The devastating late April of 2007 severe weather events, continued the
winter/spring 2007 severe weather pattern, that began with severe weather
January 13, 2007, went dormant in February, and returned with renewed
vigor in March and April. A spring storm system formed over the
southwest U.S. on Monday, April 23rd. This storm system caused
severe weather events at Del Rio on Monday evening, April 23rd,
followed by a widespread severe weather event the evening of April 24th
to the predawn hours of Wednesday, April 25th.
Severe thunderstorms, with tornadoes, struck Del Rio on Monday
evening the 23rd. A Tornado was reported at 806 pm and again at 834 pm
in the Del Rio Area. Tornado touchdowns were reported north and south of
downtown Del Rio. A 64 mph wind gust was measured at Laughlin AFB
at 838 pm CDT. Hail sizes of 0.88 to 1.75 inches was observed in
the Del Rio area on April 23rd.
See Severe Weather Reports from April 23rd
Just 24 hours later, in the evening of Tuesday, April 24th,
a tornado touched down in the Eagle Pass Area.
As the spring storm system moved to West Texas in the afternoon
of the 24th, a widespread severe weather event developed rapidly just south
of Del Rio and west to northwest of Eagle Pass, near the
Rio Grande, and then moved east as a
line of thunderstorms across
South Central Texas Tuesday evening to the predawn hours of
Wednesday, April 25th. On the evening of Tuesday the 24th,
a devastating tornado struck Eagle Pass at 701 pm. The tornado was
rated EF-3 on the enhanced Fujita Scale, had a path width of one-quarter
mile and a path length near one mile long. These devastating
severe, tornadic thunderstorms in the Eagle Pass area caused
7 Fatalities, more than 80 Injuries, and numerous property damage to
homes, businesses and an elementary school in the Eagle Pass Area.
The severe thunderstorms then proceeded to move across the rest of
South Central Texas from 8 pm, April 24th through 6 am, Wednesday
April 25th. Damaging winds and hail was reported in Maverick, Dimmit,
Zavala, Medina, Bexar, Atascosa, Wilson, Guadalupe, Caldwell, Gonzales
Bastrop, Fayette, and Lavaca Counties.
See Severe Weather Reports from April 24th
and April 25th
A Survey Report of the Eagle Pass Tornado Follows:
A supercell thunderstorm formed in the Mexican mountains west of Piedras Negras,
across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass. Reports from west of the Rio Grande
indicate that a large and devastating tornado stuck Piedras Negras from
the west, then dissipated on the west side of the Rio Grande. The supercell
crossed the Rio Grande near 7:00 pm CDT and struck the community of
Rosita Valley near 7:01 pm CDT. Severe outflow winds from the storm estimated
at between 80 mph and 100 mph struck the community first, causing minor
damage to houses and mobile homes. Roofs were partially lifted, exteriors
of homes were damaged, and trees were knocked over. Following the wind damage,
hail to the size of golfballs struck the area, along with very heavy rain.
Following the winds and hail, the tornado struck next. The team found the
tornado touchdown point approximately one-quarter mile to the southwest of
the Rosita Valley Elementary School. It struck a four room home, destroying
the outer walls and leaving only the interior walls standing. This damage was
rated as EF-2 damage. The tornado then moved toward the east-northeast,
directly toward the school. Along its path it damaged three more homes
and destroyed a fourth. Damage to the three homes was rated EF-1 with the
destroyed home rated EF-2. The tornado next struck a mobile home, tearing
off its frame and tossing the debris into the school building. This also
indicated EF-2 damage. Then the tornado crossed Rosita Valley Road,
destroying mobile homes and damaging homes and tossing the debris into
the south and west sides of the Rosita Valley Elementary School building.
The initial strike points at the school showed only minor EF-0 damage;
however, damage was severe from the center of the school northeastward.
It appeared that the tornadic winds were able to open enough of the center
part of the roof to enter the interior of the school. These winds as well
as winds that entered through wall openings caused severe damage to the
north and south wings of the building. This damage indicated wind speeds
approaching 140 mph and damage at EF-3 level. To the northwest of the school
were two brick retail buildings; both were well-constructed. Outer walls were
destroyed in each with damage to interior walls in one of the structures.
This also suggested wind speeds near 140 mph and EF-3 level damage.
Finally as the tornado exited the school area it struck an area of single
family houses some 200 yards to the northeast. Most of the houses were
swept off their foundations and many of them were completely flattened.
This damage suggested wind speeds approaching 150 mph, the highest speeds
found at Rosita Valley. This was mid-range EF-3 damage. In conclusion,
the tornado was rated EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a path width
near one-quarter mile and a path length near four miles.
In all the tornado destroyed one elementary school, along with 59 manufactured
homes and 57 houses. Major damage was reported to 21 manufactured homes and
19 houses with minor damage to 10 manufactured homes, 22 houses, and 9
apartments. There were seven deaths in Rosita Valley as a result of the
tornado. A family of five in one mobile home were killed as it was destroyed
and rolled into the Rosita Valley Elementary School. Two other victims were
found, one in a permanent home that had collapsed and one in another
mobile home.
One Half Degree Radar Reflectivity and Velocity Imagery from the
Eagle Pass Tornado Event Follows.
|
|
|
0.5 Degree Radar Reflectivity
|
0.5 Degree Radar Velocity
|
Loops of 0.5 Degree Elevation of Radar Reflectivity and
Storm Relative Velocity follows.
A link to Satellite Imagery and Discussion from the Space Science and
Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison follows.
Click Here for the
CIMSS Satellite Images and Discussion
Four Photos of the Storm Damage Follow
|
|
|
School Damage
|
School Roof Damage
|
|
|
|
Mobile Home Damage
|
Truck Damage
|
weather.gov
![[Go to the Top]](uparw.jpg)
![[Return to Weather Events Page]](horizarw.jpg)
