Power Outage in Mcallen, TX

An NWS Storm Survey in and around the McAllen-Miller International Airport found a Cessna had been flipped onto its roof and a Gulfstream jet turned and pushed into the grass by strong thunderstorm winds. The McAllen-Miller International Airport ASOS (KMFE) officially recorded a wind gust of 74 mph before losing power. Wind estimates were closer to 74 knots, or 85 mph, due to the flipping of the Cessna. Additional damage was found downstream, or east, of the airport with large oak tree branches having been snapped and one oak tree snapped near its base at the McAllen Country Club. The roof of the Radisson Hotel McAllen Airport (0.5-1 mile east-southeast of the airport) was partially blown off and fell onto cars in the parking lot. The survey crew was told the roof was 3 years old with the building older than that. Decking was estimated to have been 55 feet above ground level and was fully exposed from the west. While winds are estimated to have been 74 knots, or 85 mph, it is possible higher winds were experienced at the roofline. Timing based on KMFE wind gusts before losing power.

An NWS Storm Survey in southeastern Hidalgo County found metal roofs, large tree branches snapped, the top of a small palm tree snapped off and flung several yards, numerous power poles downed and a destroyed mobile home along Mile 3 Rd N between FM491 and Mile 2 E.

The ASOS station at McAllen-Miller International Airport observed winds equaling or exceeding 50 knots between 12:20AM CDT and 12:40AM CDT before briefly losing power shortly thereafter. The strongest wind gust of 64 knots was recorded at 12:34AM CDT. There was significant damage in and around the airport, including a Cessna that had been flipped and a Gulfstream aircraft that had been moved. Damage at the airport is listed in a later report from the NWS Storm Survey.

Power lines and crop damage (light to severe) were reported by the COOP observer in McCook. He also reported pea to nickel sized hail as the storms rolled through.

A severe thunderstorm produced sporadic straight line wind damage|from Monte alto to portions of north Elsa during the evening of|June 24th. Storm motion was from northeast to southwest out of western Willacy County, and several large tree limbs were snapped, and a few trees were uprooted, on the east side of Monte Alto. Winds also caused a free standing metal tower to collapse in Monte Alto. As the storm moved southwestward, large swaths of sugar cane were|noticeably bent towards the ground. Farther west, two poorly |constructed mobile homes were completely destroyed and another was|rolled on its side in a colonia about 2 miles west of Monte Alto. Near Elsa, just off of Monte Cristo Road, over a dozen wooden power poles were snapped across N. Mile Five and One-Half Road. Some metal sheet roofing was torn from a nearby home, and a storage shed had considerable damage to walls and roofing. Based on the construction quality of the buildings and the transmission tower, and the type of trees damaged, peak wind speeds were estimated at 65 to 75 mph.

The cooperative observer in McCook reported a measured wind gust to 58 mph, which blew down several large tree limbs and streen signs in the town, as well as blew down power lines four miles southeast of the town about four minutes later.

A gust of 53 mph was recorded at McAllen/Miller airport at 735 AM CST. At around the same time (735 AM), several power lines blown down in the south side of Pharr, just 2 to 4 miles east of the airport.

Glaze ice accreted to 1/8 to 1/16 inch on trees and grasses beginning during the late afternoon of January 16th and continuing through just prior to midnight before precipitation tapered off over the eastern half of Hidalgo County. Conversational light snow during the mid to late afternoon near McAllen ended, with freezing drizzle/light freezing rain developing soon after including parts of the McAllen/Edinburg metro area. Temperatures, which fell to the upper 20s in a pocket from Donna through Mercedes and north toward Elsa/Edcouch and the Willacy County line, allowed untreated elevated road surfaces particularly on IH-2 to quickly glaze over. This resulted in dozens of accidents along elevated portions of IH-2 and IH-69C at the end and for a few hours after the evening commute, including a 15-vehicle pile-up on westbound IH-2 in McAllen. Several elevated roads were closed through the morning commute, including the heavily traveled IH-2 and IH-69C junction in Pharr. ||There were unknown injuries from the pile-up, as well as other accidents along IH-69C between Pharr and Edinburg.||Power outages in Cameron and Hidalgo County combined exceeded 22 thousand (most were in Cameron County), though the outage source may have been related more to intense usage on an early weeknight during the peak of the winter school and work season than to glaze icing alone, since accretion was light.

Peak gusts ranged generally from 39 to 54 mph (peak 11 north of Edinburg at the South Texas International Airport) during the mid evening of January 11. Numerous small structural fires and other small grass fires were reported by Edinburg Fire, and multiple power lines were reported downed in Mission from the same post-frontal surge of northwest winds.

Hidalgo County Emergency Manager reported thunderstorm wind damage in the Las Canas subdivision (colonia). A roof was blown off a carport, a sheet of a tin roof was lifted on a mobile home and power lines were down. Homes in the neighborhood typically are very poorly built; other nearby residences were not impacted by the winds.

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.

Fire Chief of Linn-San Manuel reported three power poles and lines down along FM 1017 and six trees were uprooted.

The downburst winds tore the roof and at least one wall from a poorly constructed trailer at a colonia of Pueblo de Palmas, east of La Joya. In Alton, winds downed two trees, one of which fell onto a recreational vehicle. Five to seven power poles were downed or snapped in the same area. At the peak of the storm, nearly 9,000 AEP customers in western Hidalgo County were without power.

At least five homes were struck by lightning and burned in spots in the McAllen Metro and Weslaco areas, some with considerable damage. Numerous lightning strikes were reported throughout Hidalgo County, resulting in utility pole and tree fires, and more than 30,000 residents without power at the peak of the storms.

Mission Police Department reported power lines and large tree branches down due to strong winds at the intersection of Inspiration and FM 495 and in the 1400 block of Doherty.

Estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph knocked down trees and power lines across Pharr. The Pharr Police Department reported trees blown down at the intersection of Jackson and Ridge roads and on North Palm Road.

Mission Police Department reported power lines and large tree branches down due to strong winds at the intersection of Inspiration and FM 495 and in the 1400 block of Doherty.

Wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph removed a poorly anchored roof on a trailer home northwest of Alton and blew down some power lines and healthy large mesquite limbs.

Emergency manager reported two mobile homes with damage. One home had slid off the foundation and the second with part of roof torn off near the intersection of Mile 4 W and Mile 11 N road. Several tree limbs were knocked down onto power lines nearby along Mile 10 N road.

A ice storm hit Hidalgo County where 1/8 to 1/2 inch of glaze accreted on trees, power lines, cars, and other exposed surfaces. Texas Department of Transportation noted ice accumulations on several roadways and overpasses. News reports indicated over 3000 customers were without electricity during the peak of the storm early on the 29th, across Hidalgo County. There was likely some damage to tender tropical vegetation (such as banana plants, bougainvillea, etc.) but many of these plants should recover.

A 43 kt wind gust was measured at the McAllen Miller International Airport ASOS site at 654 PM CST; gusts continued to gale force (39 to 44 mph) for about an hour. Approximately 9000 customers were without power across the mid Valley (Weslaco, McAllen) due to the strong and gusty winds disabling power lines.

Local news KRGV Channel 5 reported a power outage in Edinburg due to a falling tree clipping a power line. Local utility, AEP, confirmed the power outage occurred at 1207 pm LST. Indirectly, a small fire began in air conditioning unit from a spark at Edinburg North High School, at the school was forced to evacuate. AWOS at South Texas International Airport in Edinburg reported winds of 23 kts gusting to 31 kts at 1215 pm LST. Sustained winds during and prior to the event averaged around 23 knots and peaked at 38 knots (44 mph) at 335 PM CST.

Frequent to excessive lightning struck McAllen and Pharr as an individual strong thunderstorm followed the initial line of activity. The City of McAllen reported 4,200 customers without power during the peak of the storm. Lightning caused a structure fire just east in Pharr and knocked out power to some residents of the city.

Slow moving thunderstorms, containing up to an hour and a half of torrential rains, dumped between 3 and 4 inches across the heart of populated Hidalgo County, from Mission to Weslaco, during the early and mid afternoon of June 22nd. Numerous instances of nuisance urban flooding were reported, much in the typical poor drainage locations that see flooding with any locally heavy rainfall.||Nuisance flooding of roads and ditches were reported in the typical poor drainage locations of McAllen/Pharr and Weslaco. At McAllen/Miller airport, 3.13 inches of rain fell in less than two hours before the power was knocked out due to lightning in the area. CoCoRaHS observers reported 3.08 inches and 3.18 inches in Mission and Edinburg, respectively, and nearly 3 inches (2.84) fell at the Mid Valley Airport in Weslaco.

Slow moving thunderstorms, containing up to an hour and a half of torrential rains, dumped between 3 and 4 inches across the heart of populated Hidalgo County, from Mission to Weslaco, during the early and mid afternoon of June 22nd. Numerous instances of nuisance urban flooding were reported, much in the typical poor drainage locations that see flooding with any locally heavy rainfall.||Nuisance flooding of roads and ditches were reported in the typical poor drainage locations of McAllen/Pharr and Weslaco. At McAllen/Miller airport, 3.13 inches of rain fell in less than two hours before the power was knocked out due to lightning in the area. CoCoRaHS observers reported 3.08 inches and 3.18 inches in Mission and Edinburg, respectively, and nearly 3 inches (2.84) fell at the Mid Valley Airport in Weslaco.

Light freezing drizzle, mixed with a little snow, began shortly after noon on the 3rd. The precipitation became steadier and heavier through the afternoon, and began accreting to one eighth an inch in some spots before sunset. Overnight, the glaze accreted further, with one quarter to one half inch of ice in many areas by mid morning, except up to an inch from Weslaco to Mercedes where precipitation was a bit heavier.||A large number of vehicle accidents were reported in the county due to the large number of bridge crossings and elevated expressways. News reports noted at least 58 crashes in the county on elevated expressways such as U.S. 281 and U.S. 83. One was a ten car pileup on U.S. 83. The number of accidents was reduced by early road closures; at one point, all overpasses were closed to traffic due to the icing. ||While there were no fatalities in the county, there were dozens of minor injuries reported from people falling on the ice, and 20 persons admitted to the McAllen Medical Center from injuries suffered in vehicle accidents.||Power outages due to the combination of cold temperatures and rolling statewide blackouts, as well as the icing, peaked at more than 32,000 customers (American Electric Power) during the morning of the 4th. ||The icing aggravated damages to agriculture, primarily to tropical plants. For more details on the overall damage to crops and livestock due to the freeze, see the episode on the freezing temperatures between February 3rd and 4th.

The Hidalgo County Emergency Manager reported strong winds occurred during a thunderstorm which knocked down some power lines in Weslaco. A funnel cloud was reported by the emergency manager approximately two miles west of Weslaco as the thunderstorm moved through the area. Peak winds of 43 mph were reported at the Mid Valley Airport, 2 miles east of Weslaco, estimated at around 812 AM CST.

A Hidalgo County official reported a roof blow off a small home at the intersection of 9 Mile Road and Moorefield Drive. Several Trees and power lines were down in the same area.

Dolly's slow progression westward across south central Willacy County during the afternoon and evening of the 23rd delayed the onset of sustained tropical storm force winds into Hidalgo County, but by mid afternoon on the 23rd, the winds indeed arrived, and would continue well into the evening and overnight, at first in broad rain bands within a large circulation around the enlarged center, and later in rain bands well to the east and southeast of the collapsing core.||Sustained winds in the western and southern eyewall increased to 35 to near 50 mph, with gusts nearing hurricane force, generally between 4 PM and 8 PM, especially across the more populated southern half of the county. These sustained winds would continue toward midnight, and likely a bit after midnight across the western third of the county as additional squalls moved through. The persistence of the heavy rains eventually produced widespread inland flooding.||Wind damage reports were typical of tropical storm force winds, including the likelihood of thousands of tree limbs blown down, numerous power lines and a number of power poles down, and minor structural damage to poorly constructed buildings, and mobile trailer type homes. The heaviest damage was concentrated generally along and east of Federal Highway 281, where near hurricane force gusts occurred.||Power outages were widespread, and it was likely that at least 100,000 customers were without power at the peak of the storm during the late afternoon and evening of the 23rd. As with other hard hit areas in Cameron and Willacy Counties, power was not recovered in full for days, and in some cases more than a week, after the storm had moved by.

Notable damage occurred during the middle of the afternoon in portions of Hidalgo County, as a surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with gusts of at least 52 mph produced minor structural damage at industrial buildings, more downed power lines, and some tree damage, mainly between Pharr, McAllen, Edinburg, and Weslaco. ||Two minor injuries were reported near McAllen from a partial roof or wall collapse at an old building. As of this writing, an estimated 7000 customers had lost power in portions of the area, primarily the populated portions of Hidalgo County, due to the winds. McAllen/Miller airport had a peak sustained wind of 39 mph at around 3:03 PM CST, with a gust to 51 mph at around 3:09 PM CST.

Strong and gusty winds cranked up just before noon along the Federal Highway 77 corridor, extending across the Lower Rio Grande Valley on into Hidalgo and Brooks County. Sustained winds of 25 to 38 mph, with frequent gusts above 40 mph, were common between 9 AM and sunset. Peak sustained winds of 38 mph occurred between 1:30 and 2:00 PM CST; a peak gust of 48 mph was observed at McAllen/Miller Airport at 1:49 PM CST.||Numerous power lines were knocked down across the populated portions of the county from McAllen and Pharr east to the Cameron County line; at least 2000 customers were without power during the peak of the winds in the afternoon. Hidalgo County emergency management reported receiving several phone calls of utility poles on fire due to strong winds whipping the power lines.

Strong winds developed along the Federal Highway 77 corridor during the late morning and afternoon of March 2nd, and extended west into central Hidalgo County. These winds continued overnight and into the early morning of the 3rd, and were followed by another round of gusty winds behind the cold front later on the 3rd. The strongest winds, occurring just after noon on the 2nd, likely caused power outages to thousands of customers across the populated Lower Rio Grande Valley, including southern and central Hidalgo County. A wind gust of 46 mph was recorded at McAllen/Miller Airport, with sustained winds of 37 mph.

A plot of pallets burned on a one acre tract of land bordering a residential community, located at the intersection of South|Tower Road and Rancho Blanco. Gusty southeast winds up to 40 mph quickly spread the embers toward up to 500 homes in the area. Eight hundred residents were evacuated, and a shelter was established at the Alamo Community Center located nearby. Unfortunately, despite saving many of the homes, three of the homes affected were damaged. ||In addition to the damage, 350 homes lost power. The fire was contained and residents were allowed to return to their homes late in the day. A large number of local and regional fire departments, as well as the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Border Patrol aerial reconnaissance unit, also assisted in response and relief efforts.

Intense thunderstorms in McAllen produced a tornado between 7 and 7:30 AM along with torrential rainfall and widespread street flooding.||Storm damage was observed from the vicinity of 23rd street and Expressway 83 in McAllen...oriented northeastward toward the intersection of 16th and Business 83 in McAllen. Two uprooted hardwood trees were observed. Substantial structural damage was observed to an automobile shop near 23rd and Expressway 83 and to a lumber retailer on Bicentennial Road between Expressway 83 and Business 83. At least one power pole was toppled. ||A large three sided canopy type roof and gabled roofing material at the lumber yard was either knocked over or ripped off with the concrete anchors ripped from the asphalt. This material was scattered in many directions into adjoining lots or across Bicentennial Avenue. It is estimated that one of the concrete anchors was tossed a distance of 50 feet.||A decorative light pole and street sign was also observed to be completed bent in the general vicinity in a manner consistent with tornado type winds. Roofing materials were twisted around adjacent palm trees. Materials underneath the roofing and canopy, lumber and plywood, were displaced.|

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down in McAllen and across other portions of Hidalgo County, resulting in several damaged cars and the loss of electricity for about 10,000 customers in that area. Several trees blocked Bicentennial Boulevard in McAllen and numerous street lights were out of service for several hours.

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.

Atmospheric energy combined with differential heating boundaries to kick off thunderstorm clusters across the ranchlands during the afternoon. Boundaries from these cells would spark further development across the region. One cell in particular became bow-shaped as it progressed through northern and central Hidalgo County, eventually dropping a 10 mile long, 2 mile wide (varying) downburst of 60 to 65 mph winds from 4 miles west of Hargill to 5 miles east of Edinburg. This downburst caused damage to numerous power poles, crops, as well as to at least three dozen homes.

The combination of an unstable air mass, a weak but dissipating front approaching from the north, and some dry air in the mid-levels to produce thunderstorm clusters along and west of U.S. 281/Interstate 60C in Hidalgo County. These storms pulsed up and down as they moved into the colonias of Alton and La Joya. Downburst winds estimated between 40 and 60 mph damaged trees, a poorly contructed trailer, and power poles.

Very unstable air along the Sierra Madre Oriental during the late afternoon of Sunday, April 12th was activated by a fairly potent upper level disturbance emanating from a persistent trough located along the Arizona/New Mexico border with Mexico. Several lines of storms, with bow-shaped segments, developed along/west of the Rio Grande from the Big Bend region southward deep into Mexico���s Nuevo Leon and Coahuila State. One of these lines accelerated east and quickly reached Zapata County by mid evening on the 12th. The storm would rake the city of Zapata with estimated winds of 60 to 65 mph, knocking down dozens of limbs and power lines, however no structural damage was reported.

A severe thunderstorm developed quickly in rural eastern Starr County and roared into western Hidalgo County near Citrus City before racing through the cities of Alton, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Pharr. Hail fell for five to ten minutes at any one location, and ranged in size from half dollar size to quarter size in Mission, Alton and Palmhurst. The initial burst of hail came with 60 to 65 mph winds, which removed a poorly anchored roof of a trailer home in Alton and blew down some power lines and healthy large mesquite limbs. ||Damage estimates from the hail were difficult to quantify, but from video and photographs posted to social media during the event, the area from Palmhurst to Alton (north of Mission, Texas) appeared to have several instances of minor damage to vehicles and one building (stripped siding) for a total estimated cost of $2500.

The combination of the sea breeze, a weak upper level disturbance, leftover energy from an old surface boundary, and ample dry air mixed within an unstable atmosphere helped spark a small but potent thunderstorm in east-central Hidalgo County shortly before 4 pm. This storm quickly produced damage just north of Mercedes and Weslaco before moving west along an outflow, resetting and dropping another microburst between Alamo and the east side of Edinburg between 4:20 and 4:30 pm before weakening. Damage included numerous downed tree limbs, some downed lines (and subsequently power outages), and structural damage to mobile homes. Peak measured airport gusts included 50 mph at Weslaco/Mid Valley and 45 mph at McAllen Miller.

The combination of a sharp surge of cold air and a trough of low pressure across the western Gulf of Mexico brought strong and gusty winds across the Lower and Mid Rio Grande Valley during the evening of January 23rd in Hidalgo County, and during the morning of January 24th close to the Cameron County coast. Up to 17,500 customers were without power across the region, including 8500 in the coastal Cameron County area (Port Isabel, Laguna Vista, Bayview, South Padre Island) area and up to 9000 in the mid Valley (Weslaco, McAllen). Peak wind gusts up to 48 mph were recorded.

A weak upper level disturbance over the region and a dissipating surface front combined with the seabreeze to produce a small cluster of thunderstorms that developed along the sea breeze near Kenedy County and then raced from northeast to southwest across western Willacy, eastern Hidalgo, and western Cameron counties between 1230 and 2 pm CST before moving into Mexico. A microburst formed as the cluster of storms raced through Weslaco and Mercedes between 135 and 145 pm CST on June 2nd. ||At the Weslaco/Mid Valley Airport AWOS, a gust of 53 mph was recorded at 135 PM CDT, as torrential rain was driven sideways and reduced visiblity to one quarter mile for a few minutes. On the tarmac, the first damage occurred when one small plane flipped into another, causing damage to each. An empty trailer was flipped on its side at a local dealership just south of the airport. The most notable damage occurred at a warehouse at the intersection of Business 83 and S. Utah Avenue at approximately 139 PM CST, where much of the tin roof was torn from the building. Diagonally across the street, part of the metal roof at the Economy Inn and Suites was torn off. About one and one half miles south, part of a tin carport was blown into nearby trees and a house in Ranchero Village Mobile Home Park, most likely around 143-145 PM CST.A dilapidated house in Mercedes also lost part of its roof, though wind speed was likely somewhat lower than estimated and observed in Weslaco. Weslaco Police initially estimated at least $100 thousand in property damage; winds were estimated to be 60 to 65 mph based on the photos, descriptions, and prior experience with similar past events in the Rio Grande Valley. Blinding rains in the core of the storm dropped a quick 1.5 to 2.22 inches. Unfortunately, the blinding rains contributed to two vehicle accidents along Expressway 83 between Mercedes and Weslaco. Frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes caused some power outages and started one small fire in a building.

A cold front moved across Deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley during the morning hours. Behind the front very strong and gusty northwest winds prevailed for several hours. Wind gusts reached up to 44 mph in Edinburg and 47 mph in McAllen. These strong and gusty winds felled at least one tree limb in Edinburg, which clipped power lines and caused some outages.

A strong cold front passing through the central portion of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas during the mid and late afternoon of March 18th brought a combination of wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, falling humidity into the teens, and rapid drying to already drought-affected short-term fuels. These conditions, combined with falling live power lines and other sparking material, produced a number of significant wild fires across Jim Hogg, Brooks, Hidalgo, and Starr Counties between the afternoon of the 18th and the afternoon of the 19th.||In total, aerial and ground surveys suggested that at least 40,000 acres may have burned in total, with at least 25,000 of those related to the Burns Ranch blaze which stretched from the border of Starr, Brooks, and Jim Hogg County east-southeast into southern Brooks and Hidalgo County, with the smoke plume extending into Willacy County. Infrared satellite imagery initially pinpointed the hot spots soon after ignition; Doppler Radar was able to capture the plume from the Burns Ranch Fire into the evening of the 18th.

Severe thunderstorm near Alamo produced strong winds which downed power lines.