Thunderstorm Wind — Bee, Texas

2017-05-23 · near Normanna, Bee, Texas

Event narrative

NWS Storm Survey team concluded a macroburst of straight line winds impacted Bee County. The greatest concentration of damage occurred from 10 miles northwest of Beeville to Beeville to Skidmore to east of Papalote. Peak wind speeds were estimated to be between 80 and 85 mph in Beeville and between 85 to 90 mph in Skidmore. This caused extensive and widespread tree damage, crop damage, and numerous bent or blown down utility poles. Many homes and mobile homes were damaged, mainly from falling tree limbs. A grain silo was blown down and damage occurred to the Bonnie plant farm on the south side of Beeville. Large trees were blown down in Skidmore.

Wider weather episode

During the late afternoon on the 23rd, severe thunderstorms developed across south central Texas to the south and southwest of San Antonio. These severe thunderstorms developed due to a strong jet stream, a late season cold front, and a very unstable airmass along with the presence of strong wind shear. These severe thunderstorms continued to strengthen as they moved rapidly southeastward into South Texas during the evening of the 23rd. These severe thunderstorms eventually congealed into a squall line as they moved into the Coastal Bend and eventually offshore during the late evening hours. Widespread tree damage occurred across central portions of Bee County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (28.5400, -97.8100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 698335. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.