z this evening,
but the IFR to MVFR CIGs will persist through Saturday morning.

Northeasterly winds will prevail through the day around 10-15kt
with gusts to 25kt inland, and then gusts to 30-35kt expected
along the coast by the afternoon. The wind gusts inland will end
overnight, but the gusty winds will likely stick around at the
coast through Saturday morning.

Fowler

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Waves of storms will continue moving across the coastal waters
between now and about 11pm CDT before moving off to the east.
Storms could be strong at times...with high winds, hail, and
waterspouts all a possibility in association with the more intense
cells. North northeast winds will continue to increase and 30
knot gusts are beginning to be observed early this afternoon.
Winds and seas will continue increasing as we head into the
evening and overnight and a Gale Warning remains in effect for the
upper Texas coastal waters. Sustained winds closer to 30 knots
with gusts to or slightly above 40 knots will be possible.
Conditions should begin to slowly improve Saturday afternoon and
evening. Light to moderate onshore flow returns by late Sunday
into Monday. Our next front is penciled in for late Wednesday. 47

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Widespread 1 to 3 inches of rainfall has fallen in the last 12 hours
with a swath of 3 to 5 inches observed from northern Colorado County
to northern Harris County. Soils are primed as additional waves of
showers and thunderstorms will continue to produce rain rates of 1
to 2+ inches per hour through the evening hours. Localized flooding
is possible where there is training of cells or short bursts of
higher intensity rainfall. As a result, the Flood Watch continues
through 4AM tomorrow morning.

As far as the rivers go, rises to action stage are forecast but
cannot entirely rule out isolated instances of minor flood stage
depending on where the most rainfall accumulates. Remember that you
can monitor updated river forecasts via the NWS NWPS webpage
(https://water.noaa.gov/) and as always do not drive through any
flooded roadways. Turn Around, Don't Drown.

KLG

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL)	  52  73  53  77 /  70   0   0   0
Houston (IAH)			  55  75  54  79 /  90   0   0   0
Galveston (GLS)			  61  75  66  76 /  90   0   0   0

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Flood Watch through late tonight for TXZ164-176>179-195>200-
     210>213-226-227-300-313.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for GMZ330-335-
     350-355-370-375.

     Gale Warning from 7 PM this evening to 1 PM CDT Saturday for
     GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375.

&&

DISCUSSION...47
AVIATION...Fowler
MARINE...47

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1225 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

TXZ214-338-438-439-011745-
Galveston Island TX-Chambers TX-Coastal Galveston TX-
Bolivar Peninsula TX-
1225 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL GALVESTON AND SOUTH
CENTRAL CHAMBERS COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 PM CDT...

At 1221 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Anahuac to near Smith Point to near Tiki
Island. Movement was east at 45 mph. These storms produced wind
gusts to 46 mph over Galveston Bay as they passed through. In
addition, High Island will see the strongest part of the storm where
hail will also be possible.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Galveston Island West End, Galveston Causeway, Galveston Pier 21,
Anahuac, Pelican Island, Galveston State Park, Crystal Beach,
Schlitterbahn, Scholes Field, The Strand, Port Bolivar, Offatts
Bayou, Gilchrist, Galveston Pleasure Pier, Rollover Pass, Galveston
Island East End, Bolivar Peninsula, Moody Gardens, and Oak Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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 2942 9434 2929 9458 2916 9470 2915 9472
      2920 9496 2948 9471 2956 9470 2958 9466
      2962 9470 2977 9468 2966 9467 2962 9469
      2958 9465 2959 9456 2956 9451 2957 9445
      2954 9445 2956 9437 2955 9439
TIME...MOT...LOC 1721Z 276DEG 40KT 2972 9471 2949 9473 2926 9493

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

47

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
124 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

TXZ210-226-235-236-335-336-011915-
Coastal Matagorda TX-Inland Matagorda TX-Wharton TX-Colorado TX-
Coastal Jackson TX-Inland Jackson TX-
124 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL COLORADO...
SOUTHWESTERN WHARTON...JACKSON AND WEST CENTRAL MATAGORDA COUNTIES
THROUGH 215 PM CDT...

At 123 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Mission Valley, or 14 miles west of Victoria,
moving east at 65 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size 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...
Port Lavaca, Edna, Ganado, La Ward, Schicke Point, Olivia, Lolita,
Alamo Beach, Cordele, Vanderbilt, Louise, Morales, and Lake Texana
Dam.

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.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 2931 9651 2898 9626 2859 9633 2858 9646
      2863 9637 2872 9641 2870 9657 2863 9656
      2870 9653 2861 9651 2864 9646 2867 9647
      2866 9646 2861 9644 2857 9662 2885 9670
      2906 9694
TIME...MOT...LOC 1823Z 260DEG 55KT 2886 9722

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

Bailey

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
220 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1154 AM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 ENE Morgan's Point    29.68N 94.98W
05/01/2026  M40 MPH          GMZ335             TX   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MGPT2 Morgans Point, TX.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
224 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1229 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 15 WSW High Island      29.47N 94.62W
05/01/2026  E39 MPH          Galveston          TX   Mesonet

            Mesonet station XCRB.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
226 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1245 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 9 WSW High Island       29.50N 94.52W
05/01/2026  M46 MPH          Galveston          TX   Mesonet

            Mesonet station Caplen.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
247 PM CDT Fri May 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0237 PM     Marine Tstm Wind 1 NW Palacios           28.73N 96.25W
05/01/2026  M43 MPH          Matagorda          TX   ASOS

            37 knot wind gust at Palacios Airport.

&&

MM