Marine Thunderstorm Wind · Gulf of Mexico

Mesonet station TT738 Padre measured gusts up to 40 mph.

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.