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Storm Summary
A nearly stationary cold front along with plentiful moisture, an unstable airmass and a strong upper level disturbance set the stage for the development of 4 tornadoes, large hail, and heavy rainfall and flooding across the Coastal Bend from the late afternoon on April 15th to the afternoon on the 16th. 3 confirmed tornadoes occurred in San Patricio County and 1 confirmed tornado in Kleberg County during the morning of the 16th. On the 16th, devastating flooding up to 15 inches occurred in eastern San Patricio and southern Refugio counties, especially in the cities of Portland and Gregory. The large hail occurred during the afternoon on the 15th mostly in the Goliad area due to the interaction with the cold front and the sea breeze.
On the 15th, thunderstorms initially began over the Northern Coastal Bend and Victoria area during the late afternoon. These thunderstorms quickly intensified to produce hail up to golf ball size near Goliad. As the effects from the upper level disturbance began to impact South Texas, the storms began moving northeast into Victoria County. One storm produced quarter-sized hail in Victoria. Very heavy rainfall also occurred, but no flooding was observed. By the end of the evening, strong to severe thunderstorms developed over the southern Coastal Bend and Brush Country, producing quarter-sized hail in Duval County. These thunderstorms continued to build slowly southward overnight on the 15th.
During the morning hours on the 16th, storms continued to develop and move over the same areas due to the upper level flow remaining parallel to the front. This resulted in persistent shower and thunderstorm development over the Coastal Bend and Victoria areas. The result was widespread heavy rainfall between 2 and 6 inches with isolated amounts up to 15 inches near Bayside. Devastating flooding occured in Gregory with nearly 80% of the homes flooded. Other reports of flooding occured in Nueces, Refugio and eastern San Patricio counties.
Several tornado touchdowns occurred in the Portland-Gregory area between 523 and 620 AM CDT on the 16th. One of these was rated as an EF-1. Around 50 homes in Portland sustained wind damage along with lots of tree and fence damage. The other two tornadoes near Gregory were rated as EF-0. The lone tornado in Kleberg county was rated as an EF-0. More information on these tornadoes can be found in the "Tornadoes" section.
Tornadoes
| Path Length | Path Width | Radar Image | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 miles | 500 yards |  |
A NWS Storm Survey concluded a tornado touched down near Lost Creek Drive and moved north through the Portland Country Club producing mainly tree and fence damage. The tornado then moved into the Bay Ridge Subdivision and strengthened, damaging around 50 homes and several vehicles. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph. |
| Path Length | Path Width | Radar Image | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 50 yards |  |
A NWS Storm Survey concluded a tornado touched down in a field south of Highway 361 about a mile southeast of Gregory. The tornado flipped over a fireworks stand and damaged the side of an outbuilding. The tornado crossed Highway 361 and dissipated in a field. The winds were estimated around 70 mph. |
| Path Length | Path Width | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 mile | 50 yards | A NWS Storm Survey concluded a tornado touched down in an open field south of Highway 361 around 2 miles southeast of Gregory. The tornado crossed highway 361 damaging a few power poles. The winds were estimated around 70 mph. |
| Path Length | Path Width | Picture | Radar Image | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Unknown |  |
 |
A County Official reported a tornado on the ground near FM 771 east of Riviera. |
Rainfall
Radar Loop
Damage Photos from Portland & Gregory
Storm Reports
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0543 PM HAIL 9 NW GOLIAD 28.77N 97.48W
04/15/2012 M1.75 INCH GOLIAD TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED OFF FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD
1726.
0610 PM HAIL 3 NW GOLIAD 28.71N 97.43W
04/15/2012 M1.50 INCH GOLIAD TX SHIP
PING PONG BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED OFF FARM-TO-MARKET
ROAD 1726.
0625 PM HAIL GOLIAD 28.67N 97.39W
04/15/2012 M1.75 INCH GOLIAD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IN GOLIAD.
0644 PM HAIL 1 WNW FANNIN 28.70N 97.24W
04/15/2012 M1.00 INCH GOLIAD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN THE TOWN OF
FANNIN.
0731 PM HAIL 1 SSW VICTORIA 28.81N 96.99W
04/15/2012 M1.00 INCH VICTORIA TX PUBLIC
STRIPES CONVENIENCE STORE EMPLOYEE REPORTED QUARTER SIZED
HAIL AT U.S. 59 AND NORTH LAURENT ST.
0829 PM HAIL 1 ENE CONCEPCION 27.39N 98.25W
04/15/2012 M1.00 INCH DUVAL TX PUBLIC
PUBLIC NEAR CRUZ CALLE REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
0523 AM TORNADO 1 ESE PORTLAND 27.87N 97.31W
04/16/2012 F1 SAN PATRICIO TX NWS STORM SURVEY
NWS STORM SURVEY CONCLUDED A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR
LOST CREEK DRIVE AND MOVED NORTH THROUGH THE PORTLAND
COUNTRY CLUB PRODUCING MAINLY TREE AND FENCE DAMAGE. THE
TORNADO MOVED INTO THE BAY RIDGE SUBDIVISION AND
STRENGTHENED, DAMAGING AROUND 50 HOMES AND SEVERAL
VEHICLES. MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 100 MPH. THE
TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 2 MILES AND PATH WIDTH OF UP
TO 500 YARDS.
0544 AM FLASH FLOOD 4 SE WOODSBORO 28.20N 97.28W
04/16/2012 REFUGIO TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER OVER THE ROAD ON FM 1360 AND ARANSAS RIVER ROAD
BETWEEN WOODSBORO AND BAYVIEW.
0544 AM TSTM WND DMG GREGORY 27.92N 97.29W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
DAMAGE TO COTTON GIN NEAR GREGORY ALONG WITH POWERLINES
DOWN.
0550 AM TORNADO 5 NW INGLESIDE 27.92N 97.26W
04/16/2012 F0 SAN PATRICIO TX NWS STORM SURVEY
NWS STORM SURVEY CONCLUDED A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN A
FIELD SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 361 ABOUT A MILE SOUTHEAST OF
GREGORY. THE TORNADO FLIPPED OVER A FIREWORKS STAND AND
DAMAGED THE SIDE OF AN OUTBUILDING. THE TORNADO CROSSED
HIGHWAY 361 AND DISSIPATED IN A FIELD. MAXIMUM WINDS OF
70 MPH WERE ESTIMATED. THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 1
MILE AND A PATH WIDTH OF 50 YARDS.
0620 AM TORNADO 4 NNW INGLESIDE 27.92N 97.23W
04/16/2012 F0 SAN PATRICIO TX NWS STORM SURVEY
NWS STORM SURVEY CONCLUDED A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN AN
OPEN FIELD SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 361 ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTHEAST
OF GREGORY. THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 361 DAMAGING A
FEW POWER POLES. MAXIMUM WINDS OF 70 MPH WERE ESTIMATED.
THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH OF 1/2 MILE AND A PATH
LENGTH OF 50 YARDS.
0720 AM FLASH FLOOD GREGORY 27.92N 97.29W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX NWS EMPLOYEE
CARS UNDER WATER IN GREGORY NEAR HIGHWAY 35.
0725 AM HAIL 13 WNW LOMA ALTA 28.16N 98.71W
04/16/2012 E0.50 INCH MCMULLEN TX PUBLIC
REPORTED NEAR FARM TO MARKET ROAD 624.
0755 AM FLASH FLOOD PORTLAND 27.88N 97.33W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX PUBLIC
MAJOR STREET FLOODING OCCURRING IN CITY.
0815 AM FLASH FLOOD PORTLAND 27.88N 97.33W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX NEWSPAPER
MOORE AVENUE UNPASSABLE BETWEEN 7 AND 815AM DUE TO WATER
ON ROAD.
0825 AM FLASH FLOOD GREGORY 27.92N 97.29W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX NWS EMPLOYEE
VEHICLES BECOMING STRANDED IN FLOODED ROADWAYS.
0830 AM TORNADO 5 ENE RIVIERA 27.31N 97.74W
04/16/2012 F0 KLEBERG TX COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY OFFICIAL REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR FM
771 EAST OF RIVIERIA. PHOTO LATER SENT TO WFO CONFIRMED
TORNADO REPORT.
0935 AM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 E KINGSVILLE 27.51N 97.78W
04/16/2012 KLEBERG TX TRAINED SPOTTER
FUNNEL CLOUD MAY HAVE BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN OVER OPEN
PASTURE.
0947 AM FUNNEL CLOUD PORTLAND 27.88N 97.33W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX PUBLIC
0947 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 NNE ROBSTOWN 27.84N 97.64W
04/16/2012 NUECES TX TRAINED SPOTTER
STREET FLOODING AT HWY 77 AND LEOPARD ST.
1000 AM HEAVY RAIN SW BAYSIDE 28.08N 97.24W
04/16/2012 M15.00 INCH REFUGIO TX COCORAHS
15.00 INCH STORM TOTAL RAINFALL OBSERVED BY COCORAHS
OBSERVER.
1023 AM FLASH FLOOD 7 S BAYSIDE 27.97N 97.24W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX EMERGENCY MNGR
MORE THAN 15 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL RAINFALL.
1023 AM TSTM WND GST 7 S BAYSIDE 27.97N 97.24W
04/16/2012 E60.00 MPH SAN PATRICIO TX EMERGENCY MNGR
ALSO PEA SIZE HAIL.
1033 AM FLASH FLOOD CORPUS CHRISTI 27.71N 97.29W
04/16/2012 NUECES TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
NUMEROUS ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS FLOODED... I37 UNDER US
181...TURNAROUND NEAR NUECES CAUSWAY...MANY OTHERS.
1033 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 NW ROBSTOWN 27.83N 97.70W
04/16/2012 NUECES TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
INTERSECTION OF FM 624 AND US 77 CLOSED IN CALALLEN.
1033 AM FLASH FLOOD GREGORY 27.92N 97.29W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SPUR 202 AND FM 3284 ARE FLOODED.
1033 AM FLASH FLOOD PORTLAND 27.88N 97.33W
04/16/2012 SAN PATRICIO TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED IN THE AREA...INCLUDING FM 893 AT
MEMORIAL PARKWAY.
1154 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 NE ROBSTOWN 27.83N 97.63W
04/16/2012 M6.25 INCH NUECES TX TRAINED SPOTTER
RAINFALL TOTAL SINCE 745 AM NEAR VIOLET AND LEOPARD IN
CALALLEN AREA.
1211 PM HAIL 7 SSE CC NAS 27.60N 97.22W
04/16/2012 E1.25 INCH NUECES TX PUBLIC
HAIL BROKE FLOOD LIGHTS AT THE ISLAND ITALIAN RESTAURANT
ON NORTH PADRE ISLAND
1217 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 9 SSE CC NAS 27.58N 97.22W
04/16/2012 M55.00 MPH GMZ250 TX MESONET
55 MPH WIND GUST /48 KTS/ MEASURED AT BOB HALL PIER.
1218 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 9 SSE CC NAS 27.58N 97.22W
04/16/2012 M60.00 MPH GMZ250 TX MESONET
MALAQUITE BEACH MARINE SITE MEASURED GUST TO 60 MPH /52
KTS/.
1227 PM HAIL 8 SE CC NAS 27.60N 97.21W
04/16/2012 M1.50 INCH NUECES TX PUBLIC
FELL ON THE BEACH AT THE HOLIDAY INN ON NORTH PADRE
ISLAND
0100 PM HEAVY RAIN PORTLAND 27.88N 97.33W
04/16/2012 M8.60 INCH SAN PATRICIO TX AMATEUR RADIO
STORM TOTAL PRECIP NEAR CARMEL STREET.
- National Weather Service
- Corpus Christi, TX Weather Forecast Office
- 426 Pinson Dr
- Corpus Christi, TX 78406
- (361) 289-0959
- Page Author: CRP Webmaster
- Web Master's E-mail: sr-crp.webmaster@noaa.gov
- Page last modified: April 17th 2012 10:34 PM