Weekly Climate Summary: 03/28/2022

This week in Texas weather saw West Texas remain dry. The Big Bend Country, Hill Country, and South Texas were the driest regions in the state across this period, all recording less than 0.1” of precipitation across all counties. The Southern Panhandle also experienced particularly dry conditions with less than 0.1” of precipitation, however, the Northern Panhandle experienced slightly more accumulation between 0.1-1”. Lipscomb County and Hemphill County observed even higher accumulations between 1.5-2”. While many counties recorded less than 0.1” of precipitation in North and Central Texas, equally as many counties observed accumulations of 0.1-1.5”. The Northern Gulf Coast also experienced wetter conditions with the majority of counties in this region experiencing 0.5-1.5” of precipitation. The wettest region across this period was the Piney Woods region. Accumulations ranged from 0.5-3” on average across the majority of counties in the region. Some of the most extreme accumulations across this period were seen in Upshur County and San Augustine County with 3-3.5”, and Bowie, Cass, and Shelby counties with 3.5-4”. The most extreme precipitation however was seen in Panola County with more than 4.5” of precipitation.

This week in Texas weather saw negative temperature departures across the state. While several counties in the Panhandle, Central Texas, and South Texas experienced positive temperature departures of 0-4 °F warmer than normal, the majority of counties in these regions and the remainder of the state experienced negative departures. The remainder of the Panhandle, Central Texas, and South Texas as well as North Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Piney Woods region experienced temperatures 0-4 °F cooler than normal. Jasper, Travis, Bexar, Jeff Davis, and Kimble counties experienced even cooler departures of 4-6 °F cooler than normal. The Big Bend Country also experienced temperatures 0-4 °F cooler than normal, however, Brewster County experienced the most extreme negative temperature departure in the state observing temperatures 6-8 °F cooler than normal. The most extreme positive temperature departures were observed in San Saba County with temperatures 6-8 °F warmer than normal and Aransas County with temperatures greater than 10 °F warmer than normal. 

Between March 21st and 22nd, there were a reported 31 tornadoes that touched down in Texas. Eight of these tornadoes were relatively weak and were classified as EF0s. These tornadoes occurred in Wise, Denton, Falls, Limestone, Tarrant, and Burleson counties. Another fifteen tornadoes were slightly stronger being classified as EF1s. These tornadoes occurred in Palo Pinto, Montague, Cooke, Tarrant, Williamson, Bell, Marshall, Johnston, Lee, Brazos, Madison, Cass, Harrison, and Fort Bend Counties.  

There were reported eight EF2 tornadoes and one reported EF3 tornado. The first EF2 tornado impacted Guadalupe and Caldwell counties near Kingsbury and Luling. This tornado touched down at 22:48 UTC and lasted until 23:08 UTC on March 21st. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 115 mph. It traveled a length of 7.53 miles and had a max width of 600 yards. No fatalities or injuries were reported from this tornado. The second EF2 tornado impacted Travis, Williamson, and Bell counties near Round Rock, Granger, and Holland. This tornado touched down at 22:54 UTC and lasted until 23:47 UTC on March 21st. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 135 mph. It traveled a length of 2.29 miles and had a max width of 500 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 16 reported injuries. The third EF2 tornado impacted Grayson County near Sherwood Shores. This tornado touched down at 23:11 UTC and lasted until 23:21 UTC on March 21st. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 115 mph. It traveled a length of 2.6 miles and had a max width of 200 yards. No fatalities or injuries were reported due to this tornado. The fourth EF2 tornado impacted Travis and Bastrop counties near Elgin. This tornado touched down at 23:30 UTC and lasted until 23:50 UTC on March 21st. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 130 mph. It traveled a length of 12.12 miles and had a max width of 500 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 3 reported injuries. The fifth EF2 tornado impacted Houston County near Midway and Crockett. This tornado touched down at 03:10 UTC and lasted until 03:30 UTC on March 22nd. This tornado traveled a length of 19.07 miles and had a max width of 200 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 10 reported injuries. The sixth EF2 tornado impacted Upshur, Marion, Morris, and Cass counties near Gilmer, Ore City, And Linden. This tornado touched down at 03:20 UTC and lasted until 04:08 UTC on March 22nd. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 135 mph. It traveled a length of 40.1509 miles and had a max width of 700 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 7 reported injuries. The seventh EF2 tornado impacted Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Rusk counties near Cushing and Henderson. This tornado touched down at 04:16 UTC and lasted until 05:08 UTC on March 22nd. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 125 mph. It traveled a length of 37.57 miles and had a max width of 1400 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there was 1 reported injury. The seventh EF2 tornado impacted Travis and Bastrop counties near Elgin. This tornado touched down at 23:30 UTC and lasted until 23:50 UTC on March 22nd. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 130 mph. It traveled a length of 12.12 miles and had a max width of 500 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 3 reported injuries. The final EF2 tornado impacted Rusk and Panola counties near Long Branch and Beckville. This tornado touched down at 05:08 UTC and lasted until 05:25 UTC on March 22nd. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed of 130 mph. It traveled a length of 12.03 miles and had a max width of 500 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there was 1 reported injury.

The most severe tornado across this event was an EF3 tornado that impacted Jack and Montague counties near Jacksboro. This tornado touched down at 20:35 UTC and lasted until 21:20 UTC on March 21st. This tornado had an estimated peak wind speed between 40-50 mph. It traveled a length of 34.5 miles and had a max width of 880 yards. No fatalities were reported due to this tornado however there were 9 reported injuries and over 90 homes were damaged. 

Furthermore, as a result of these severe thunderstorm systems which brought tornadoes across the state, severe hail was also reported.  Bexar, Gregg, Webb, Travis, Denton, Tarrant, Erath, Blanco, and Jack counties all reported 1.0” hail. Caldwell, Duval, and Wilson counties all reported 1.25” hail. Limestone and Guadalupe counties reported 1.5” hail. Upshur and Freestone counties reported 1.75” hail. The most extreme hail was reported in Comal County at 2.0”.