Power Outage in Port Isabel, TX

Port Isabel police department reported several powerlines down around town. Timing based on radar. While wind speeds are estimated, the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) at Port Isabel (PTIT2) recorded wind gusts of 52 knots, or 60 mph, at 1:54AM CDT.

The Port Isabel Police Department shared pictures on social media showing damage to the Sunoco Gas station awning at the corner of Highway 48 and Highway 100 and an ice chest that had moved several feet from the front of the building. Several pictures of powerlines down were also shown. NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) site at Port Isabel (PTIT2) recorded wind gusts of 52 knots, or 60 mph, at 1:54AM CDT, and was used as a guide for when the strongest winds were ending.

An NWS Storm Survey was conducted on South Padre Island and found several areas of damage along South Padre Island. The survey found a couple of downed fences in the Isla Blanca area on the southern side of the island along with a couple of flipped recreational vehicles (RVs) that were exposed to the wind but only anchored by unfastened scissor jacks. The flipped RVs were initially reported by a member of the public shortly after the storms moved offshore. Winds here were measured at the Brazos Santiago (BZST2) Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network site (TCOON) to be near 84 mph. A little farther north along the island, the metal roof at Longboards was peeled back along with a canvas type material that was blown onto the second story balcony of an older apartment complex along W Palm Street. Some of the most extensive damage was witnessed at the El Castile Condo at the corner of W Polaris Dr and Laguna Blvd, which lost its roof and roof decking and exposed at least two dozen units to the elements during the storm. Lastly, the South Padre Island Convention Center's Main Exposition hall lost a significant portion of its roof along with a snapped ash tree nearby, suggesting wind speeds remaining near 85 to 90 mph. Additionally, South Padre Island Police Department reported multiple powerlines down across the island immediately after the event.||Note: times listed are based on the survey results. All severe criteria (58 mph or greater wind gusts) occurred between 148 and 206 AM based on reports from various platforms in the area.

Powerlines and traffic lights were downed at the intersection of Highway 100 and Padre Blvd on South Padre Island. Additional images from social media show the sign for the Coral Reef Lounge that had fallen on top of a Camaro. Time approximated based on radar and time report was received.

A cluster of potent thunderstorms developed in northeastern Mexico and moved north into Cameron County early Sunday morning. Within this cluster of storms, a strong linear downburst crossed South Padre Island from 1:24 AM CST to 1:40 AM CST. The South Padre Island Police Department reported downed power lines in between the paralleling Padre Blvd and Laguna Blvd on South Padre Island, and at one point all of South Padre Island had lost power due to 31 transmission poles that were taken down by the wind.

The U.S. Coast Guard weather station, on the bayside of South Padre Island just south of the Queen Isabella Causeway, recorded a wind gust of 50 knots (58 mph). Shortly after, power outages were reported across the southern portion of South Padre Island.

The thunderstorm complex continued to generate strong, damaging winds as it moved across southeast Cameron County, affecting Bayview, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island. The strongest wind core appeared to rip through Port Isabel across the southern portion of the Town of South Padre Island. At Port Isabel, numerous power outages were the result of power lines and poles blown down at several locations throughout the city. ||As the storm reached South Padre Island, the U.S. Coast Guard Station located in the Bayside recorded a 64 mph wind gust (at 936 AM CST, a six minute recorded observation). At nearly the same time (937 AM CST), a 60 mph gust was recorded by a Citizen Weather Observer Program sensor on Sheepshead Street. In the same area, palm trees were blown down along Coral Street; large metal signs were blown from their mounts along the Queen Isabella Causeway Bridge, and more power lines and a transformer were blown down at the intersection of Constellation Dr. and Laguna Boulevard, all between 930 and 940 AM CST (end time estimated by radar).