EF1 tornado in San Patricio County, Texas

NWS storm survey concluded a tornado touched down near Lost Creek Drive on the extreme southeast side of Portland. The tornado moved north through the Portland Northshore Country Club producing mainly tree, roof, and fence damage. The tornado moved north into the Bay Ridge subdivision and strengthened. The tornado damaged around 50 homes and several vehicles. Of the homes damaged, 8 received major damage and 15 received minor damage. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be near 100 mph in this area.

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, heavy rainfall, and flooding across the Coastal Bend during the morning hours of April 16th.

Three tornadoes occurred in San Patricio County and 1 tornado in Kleberg County during the morning of the 16th. The tornadoes 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 an EF-0.

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 over eastern San Patricio and southern Refugio Counties. Devastating floods occurred in Gregory with nearly 80% of the homes flooded. Other reports of flooding occured in Nueces, Refugio and eastern San Patricio counties.