Waterspout — Coastal Waters From Pt Mansfield To Rio Grande River Tx Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico

2010-10-02 · near South Padre Island, Coastal Waters From Pt Mansfield To Rio Grande River Tx Out 20nm, Gulf of Mexico

Event narrative

A local charter boat captain witnessed at least four weak waterspouts approximately 15 miles northeast of Port Isabel during the early afternoon of October 2, 2010. The spouts were small and not associated with thunderstorms, but did appear from dark bases along a line of moderate cumulus. The spouts lasted for an estimated 35 minutes before lifting or dissipating.

Wider weather episode

A weak area of surface convergence - where northeast to east northeast winds met with a northerly flow - combined with relative instability in the form of cool air advection over still warm (mid 80s) Gulf of Mexico waters to induce a number of long lived waterspouts during the early afternoon of October 2nd. The spouts came from a line of cumulus clouds with dark bases, but no precipitation was seen nor was thunder heard.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (26.2130, -96.9818)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 259384. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.