A severe wind event across South Texas developed as a mid-level shortwave trough moved east from northern Mexico into West Texas, providing large-scale ascent and supporting widespread thunderstorm development. A moist and unstable air mass was already in place south of a quasi-stationary front, with surface dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s and moderate to strong instability ranging from…
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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 CRP wrote it up.
A severe wind event across South Texas developed as a mid-level shortwave trough moved east from northern Mexico into West Texas, providing large-scale ascent and supporting widespread thunderstorm development. A moist and unstable air mass was already in place south of a quasi-stationary front, with surface dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s and moderate to strong instability ranging from 1,000-2,500 J/kg initially and later increasing to 3,000-4,000 J/kg across parts of South Texas. Enhanced wind shear of 30-40 knots, produced by strong westerly mid- and upper-level flow over weak easterly low-level winds, supported organized thunderstorm structures and the development of a nocturnal MCS moving out of Mexico. As the convectively enhanced shortwave crossed the region overnight, thunderstorms were able to maintain intensity and organize into clusters capable of producing strong outflow winds. Although relatively weak low-level lapse rates limited the overall severe wind threat, the combination of abundant moisture, extreme instability, and the potential for a strengthening cold pool within the MCS allowed water-loaded downbursts and pockets of damaging straight-line winds to develop as the system propagated east across South Texas during the early morning hours of May 21. Isolated flash flooding also occurred.
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 May 21, 12:48 AM CST, 3 hours 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
148 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
-Flood Watch in effect area-wide through Monday as multiple rounds
of storms bring a marginal to slight risk of flash flooding each
day.
-Increasing risk of river flooding by this weekend due to
continued rounds of heavy rainfall.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
At the time of writing this discussion, yet another nocturnal MCS is
slowly progressing through South Texas (this is the third night
in a row). This morning's MCS is more of the prototypical late
spring eastward propagating system from Mexico, riding just ahead
of a convectively-enhanced shortwave. Instability is less
impressive than last night (MLCAPE around 2000 J/kg, DCAPE 900 to
1000 J/kg), but should be enough to support MCS maintenance as it
treks through the area. If the system is able to form and sustain
a robust cold pool, strong winds would be a convective hazard,
otherwise as mentioned in previous discussions hydro will likely
be the biggest concerns. One hour FFGs are as low as 2-2.5 inches
(and 3 hour FFG < 3 inches) over portions of the Brush Country and
Coastal Plains, so those in particular will be areas to monitor
early this morning.
Although the CAM suite has had a lot of issues timing the
progression of this system, based on current radar trends and
assumed system propagation, would expect precipitation to more or
less have cleared the area by 11-14Z. Similar to the last couple
days, the combination of post MCS low-lvl stabilization and weak
subsidence will somewhat limit precipitation chances during the
daytime hours. However, there is some signal for another trailing
wave during the afternoon hours, so will retain some low-medium
range PoPs (20-40%), but am pretty skeptical of the widespread
coverage some of the CAMs and the GFS depict (the storms would
likely have to initiate north of the area which is less worked
over). We will potentially have to contend with additional
overnight convection tonight into Friday morning as more storms
developing over Mexico and the West Texas dryline and gradually
propagate towards our area. There is a more muted convective
signal compared to the last couple nights, so will retain only
Chc (generally 40-50%) PoPs for now, but any additional convective
rainfall would trigger renewed hydro concerns given antecedent
conditions.
The most-amplified mid-lvl wave is still progged to move over the
area on Saturday, likely bringing fairly widespread rainfall to
the area. Hydro will likely be the greatest concern by that
point, and beyond the localized flash and urban flooding threat,
river flooding will also bear increasing monitoring. The
aforementioned mid-lvl low looks to amplify/close off near the
area on Sunday and then lift slowly to the north/northeast on
Monday/Tuesday. This could provide a setup to give us a brief
respite from the active weather as drier air filters down its
western flank from the north. Any break in precipitation looks to
be short-lived as another mid-lvl system makes it way towards the
area mid to late next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
An ongoing cluster of showers and thunderstorms over the Rio Grande
Plains will continue to slowly shift eastward through the early
morning hours. We'll likely have a mix of VFR/MVFR ceilings through
15-16Z as convection throws a wrench in the forecast. Heavy
thunderstorms directly impacting terminals will cause reduced
visibility and potentially strong variable winds. VFR conditions
prevail by midday with variable winds becoming predominately out of
the southeast at around 10 knots in the afternoon.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
Generally gentle to moderate E-SE winds will prevail through the
weekend over the waters. The main exception to this will be brief
periods of erratic and gusty winds (and elevated seas) in the
vicinity of thunderstorms. Thunderstorm chances remain high
(60-80%) today, Saturday and Sunday, with Friday have somewhat
lower rain chances (20-40%).
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 119 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
No fire weather concerns through the week as moisture increases
and minimum RHs remain over 50% area-wide. Medium to high rain
chances (50-80%) are expected each day through Saturday. These
should be solid wetting rains with aerial totals in the 2 to 4
inch range through the weekend.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Corpus Christi 84 73 88 76 / 70 40 30 30
Victoria 81 70 86 72 / 70 40 50 20
Laredo 86 71 92 73 / 40 40 10 40
Alice 84 71 89 73 / 50 40 40 30
Rockport 86 77 89 78 / 80 40 30 20
Cotulla 84 69 90 72 / 40 40 10 40
Kingsville 83 72 88 74 / 60 30 40 30
Navy Corpus 84 77 87 79 / 70 40 30 30
&&
.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Flood Watch through Monday evening for TXZ229>234-239>247-
342>347-442-443-447.
GM...None.
&&
DISCUSSION...NC/91
AVIATION...EMF/94Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
1220 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ229-239-210545-
Webb TX-La Salle TX-
1220 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN LA SALLE AND
NORTHEASTERN WEBB COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 AM CDT...
At 1220 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles north of Ranchitos Las Lomas, or 17 miles southeast of Encinal,
moving north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Encinal.
This includes Interstate 35 between mile markers 31 and 40.
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 2775 9895 2773 9933 2806 9943 2809 9903
TIME...MOT...LOC 0520Z 168DEG 26KT 2785 9917
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
EMFSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
239 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ239>241-210815-
Jim Wells TX-Webb TX-Duval TX-
239 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN DUVAL...SOUTHEASTERN
WEBB AND SOUTHWESTERN JIM WELLS COUNTIES THROUGH 315 AM CDT...
At 239 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 11 miles northeast of
Oilton to 8 miles northeast of Bruni to 6 miles north of Jim Hogg
County Airport to South Fork Estates to 6 miles east of
Thompsonville. Movement was east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Concepcion, Ramirez, Realitos, Rios, Cruz Calle, and Bruni.
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 2726 9851 2727 9852 2734 9852 2734 9855
2736 9856 2736 9859 2734 9859 2734 9862
2736 9863 2735 9880 2727 9880 2727 9890
2743 9886 2754 9889 2768 9900 2762 9849
2739 9822 2726 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 0739Z 291DEG 42KT 2762 9888 2754 9876 2743 9870 2726
9870 2721 9882
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
EMFSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
451 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ241>244-342-343-442-211045-
Jim Wells TX-Inland Nueces TX-Inland San Patricio TX-
Kleberg Islands TX-Coastal Nueces TX-Coastal Kleberg TX-
Inland Kleberg TX-
451 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NUECES...SOUTHWESTERN SAN
PATRICIO...NORTHERN JIM WELLS AND CENTRAL KLEBERG COUNTIES THROUGH
545 AM CDT...
At 450 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Alfred to near Bishop to 7 miles southeast of
Riviera Beach. Movement was east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea 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...
Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Alice, Robstown, Driscoll, Corpus Christi
International Airport, Bishop, Orange Grove, San Patricio, Edroy,
Banquete, Tecalote, Clarkwood, Annaville, Calallen, Kingsville Naval
Air Station, Riviera Beach, South Texas Botanical Gardens,
Alfred-South La Paloma, and Bluntzer.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 37 between mile markers 10 and 31.
US Highway 281 between mile markers 662 and 668.
US Highway 77 between mile markers 658 and 694.
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 2724 9763 2728 9765 2726 9772 2752 9788
2790 9815 2807 9774 2766 9740 2732 9725
2724 9728 2724 9735 2728 9735 2727 9737
2724 9737 2724 9740 2726 9745 2725 9749
2724 9749 2724 9750 2723 9754
TIME...MOT...LOC 0950Z 255DEG 19KT 2788 9797 2757 9775 2724 9757
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
EMFThe Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:28 UTC.
7 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Report of one water rescue from partially submerged vehicle in the city of Alice.
Two feet of water flowing over road. Cars turning around.
Social media post showed widespread flooding over County Road 2015.
Reports of North Ocean Drive flooded between Magnolia Beach and Indianola, but passable.
Reports of water over roadways from DriveTexas. Time estimated by radar.
A 61 mph gust was measured at WxFlow station.
Social media post showing a foot of water flowing over County Road 798.
Reports of numerous roads flooded with stranded vehicles on the south side of town.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2026
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: 1332478, 1332479, 1332480, 1332495, 1332497, 1332502, 1332499, 1332501.