Thunderstorm Wind — Hidalgo, Texas

2016-05-31 · near Chihuahua, Hidalgo, Texas

Event narrative

Initial damage to tree limbs and some poorly built roofs in the Mission/Palmview area would intensify by the time the downburst reached the Madero and Granjeno communities, where more than 100 homes sustained varying levels of damage, dozens of power poles were felled, and hundreds of softwood trees were uprooted. Specific damage and associated impacts included the following: At least 150 homes and businesses sustained notable damage, and several dozen required significant repair. This included varied damage to nearly every building (RV, trailer, and fixed structure) in the Chimney Park RV and Mobile Home Park along the Rio Grande, as well as the adjacent neighborhood of Madero. The State Farm Arena lost a large part of its cladding (side wall) and up to 40% of its roof shingles and underneath decking allowing rainwater to leak into the facility. A several thousand foot community center in the town of Granejo was destroyed as free-standing reinforced cinderblock walls crumbled, and the wind destroyed ductwork/HVAC and an entire side wall on its way out of the building. A tractor trailer weighing 79,000 pounds, including freight, was moved and then tipped on its side in the community of Madero. Hundreds of softwood trees were uprooted and thousands of tree limbs were snapped, these included ash, mesquite, ebony, and palm. Dozens of wooden power poles were snapped, with more than 20,000 customers without power.

Wider weather episode

A mini-supercell and associated downburst core moved across south central Hidalgo County beginning in the Palmview/Mission area and generally tracked along and just north of the Rio Grande before crossing the river southeast of Pharr. A NWS survey, combined with radar assessment, determined a path length of 19.4 miles and a path width, which varied, of 1 to 3 miles. Peak winds were estimated to be 85 to 95 mph, though 100 mph or greater winds may have occurred on elevated surfaces, particularly at the State Farm Arena in the city of Hidalgo. Peak winds pulsed at two phases of the storm, and likely lasted 5 or more minutes. Initial damage to tree limbs and some poorly built roofs in the Mission/Palmview area would intensify by the time the downburst reached the Madero and Granjeno communities, where more than 100 homes sustained varying levels of damage, dozens of power poles were felled, and hundreds of softwood trees were uprooted. In addition to the wind, one to two inch diameter hail fell, some of it driven by the strong winds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (26.2385, -98.3888)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 638620. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.