In the early morning hours of March 31, both supercells and short bow echoes began to form along the north-south aligned cold front after it crossed the IH-35 corridor.  Moving into the eastern portion of South Central Texas, these storms produced heavy rainfall, large hail, and two tornadoes.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAVACA, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 03:25:00 to 31-MAR-07 03:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALLETSVILLE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A line of very strong thunderstorms approached Lavaca County from the west and developed into a bow-shape just as they crossed the county line.  The storms produced strong winds that blew down trees in a small community known as Williamsburg, about 4 miles south of Hallettsville.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 03:50:00 to 31-MAR-07 04:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA GRANGE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were blown down from just northeast of LaGrange to Round Top by high winds from thunderstorms.  The information was obtained from a damage survey conducted by a Texas DPS Regional Liaison Officer.

Flash Flood in FAYETTE, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 04:00:00 to 31-MAR-07 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MULDOON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorms stretching from northern Fayette County southward through Lavaca and DeWitt Counties produced widespread 1 to 2 inch rain totals as the moved eastward.  Highest totals in Fayette County were near 4 inches just west of LaGrange and near Warrenton.  Flash flooding closed FM609 and SH159.

Flash Flood in LAVACA, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 05:00:00 to 31-MAR-07 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: YOAKUM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Thunderstorms stretching from northern Fayette County southward through Lavaca and DeWitt Counties produced widespread 1 to 2 inch rain totals as the moved eastward.  Highest totals in Lavaca County were near 5 inches just east of Sweet Home along US77.  Flash flooding closed FM531 through the early morning period.

Tornado in LAVACA, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 03:30:00 to 31-MAR-07 03:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALLETSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The first tornado touched down near 0330 CST at the community of Williamsburg, approximately 4 miles south of Hallettsville along US77.  It tracked from just west of US77 northward along the highway for almost a mile, crossing the highway and dissipating on the east side of US77.  It was difficult to separate severe thunderstorm wind damage which preceded the tornado from the tornado damage itself.  The tornado destroyed a barn near its initial touchdown with a level of damage indicating winds approaching 100 mph.  This is consistent with NWS Doppler Radar indications of winds at or just above 90 mph in the Williamsburg area near 0331 CST.  Doppler Radar at that time showed a comma-shaped echo with a hint of possible rotation on the north end of the comma, near Williamsburg.  The tornado knocked over trees, with the debris pointed mostly toward the north or east.  It also shoved a mobile home toward the east several yards.  The tornado was rated an EF-1 on the enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated at 95 to 100 mph.  The track was toward the north with a width of 100 yards and a path length of eight-tenths of a mile.

Tornado in LAVACA, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 03:45:00 to 31-MAR-07 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALLETSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

To the southeast of Hallettsville, and southeast of the first tornado, a second tornado touched down near 0345 CST.  This was just off FM530 on Road 16C, near the community of Light Chapel.  This tornado touched down just south of a mobile home and began moving toward the northeast.  A father, along with two sons and a daughter, had just arrived home less than an hour before the touchdown and had fallen asleep when the storm struck.  The father reported feeling a jolt that awakened him as severe thunderstorm winds ahead of the tornado struck the mobile home.  He reported that it became quiet again and then the mobile home exploded as the tornado stuck.  He and his three children were blown and tossed almost 150 feet, coming to rest on the top of the former south wall of his mobile home.  Broken glass was everywhere, but, in spite of cuts and bruises, they took shelter in a small nearby roofless shack as hail continued to fall.  He then walked, carrying an injured son and daughter, to a neighbor���s house to call for help.  His truck, parked under an awning just south of the mobile home was rolled and crushed.  Had he and his children arrived only a few minutes later at their home, they could easily have been killed.  That all have recovered except for minor bruises and cuts can only be considered a miracle.  The father���s comments were that it���s all okay ��� we���re okay.  What was destroyed is just ���stuff.���  Based on the destroyed mobile home, which had been tied down, and the rolled and twisted metal frame, the tornado was rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.  Winds were estimated at 115 mph.  The tornado path length was placed at four-tenths of a mile with a path width of 75 yards.

Flash Flood in DE WITT, TEXAS
From 31-MAR-07 04:30:00 to 31-MAR-07 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CUERO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Thunderstorms stretching from northern Fayette County southward through Lavaca and DeWitt Counties produced widespread 1 to 2 inch rain totals as the moved eastward.  Highest totals in DeWitt County were near 4 inches just south of Hochheim. Flash flooding closed SH111 through the early morning.