NWS Confirms Four Tornadoes In Uvalde And Kinney Counties As Storms Soak Del Rio And Eagle Pass
A National Weather Service survey found four brief EF0 tornadoes touched down over open ranchland in Uvalde and Kinney counties Thursday evening, as storms dumped more than 4 inches of rain near Del Rio.
UVALDE, Texas – Four short-lived tornadoes touched down in Uvalde and Kinney counties Thursday evening, Oct. 29, as a round of strong storms moved across the region, according to the National Weather Service.
All four were rated EF0, the weakest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale, and all stayed over open ranchland, according to a damage survey released Friday afternoon by the NWS office in Austin and San Antonio. No one was hurt, and the survey found damage was limited to trees and brush.
Where the tornadoes touched down
- Uvalde County, first tornado: touched down at 6:04 p.m. about 14 miles west of Uvalde, just north of U.S. 90 and east of Cline. Peak winds were estimated at 60 mph along a 1.8 mile path. The NWS said video confirmed the tornado.
- Uvalde County, second tornado: touched down at 6:25 p.m. about 15 miles south-southwest of Montell, with peak winds near 70 mph along a 2.1 mile path.
- Kinney County, first tornado: touched down at 6:52 p.m. about 12 miles southwest of Montell and tracked 2.36 miles toward the Alamo Village area, with winds near 70 mph.
- Kinney County, second tornado: touched down at 6:54 p.m. about 5 miles northeast of Alamo Village, with winds near 70 mph along a 1.23 mile path.
Three of the four paths were estimated from radar data that showed debris lofted by the storms, according to the survey.
Rain totals
In the 24 hours ending at 10 a.m. Friday, a gauge about 3 miles southwest of Del Rio recorded 4.41 inches of rain and another 2 miles south of the city recorded 4.08 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Eagle Pass picked up 1.44 inches at a gauge northwest of town, and Carrizo Springs also had 1.44 inches. A spot 9 miles southwest of Uvalde got 1.70 inches, and 2.52 inches fell east of Alamo Village.
The storms pushed Del Rio well past its normal rainfall for the month. Through Thursday, the city had 6.14 inches of rain in October, compared with a normal of 2.04 inches, and 21.07 inches for the year, compared with a normal of 18.14 inches, according to NWS climate data.
The Eagle Pass Police Department urged motorists in a Facebook post Friday to use extreme caution while driving during the heavy rain. Drivers should never try to cross flooded roads, and should turn around if water covers the pavement.
Dry Halloween ahead
Trick-or-treaters in Eagle Pass should get a break from the rain. The National Weather Service forecast calls for patchy fog early Saturday, then mostly cloudy skies with a high near 78. Saturday night should stay mostly cloudy with a low around 69 and no rain in the forecast. Sunday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a high near 82.
Read our earlier coverage: Your Halloween Weekend Guide For Eagle Pass Del Rio And Crystal City
Sources: NWS damage survey | NWS rainfall reports | NWS Del Rio climate report | NWS Eagle Pass forecast | Eagle Pass Police Department Facebook post
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