Thunderstorm Wind in Calhoun County, Texas

Pictures sent in of a large tree down onto a residents home and vehicles. Time estimated by radar.

A very moist and unstable air mass was in place across South Texas, with surface dewpoints in the lower to middle 70s and strong daytime heating producing moderate to strong instability. Sea-breeze boundaries along the Middle Texas Coast served as a focus for thunderstorm development during the afternoon. While upper-level winds were relatively weak, sufficient instability and moderate deep-layer shear supported organized convection capable of producing damaging wind gusts. A compact MCS developed near Corpus Christi and moved along the coast, where a favorable thermodynamic environment allowed it to intensify. The storm complex produced severe wind gusts, including measured gusts of 53-59 kt in Corpus Christi.