NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR - 225

THE CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 

TORNADOES OF OCTOBER 24, 2002

Timothy M. Tinsley

Jennifer L. Salato

Jason T. Dunn

Armando L. Garza

National Weather Service 

Weather Forecast Office

Corpus Christi, TX

Scientific Services Division

Southern Region

Fort Worth, TX

September 2005

UNITED STATES National Oceanic and National Weather Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Atmospheric Administration David L. Johnson, Assistant

Carlos M. Gutierrezs, Secretary Conrad C. Lautenbacher Administrator for Weather Services

Under Secretary

and Administrator
ii

This publication has been reviewed

and is approved for publication by

Scientific Services Division,

Southern Region

David B. Billingsley, Chief

Scientific Services Division

Fort Worth, Texas
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

I. Introduction ..... ........ ........ ........ ................. ........ ....... 1

II. Tornado Climatology for South Texas Coastal Bend .......... ......... ...... 1

III. Historical Tornado Record for Nueces County....... ........ ........ ....... 5

IV. Analysis of Pre-Storm Environment ........................... ........ ....... 5

V. Sounding Analysis ............ .................. ................ ......... ....... 9

VI. Numerical Model Analysis... .................. ............... ......... ....... 11

VII Radar Analysis ................ .................. ............... ......... ....... 13

VIII. Brief Description of the Tornado Paths ............ ................ ....... 18

IX. Summary........ ............ ........ ............... ................ ....... 21

X. Conclusions.... .................... ................ ................ ....... 24

XI. Acknowledgements............ ................ ................ ................ 24

XII. References... ....... ........ ...... ........ ...... ........ ...... ....... 25
iv

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES AND APPENDIX

LIST OF FIGURES PAGE

1. Map of WFO Corpus Christi, Texas County Warning Area – 15 Counties................. 1

2. Tornadoes + Tracks across South Texas............ 01/01/50 – 12/31/03..................... 2

3. Tornadoes since 1950 for Corpus Christi Warning Area...................................... 3

4. Tornado Frequency for Nueces County in South Texas....................................... 5

5. 500 MB 12UTC 10/24/02 Height and Temperature Analysis.................................. 6

6. 850 MB 12UTC 10/24/02 Height, Temperature and Dewpoint Temperature Analysis.......6

7. 300 MB 12UTC 10/24/02 Streamlines and Divergence...........................................6

8. Satellite Image at 1215UTC 10/24/02................................................................6

9. Surface Analysis at 12UTC. 10/24/02................................................................7

10. Surface Analysis at 18UTC. 10/24/02.......... .....................................................7

11. Regional Infrared Satellite Image at 1815UTC 10/24/02.........................................8

12. Skew-T and Hodograph for Corpus Christi ... 12UTC .. 10/24/02..............................9

13. Skew-T and Hodograph for Brownsville ... 12UTC .. 10/24/02 ................................10

14. Modified Hodograph for 19UTC for Corpus Christi............................................ . 11

15. RUC 0-HR 500 MB Height and Vorticity Analysis at 15UTC.................................. 11

16. RUC 6-HR FCST 1000-850 Lapse Rate/ 925 MB Wind......................................... 12

17. KCRP 0.5 DEG. REFL 1758UTC ...... 10/24/02 ............................................. 13

18. KCRP 0.5 DEG. REFL 1900UTC ...... 10/24/02 ........................... .................. 14

19. KCRP 0.5 DEG. Z/V Combination at 1910UTC .... 10/24/02 ..................................15

20. KCRP 1930UTC 4 Panel - 0.5 DEG. Vel., 3.4 DEG SRM, 6.2 DEG SRM, 10 DEG SRM.16

21. KCRP 1935UTC and 1940UTC Z/V Combination........... ....................................17

22. KCRP 0.5 DEG 1945UTC and 1950UTC Z/V Combination.................................... 18

23. Tracks of all Three Tornadoes..................................................................... 19

24. Close up view of Tornado Tracks across Corpus Christi....................................... 20

25. Residential Property Damage...................................................................... 21

26. Damage to Refinery................................................................................. 21

27. RUC EHI Analysis at 17UTC and 18UTC ...................................................... . 22

TABLES

LIST OF TABLES PAGE

1. Listing of F2 or greater tornado frequency within the WFO CRP CWA.................. 4
1

I. INTRODUCTION

During the early afternoon hours of October 24, 2002, a mini-supercell produced a family 

of tornadoes that moved through the northwest portion of the city of Corpus Christi, 

Texas. Three tornadoes produced significant damage resulting in 26 injuries and 1

fatality, and property losses amounting to around $85 million. Two of the three

tornadoes were rated as F2 and this event marked the first tornado related fatality in the 

history of the city. These tornadoes occurred in an area of the country where significant 

tornadoes are extremely uncommon. This paper will present a brief review of the tornado 

climatology for South Texas (WFO Corpus Christi County Warning Area) with emphasis 

on Nueces County. It will then analyze the synoptic and mesoscale features that led to a 

favorable environment for the development of the strong tornadoes. An examination of 

radar data will look at the warning and situational awareness issues related to this event.

II. TORNADO CLIMATOLOGY FOR SOUTH TEXAS COASTAL BEND 

Tornadoes are not a rare occurrence over South Texas. However, the intensity of the 

tornadoes that occurred on October 24, 2002 has rarely been seen in this part of Texas. 

Figure 1 shows the WFO Corpus Christi (CRP) County Warning Area (CWA) and can be 

used as a reference to visualize locations presented throughout this paper.

FIGURE 1. MAP OF WFO CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS CWA – 15 COUNTIES
2

In comparing the National Climatic Data Center database of Storm Data, the official 

record of tornadoes in South Texas, to the extensive research of significant tornadoes by 

Grazulis (1993), there are discrepancies that should be addressed. Since 1950, Storm 

Data lists 47 significant (F2 or greater) tornadoes for the WFO Corpus Christi County 

Warning Area, with 9 tornadoes being rated as intense as F3 on the Fujita scale.

In reference to Grazulis, only 21 significant tornadoes occurred since 1950, and none 

were rated with an F3 intensity. According to Grazulis, only the disastrous F4 tornado 

that struck Goliad in 1902 which killed 114 people and injured 250, has reached a F-scale 

intensity higher than F2 in South Texas. Most of the discrepancies occurred before 1980. 

Reasons for the discrepancies could be that errors were made in rating tornadoes previous 

to the Fujita scale implement ation in 1971 and emphasis on training in damage surveys 

did not occur until the 1980s with better warning preparedness programs in the National 

Weather Service. For purposes of this paper in reference to significant tornado

climatology, all references were made to the findings by Grazulis.

Early severe thunderstorm and tornado reporting, or lack thereof, was likely a function of 

several well known factors: (a) limited or no radar or satellite coverage before the 1960s, 

(b) the lack of existing or established communication networks during the early part of 

the 20th century, (c) unpopulated areas that did not lend themselves to eyewitness

reporting of severe storms, and (d) non existence of an outreach program and few

emergency manager positions in place to assist in severe weather reporting. Even today, 

many areas of South Texas are sparsely populated resulting in a lack of eyewitness 

tornado reporting.

FIGURE 2. TORNADOES + TRACKS A CROSS SOUTH TEXAS ... 01/01/50 – 12/31/03
3

Figure 2 shows the number of and track of tornadoes across South Texas according to the 

Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather database from 1950 through the end of 2003. 

The graphic suggests issues related to population density that played a role in the number 

of tornadoes that were reported compared to what may have actually occurred. Note that 

counties with larger population figures (eastern half of the CWA) report most of the 

tornadoes shown, while less populated areas in Webb, La Salle, Duval, and McMullen 

Counties provide less opportunities for observation and reporting of damage to mainly 

open stretches of land and property.

FIGURE 3. TORNADOES SINCE 1950 FOR CORPUS CHRISTI CWA

Figure 3 shows the annual distribution of tornadoes and their intensities (Fujita scale). 

The frequency graph shows that the majority of the tornadoes that impact the WFO CRP 

CWA are F1 or weaker. The documented F2 tornadoes are rare.

There are two peak periods of tornado occurrence in the Corpus Christi CWA. The 

month of May peaks with just over 60 tornadoes or an average of one tornado per year in 

that month. Activity during this period of time is related to the normal spring severe 

weather season that affects most of Texas. A more active period is seen in August and 

September. However, note that while the number of tornadoes reported increase, most 

are in the F0 category. The increased tornado activity during these two months can be 

attributed to tropical systems including Hurricanes Carla (1961), Beulah (1967), Celia 

(1970), Allen (1980), and Gilbert (1988). According to Spalding (1997), about 23 

percent of all tornadoes were associated with tropical cyclones during the period from 

1950 to 1994. The monthly maximum is skewed to September by the number of

tornadoes (42) associated with Hurricane Beulah in 1967.
4

Table 1 shows the dates, locations, number of injuries and fatalities for each significant 

tornado event (F2 or greater) within the Corpus Christi CWA. Since 1900, the months of 

October and May have recorded the highest number of F2 tornadoes.

DATE COUNTY/ CITY INJURED DEAD F SCALE

05/18/1902 Goliad / Goliad 250 114 F4

05/01/1912 Webb 3 1 F2

03/24/1922 Nueces - - F2

03/30/1935 Jim Wells 7 1 F2

06/12/1935 Nueces 0 0 F2

05/16/1938 San Patricio 0 0 F2

10/23/ 1953 Nueces/ Port Aransas 0 0 F2

10/22/ 1954 San Patricio/ 10N Taft-Portland 25 0 F2

06/06/1955 La Salle/ Encinal 0 0 F2

05/10/1959 Live Oak/ Clegg 0 0 F2

10/16/1960 San Patricio/ 3S Sinton-4NW Sinton 0 0 F2

10/16/1960 Nueces/ SW Corpus Christi 3 0 F2

11/02/1961 Calhoun/ Port Lavaca 0 11 F2

11/08/1963 Refugio/ 8SE Woodsboro – 4NW Refugio 0 3 F2

05/18/1965 Refugio/ Refugio – 9NE Refugio 0 0 F2

05/18/1965 Duval/ 10N San Diego 0 0 F2

09/20/1967 Calhoun/ 1N Port Lavaca 1 0 F2

09/20/1967 Aransas/ Fulton Beach – Copano Village 3 0 F2

11/05/1968 Victoria/ Victoria 2 0 F2

06/24/1970 Nueces/ Bishop 15 1 F2

08/03/1970 Live Oak/ Lake Corpus Christi 2 1 F2

04/27/1972 Nueces/ Corpus Christi 0 0 F2

05/15/1980 Live Oak/ 13W George West – George West 0 0 F2

08/09/1980 Nueces/ Bishop 3 0 F2

08/10/1980 Jim Wells/ Alice 1 0 F2

10/24/2002 Nueces/ NW Corpus Christi 20 1 F2

10/24/2002 Nueces/ N Corpus Christi – 3NW N.Beach 0 0 F2

TABLE 1.

List of F2 or greater tornadoes within the WFO Corpus Christi CWA

according to Grazulis (1993) except for the 2002 tornadoes
5

III. HISTORICAL TORNADO RECORD FOR NUECES COUNTY

Within the WFO Corpus Christi CWA, Nueces County has the most tornado reports with 

92 tornadoes recorded since 1950. Of this number, 7 were rated F2 including the 2 

tornadoes that were part of the family of tornadoes on October 24, 2002. These numbers 

are approximately one quarter of the reports in the CWA for both significant tornadoes 

and total number of tornadoes. Only one other fatality associated with a tornado has 

occurred in Nueces County since 1900. This occurred in Bishop, southwest of Corpus 

Christi, on June 24, 1970.

Figure 4 shows the monthly distribution of tornadoes in Nueces County. Note that there 

is a very significant peak during the tropical cyclone season during the months of August 

and September. For non-tropical cyclone related tornadoes, the peak month occurs in 

May with a total of 14 recorded cases, and October is close behind with 13 tornadoes 

recorded. 

FIGURE 4. TORNADO FREQUENCY FOR NUECES COUNTY IN SOUTH TEXAS

 IV. ANALYSIS OF PRE-STORM ENVIRONMENT

A. Early Morning

Upper air analysis at 12 UTC on October 24, 2002 showed a trough at 500 mb over the 

southwestern United States with a strong shortwave trough lifting to the northeast out of 
6

southern New Mexico and southwest Texas (Figure 5). The 06 UTC RUC model data 

indicated a weaker short wave trough moving out of the Big Bend and northeast Mexico. 

A developing mesoscale convective vortex within an area of convection moving into the 

Texas Hill Country was associated with this weaker shortwave. An axis of higher 

moisture was located from Deep South Texas along the Rio Grande River into the 

Permian Basin within a southeast flow of 25 to 30 knots at 850 mb (Figure 6). 

FIGURE 5. 500 MB 12 UTC 10/24/2002

HEIGHT (BLACK) AND TEMPERATURE. (DASH RED).

FIGURE 6. 850 MB 12 UTC 10/24/2002

HEIGHT (BLACK), TEMP. (RED), DPT TEMP (GREEN) 

Figure 7. 300 MB 12UTC 10/24/2002

Streamlines (black) and divergence (yellow).

Figure 8. 1215 UTC IR Satellite Image. 

10/24/2002

A jet streak of 70 to 80 knots at 300 mb was located across southern Baja California into 

northern Mexico (Figure 7). The upper level flow pattern was strongly divergent over 

northeast Mexico into South Texas. Infrared satellite imagery showed this jet streak was 

emanating from the major Hurricane Kenna off the coast of southwest Mexico (Figure 8). 

The 12 UTC upper air maps from SPC are shown in this analysis.

The surface analysis at 12 UTC (Figure 9) more clearly indicated a boundary was located 

from the upper Texas coastal waters into the Coastal Bend with easterly winds behind the 

boundary from Corpus Christi to Laredo. Southeast winds and dewpoint temperatures in 

the middle to upper 70s F were present over the coastal sections of Deep South Texas 
7

south of the front. A stronger cold front was analyzed from northeast Oklahoma to the 

Concho Valley in Texas. 

FIGURE 9. 12 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS 10/24/2002

Figure 10. 18 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS 10/24/2002
8

A developing Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) was over the northern Rio Grande 

Plains and western Hill Country at 12 UTC. This activity was occurring in a region of

strong 850 mb warm air advection north of the stationary surface boundary and therefore 

elevated above the boundary layer. Scattered convection was occurring over Deep South 

Texas and the nearby coastal waters within the boundary layer.

B. Early Afternoon

By 18 UTC, the boundary previously south of the Coastal Bend had moved slowly to the 

north (Figure 10). The boundary was now located from the upper Texas Coast south of 

Houston to the northern portions of the Coastal Bend from Port O’Connor to Encinal. A 

weak trough of low pressure had moved into the Coastal Bend as the winds became 

southeast and dewpoint temperatures rose to the middle 70s F. While the temperatures in 

Deep South Texas warmed into the upper 80s F, the dewpoint temperatures remained in

the middle 70s F, thus producing a strong conditionally unstable airmass in the warm 

sector that was weakly capped around 700 mb (Figure 13).

FIGURE 11. 1815 UTC REGIONAL INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGE.

The MCS continued to move to the east into south-central Texas and the northern

portions of the WFO CRP CWA by 18 UTC. The MCS tracked just north of the 

boundary. The strongest activity remained northwest of Corpus Christi as was evident on 

the 18 UTC Infrared satellite image (Figure 11). Scattered thunderstorms along the 

Lower Texas Coast were moving northward into the Coastal Bend.
9

V. SOUNDING ANALYSES

A. Early Morning – Unmodified

The 12 UTC sounding at Corpus Christi (CRP) showed strong veering in the low levels 

north of the boundary (Figure 12). Comparing the CRP sounding with the Brownsville 

(BRO) sounding (Figure 13) showed 0-3 km helicity (194 m2/s2) over the Coastal Bend 

was significantly stronger than over Deep South Texas (91 m2/s2). Davies-Jones, et al. 

(1990) showed breakpoint helicity values associated with weak (F0-F1) and strong (F2-

F3) tornadoes were 150 and 300 m2/s2, respectively. As for instability, the BRO

sounding was much more unstable than the CRP sounding with surface based CAPE 

values near 3950 J/kg compared to around 1250 J/kg for CRP.

FIGURE 12. SKEW-T AND HODOGRAPH FOR CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

The BRO sounding showed steeper surface to 3 km lapse rates than CRP along with 

higher low level equivalent potential temperature (theta-e). The low level moisture was 

deeper over the Lower Rio Grande Valley, to approximately 800 mb, with the

precipitable water values at 2.1 inches. The moisture depth was more modest over the 

Coastal Bend with low level moisture depth up to 900 mb and a precipitable water value 

around 1.7 inches.

At 18 UTC, the more unstable airmass over Deep South Texas had advected into the 

Coastal Bend with temperatures approaching 80 F and dewpoint temperatures in the 
10

middle to upper 70s F. Modifying the 12 UTC CRP sounding, surface based Convective 

Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values increased to around 3200 J/kg. 

FIGURE 13. SKEW-T AND HODOGRAPH FOR BROWNSVILLE, TX.

B. Early Afternoon – Modified Sounding

The wind profile from the 12 UTC sounding on October 24, 2002 supported the

development of tornadic activity. The hodograph showed strong directional wind shear 

in the lowest kilometer with winds veering significantly with height. Davies-Jones 

(1984) showed that mesocyclones formed within an environment where the stormrelative low level winds are strong (10 m/s or higher) and veer with height (at least 90 

degrees in the lowest 3 km AGL). Johns and Doswell (1992) discussed the need for 

sufficient dry air in the downdraft entrainment layer to support downdraft development 

and the generation of low level baroclinic vorticity necessary for tornadogenesis. Both 

the 12 UTC CRP and BRO soundings showed a layer of drier air near 800 mb and near 

700 mb, respectively.

The 0-6 km shear at Corpus Christi continued to increase as the stronger mid-level winds 

approached from the west with the short wave trough and as the low level flow increased 

over the Coastal Bend to near 35 knots at 850 mb. The 0-3 km helicity was also 

increasing over the region as the low level flow increased.
11

Figure 14 is a modified hodograph using winds from the VAD Wind Profile from the 

KCRP radar at 19 UTC. The blue asterisk is the storm motion of 190 degrees at 21 knots 

exhibited by the supercell. 

FIGURE 14. MODIFIED HODOGRAPH FOR 19 UTC FOR 

CORPUS CHRISTI. UNITS ARE IN M/S. THE 0-3 KM SHEAR 

LAYER ENDED AT 210 DEGREES.

VI. NUMERICAL MODEL ANALYSIS

The AVN and RUC (Figure 15) models had a better forecast position and strength of the 

500 mb short wave trough moving into the northern Rio Grande Plains at 15 UTC. 

FIGURE 15. RUC 0-HR 500 MB HGT/WND /VORT 15 UTC
12

The Eta and NGM models were too weak with the short wave trough and too far west. 

Therefore, these models strongly under forecast the strength of the mid-level winds over 

South Texas.

FIGURE 16. RUC 6-HR FCST 1000-850 LAPSE RATE/925 MB WIND

However, all models depicted the short wave trough moving northeast into Central Texas 

by 18 UTC. The models did not handle the strength and movement of the MCS and the 

associated mesoscale convective vortex very well. The southern line of convection

associated with the MCS showed development to the south-southwest indicative of an 

upwind-propagating MCS. Using the Corfidi (2003) method for forecasting MCS motion 

for upwind-propagation, the expected movement of the MCS would be to the east into 

South Texas. With the models erroneously moving the short wave trough into Central 

Texas, the mid-level wind field over South Texas by the early afternoon was under 

forecast and the 0-6 km shear values were stronger than the models depicted. The 

environmental shear was favorable for the development of supercells over South Texas.

The AVN model was the preferred model with regards to the low level flow at 925 mb 

over South Texas. The AVN model also was better with the forecast of the higher 1000 

to 850 mb lapse rates over Deep South Texas and the nearby offshore waters (Figure 16).

Therefore, the AVN had a better depiction of the stronger instability residing to the south 

of the Coastal Bend. The Eta model was notably too weak with the instability fields over 

South Texas during the morning, with CAPE values less than 1000 J/kg. The AVN and 

RUC models showed the surface theta-e ridge moving into the Coastal Bend by 18 UTC.
13

VII. RADAR ANALYSIS

A concern during the morning and early afternoon was the advancing Mesoscale

Convective System (MCS) moving east across South Texas. At 18 UTC the strongest 

thunderstorms with the MCS were moving east at 35 knots across Live Oak County 

(Figure 17).

FIGURE 17 - KCRP REFLECTIVITY IMAGE FOR 1758 UTC 10/24/2002. 

Light blue line from Live Oak County to Corpus Christi represents Interstate 37 while the line 

that branches south is US Highway 77.

The line of thunderstorms began to bow as it moved east into Southern Bee and Western 

San Patricio Counties at 1830 UTC. The mini-supercell over Baffin Bay moved north to 

the upper reaches of Alazan Bay. The cell exhibited a weak echo region as the rotational 

velocity (Vr) increased to 21 knots up to a depth of around 12 thousand feet. 

By 1900 UTC, the line of thunderstorms bowed coincident with a rear inflow notch, and 

a cyclonic rotating vortex developed as the storm moved into southern Refugio County 

(Figure 18). The mini-supercell moved into the south central portion of Nueces County 

south of the Corpus Christi International Airport. Radar indicated convergent rotation on 

the 0.5 degree slice while the rotational velocity increased to around 26 knots from 1500 

to 10000 feet (not shown).
14

FIGURE 18. KCRP 0.5 DEGREE REFLECTIVITY AT 19 UTC

 Interstate 37/ US Highway 77 shown in light blue

At 1910 UTC, the broad circulation associated with the bookend vortex on the storm in 

Refugio County increased to 50 knots rotational velocity (Vr) (not shown). A Tornado 

Vortex Signature with gate-to-gate Vr of 36 knots was indicated on the 0.5 degree 

Velocity image with the storm south of the airport. Vr increased to 30 to 35 knots 

through the depth of the mesocyclone up to 12 thousand feet. The strong mesocyclone 

continued through the 1915 UTC scan with the 0.5 degree Velocity image showing Vr 

had increased to 40 knots.

At 1915 UTC, the reflectivity increased to above 50 dBZ at the tip of the hook echo 

(Figure 19). This is possibly indicative of debris within the tornado. The first report of a 

tornado was at 1919 UTC, but radar data suggest the tornado likely formed shortly before 

1910 UTC about 9 miles south of the Corpus Christi International Airport. 
15

FIGURE 19 -- KCRP 0.5 DEG. Z/V COMBINATION 1910 UTC (TOP) AND 1915 UTC

(BOTTOM). 

Thin blue line is Interstate 37 that runs south of Nueces Bay down to the Bayfront.

As the mini-supercell passed within 5 nm of the radar, reflectivity (Z) display of the cell 

became more difficult to discern due to the lower resolution Z data. However, the higher 

resolution Velocity data clearly showed the tornadic circulation. The Velocity data was 

also better than the Storm Relative Motion (SRM) product since the SRM was using a 

storm motion of 220 degrees at 28 knots rather than the deviated motion of 190 degrees at 

21 knots by the mini-supercell. The rotational signature weakened below 1500 feet at 

1920 UTC and this weaker rotation continued through the 1925 UTC scan. The first 

tornado dissipated around 1928 UTC about 5 miles southeast of the airport.

However, the strong rotation continued above the near ground circulation with Vr values 

between 35 and 45 knots within the supercell between 1500 to 8000 feet. At 1930 UTC, 
16

the rotation increased on the 0.5 degree Velocity image with Vr values around 37 knots. 

The SRM products showed increasing low-level inflow backed to the east in the region 

north of the supercell (Figure 20). The SRM images at 1930 UTC showed east winds 

increasing to greater than 50 knots between 1500 and 5000 feet. (The SRM images 

utilized a storm motion slightly different than that of the mini-supercell.) 

FIGURE 20 - KCRP 1930 UTC ... 0.5 DEG. VELOCITY IMAGE (UPPER LEFT). STORM 

RELATIVE MOTION AT 3.4 DEG. (UPPER RIGHT), 6.2 DEG (LOWER LEFT) AND 10 

DEG (LOWER RIGHT)

This intensification continued into the 1935 UTC and 1940 UTC scans as Vr increased to 

50 knots. The diameter of the circulation decreased to around 0.2 nm (Figure 21). 

Between 1500 and 9000 feet, the Vr values increased to greater than 45 knots (according 

to archived SRM products on the higher elevation angles).
17

The second tornado formed at 1932 UTC, about 4 miles east southeast of the airport, and 

caused extensive damage at the West Campus of Del Mar College that was rated as F2 

damage. Damage surveys and spotter reports indicated this tornado dissipated and a third 

tornado formed just south of Interstate 37 around 1940 UTC. Note the second cell south 

of the airport exhibited signs of rotation (Figure 21). 

FIGURE 21 0.5 DEGREE Z/V COMBINATION AT 1935 UTC (TOP) AND 1940 UTC

(BOTTOM)

By 1945 UTC, velocity data showed the rotational signatures had weakened slightly 

below 2 thousand feet. However, at 1950 UTC the Vr at the 0.5 degree angle increased 

back to 50 knots as the supercell moved into Nueces Bay (Figure 22). 
18

FIGURE 22. KCRP 0.5 DEGREE Z/V COMBINATION 1945 UTC (TOP) AND 1950 UTC

(BOTTOM)

The third tornado damaged a grocery store and a refinery before moving into Nueces 

Bay. The damage associated with this tornado was rated as F2 damage. The tornado 

dissipated by 1955 UTC over Nueces Bay as the storm merged with the line of

thunderstorms that moved into Corpus Christi. 

VIII. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TORNADO PATHS 

The track of the tornadoes that moved across the city of Corpus Christi can be seen in 

Figures 23 and 24. The three tornadoes were produced by the mini-supercell that moved 

just east of the Corpus Christi International Airport. The first report of tornado was about 

9 miles south of the Corpus Christi airport at 1919 UTC. Radar data suggests the time of 
19

the initial tornado was likely around 1910 UTC. It was located just south of the small 

London community where an elementary school is located on Farm to Market Road 43.

FIGURE 23: TRACKS OF ALL THREE TORNADOES

The tornado was estimated to be less than 50 yards wide, traveled through mainly open 

land, and tracked about seven miles before dissipating just southeast of the intersection of 

Old Brownsville Road and Padre Island Drive at approximately 1928 UTC. It did 

minimal damage during its nine minute existence and was rated an F0 on the Fujita Scale.

The next tornado formed four minutes later at 1932 UTC just to the east of where the first 

tornado had dissipated, near Navigation Boulevard and Old Brownsville Road. It moved 

northeast into the Del Mar College West Campus where the most extensive damage to 

property occurred. This tornado, which was rated as an F2 tornado, had a path length of 

2 1⁄2 miles and was 100 to 200 yards wide. One fatality was directly associated with this 

tornado on the campus of Del Mar College.

The final tornado formed at 1940 UTC just south of Driscoll Middle School just as the 

second tornado was dissipating and became an F2 tornado as it damaged the H.E.B. 

grocery store and the U. S. Post Office on Leopard Street. Moving to the northeast, the 

tornado hit Refinery Row where it did significant damage to the Citgo Refinery before 
20

moving into Nueces Bay. The third tornado had the largest base at nearly 400 yards 

wide.

FIGURE 24. CLOSE UP VIEW OF TORNADO TRACKS ACROSS CORPUS CHRISTI

The October 24, 2002 tornadoes that hit Corpus Christi resulted in 1 fatality and 26 

injuries (14 injured at Del Mar College). Property damage included 4 single family and 

15 multi-family homes destroyed, 73 single home and 21 multi-family units received 

major damage, and a total of just over 115 other residential structures received minor to 

slight damage. 
21

Additionally, there were 60 businesses that ceased operations because of the tornadoes 

and 15 other businesses that suffered major damage. An estimated 350 people became 

unemployed as a result of the tornadoes that moved across Corpus Christi, Texas. Total 

damage was estimated at over $85 million. Figures 25 and 26 show some of the damage. 

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE DAMAGE TO REFINERY

Figure 25 Figure 26

IX. SUMMARY

A. Forecast Issues

The changes in the environment leading up to this event were crucial in determining the 

potential for tornadogenesis. The utility of the model data was limited in helping to 

evaluate the kinematic and thermodynamic fields over South Texas as all of the models 

moved the short wave trough associated with the MCS well north of the Coastal Bend 

during the afternoon of October 24, 2002. The models depicted a decreased shear profile 

in the 0-6 km layer with the erroneous track for the MCS. An analysis of 12 UTC upper 

air and sounding data indicated the possibility of supercell thunderstorms. The airmass 

was expected to be increasingly unstable over the Coastal Bend as the front retreated to 

the north. CAPE values were expected to be from 2500 to 3000 J/kg. The AVN and 

RUC models depicted the instability parameters adequately during the event. The RUC 

model’s handling of the unstable airmass over the Lower Texas Coast and the increasing 

low to mid level shear is indicated by the energy-helicity index analysis at 17 UTC and 

18 UTC.

The RUC model showed EHI values near Baffin Bay that supported an increasing

potential for tornadogenesis. RUC values were near 4.00 at 17 UTC (Figure 27)

decreasing to 3.25 at 18 UTC. According to Davies (1993), significant tornadoes are 

more likely with EHI values of greater than 2.5, and strong tornadoes occur with values 

of 3.0 to 3.9.
22

RUC ANALYSIS AT 17 UTC RUC ANALYSIS AT 18 UTC

Figure 27 – EHI

By 18 UTC, the 0-3 km shear profile was becoming increasingly favorable for supercell 

thunderstorms as a trough of low pressure moved into the Coastal Bend in advance of the 

MCS and backed the surface winds to southeast. Four small cells exhibited low level 

rotation on the 1758 UTC reflectivity image near Mathis, just north of Nueces Bay, near 

Driscoll, and over Baffin Bay. This last cell over Baffin Bay would eventually produce 

the tornadoes. The low level rotation indicated the 0-3 km storm relative helicity (SRH) 

was sufficient for supercells and weak tornadogenesis. 

Significant cloud cover over the region prevented the atmosphere from reaching its 

maximum instability. However, analysis of the 12 UTC Brownsville sounding indicated 

very steep lapse rates in the very moist 1000-850 mb layer. This implied a stronger 

distribution to CAPE in the lower levels of the atmosphere. Research by McCaul (1991) 

and Rasmussen (2003) indicated higher CAPE within the 0-3 km layer was associated 

with tornado producing supercells compared to non-tornado producing supercells. With a 

decreased overall depth to the CAPE profile, storms that developed were low topped with 

echo tops generally reaching only 30 to 35 thousand feet. However, with sufficient shear 

and low level CAPE fields, mini-supercells developed over the southern Coastal Bend. 

Grant and Prentice (1996) defined mini-supercells as mesocyclones with lesser rotational 

velocities, smaller diameters, and shallower depths compared to the mesocyclones in the 

Plains region but with the same attributes such as hook echoes and weak echo regions. 

With the formation of low topped mini-supercells, storm motion of these cells was 

different than predictions used by using the 0-6 km mean wind and expectations that 

supercells would generally deviate to the right of the mean wind. The shallow minisupercells moved with the 0-3 km mean wind to the north instead of the northeast or east. 

Surface pressure falls and backing low level flow increased over the Coastal Bend as the 

MCS approached between 18 UTC and 20 UTC and the mini-supercell moved north. 

Research completed by Rasmussen (2003), Markowski, et al. (2003), and Thompson, et 
23

al. (2003) point towards the importance of higher storm relative helicity within the lowest 

1 km as a discriminating factor for the development of significant tornadoes. 

By 1910 UTC, a weak tornado formed south of the Corpus Christi International Airport 

(KCRP), but the wind in the 0-1 km layer responded to the isallobaric falls that were 

increasing east of KCRP (5 mb 3-hourly fall at KNGP at 20 UTC). By 1930 UTC, the 

near surface winds backed to east and increased substantially to above 40 knots according 

to velocity data from KCRP radar. The surface to 1 km winds veered 90 degrees, 

increasing the 0-1 km layer shear in advance of the supercell. Even though the shallow 

mini-supercell was moving to the left of the 0-6 km mean wind, the supercell would have 

realized an enhancement of the 0-1 km storm-relative helicity. The significant increase in 

the near surface winds and pressure falls suggest the formation of a low pressure area in 

the inflow region of the mini-supercell similar to the model simulations performed by 

Brooks and Wilhelmson (1990) for large low level curvature shear. 

 

Another favorable factor for tornadogenesis was the low Lifting Condensation Level 

exhibited over the Coastal Bend. Temperatures were in the upper 70s F with dewpoint 

temperatures in the middle 70s F. Rasmussen and Blanchard (1998) and Thompson 

(2003) showed LCL heights were significantly lower in significant tornado producing 

supercells compared to supercells that formed weak tornadoes. Photographs taken of the 

tornado 4 miles to the east of KCRP radar (not shown) indicated a very low cloud base 

associated with this supercell. Markowski, et al. (2002) concluded environments with 

high boundary layer relative humidity are more likely to contribute higher buoyancy 

within the rear flank downdraft necessary for the genesis of significant tornadoes. 

B. Warning Issues

This event proved to be a challenging one in regards to situational awareness in the 

warning environment. The emphasis was placed on the advancing MCS into the WFO 

CRP forecast area during the morning hours. The bowing line segment even exhibited a 

book end vortex as it moved into Refugio County at the same time as the mini-supercell 

was developing the first tornado in Nueces County - a brief tornado occurred with the 

book end vortex in central Refugio County. However, the focus quickly shifted to the 

mini-supercell as the base velocity data indicated the increasing threat of a tornado south 

of the airport.

Post reviews of the event indicated that the Mesocyclone and TVS algorithms were not 

set properly to detect shallow or mini-supercells. Throughout the entire event, the radar 

algorithms did not detect a Mesocyclone or a TVS. The depth of the mesocyclone was 

too shallow (generally less than 10 thousand feet), and the size of the circulation on the 

0.5 degree slice was too small for the algorithms to detect using the default values for 

typically tall mesocyclones of the Southern Plains. This event reiterates the need for 

emphasis on the base velocity and reflectivity products in the warning environment. The 

changes in the surface pressure field also point toward the reliance upon a “mesoscale 

analyst” to stay abreast of the changes occurring on a smaller scale that can lead to 

enhancement of supercells and possible tornadogenesis.
24

X. CONCLUSIONS

The October 24, 2002 Corpus Christi tornado event provided meteorologists with a 

challenge that required them to use new technologies and meteorological knowledge to 

forecast an event that is not common in South Texas. The local climate records shown 

are not totally against the development of tornadoes, but having a family of tornadoes 

was novel. The existence of tornadoes in Corpus Christi in late October, although rare, 

was not without precedence. After analyzing all of the data and severe weather

parameters, this study found that South Texas was in a favorable environment for severe 

thunderstorms and tornadoes on this day. Mesoscale influences enhanced the low level 

shear that led to the development of strong tornadoes in Corpus Christi on October 24, 

2002. 

XI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Mr. Andy Patrick, Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC) at 

WFO Brownsville (BRO), for his discussions and initial analysis of this event.

Additionally, thanks are extended to the Mr. Ron Morales, WFO CRP Science and 

Operations Officer (SOO), who provided comments during the writing of the paper and 

for his review of the document. Kurt Van Speybroeck, SOO from WFO BRO, and Mark 

Fox from Southern Region Headquarters also reviewed and provided valuable comments 

which were used in the finalizing of this paper.

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